Big In China: My Unlikely Adventures Raising A Family, Playing The Blues, And Becoming A Star In Beijing

Big in China: My Unlikely Adventures Raising a Family, Playing the Blues, and Becoming a Star in Beijing

ReviewReads like an epic adventure, with music at its heart and the unity of people as its goal. -- -Rick Telander, author Heaven Is a PlaygroundWhat a romp. After writing about music for years, Alan Paul walked the walk, preaching the blues in China. Anyone who doubts that music is bigger than words needs to read this great tale. -- -Gregg Allman, the Allman Brothers BandThis readable, human account of his China experience shows how one can be richly rewarded in a supposedly hard posting when armed with an open, adventurous mind and the Chinese peoples go-get-it spirit. -- -Lijia Zhang, author of Socialism Is GreatA charming exploration of an expats unlikely rise to fame, as well as the lessons learned along the way. -- -Kirkus ReviewsAlan Paul plunges into Chinese life and takes us along for the ride.... He conveys the thrills and challenges of living abroad, the confusions and regrets, and most of all the opportunity to become the person we always hoped to be. -- -Peter Hessler, author of Country Driving and River TownIts hard to imagine a better American musical ambassador than Alan Paul.... With the help of great local musicians, he bridged cultures with notes. Its an amazing story. -- -Warren Haynes, the Allman Brothers BandAn absolute love story. In his embrace of family, friends, music and the new culture hes discovering, Alan Paul leaves us contemplating the love in our own lives, and rethinking the concept of home. -- -Jeffrey Zaslow, coauthor, The Last LectureGenerations of adventurers have daydreamed of seeing their names up in lights in the worlds biggest country. But Alan Paul-musician, writer, and stay-at-home father of three-actually achieved it through sheer will and talent. -- -Evan Osnos, China Correspondent, The New YorkerAlan Pauls evolution from expat-village trailing spouse to star of the Chinese music scene stands for countless similar developments underway in China. I hope many people read this book -- and consider a similar adventure themselves. -- -James Fallows, author of Postcards from Tomorrow SquareAn inspirational, eloquent travelogue that that that flows like a soul-baring letter to friends as it carries readers along on a personal journey of discovery in a land that is rediscovering itself. -- -James McGregor, author, One Billion CustomersWhat a romp.Alan Paul walked the walk, preaching the blues in China. Anyone who doubts that music is bigger than words needs to read this great tale. -Gregg AllmanAn absolute love story. In his embrace of family, friends, music and the new culture he's discovering, Alan Paul leaves us contemplating the love in our own lives, and rethinking the concept of home. -Jeffrey Zaslow, coauthor, with Randy Pausch, of The Last LectureAlan Paul, award-winning author of the Wall Street Journals online column The Expat Life, gives his engaging, inspiring, and unforgettable memoir of blues and new beginnings in Beijing. Pauls three-and-a-half-year journey reinventing himself as an American expat-while raising a family and starting the revolutionary blues band Woodie Alan, voted Beijing Band of the Year in the 2008-is a must-read adventure for anyone who has lived abroad, and for everyone who dreams of rewriting the story of their own future.From Publishers WeeklyIn this entertaining memoir, Paul recounts an unanticipated life-changing experience that began when his wife accepted a three-year work assignment in Beijing. After resettling their three young children from suburban New Jersey to China, Paul, a music and basketball journalist who played guitar only as a hobby, embarked on an exploration of local culture and music. The search prompted his transition from writing about music to being a bona fide rock star in the band Woodie Alan, a cross-cultural blues group named after Alan and his Chinese band member, Woodie Wu, a guitarist with a Stevie Ray Vaughn tattoo. Paul blogged abo