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Dan Wang: How He Became America’s Favorite China Expert | How I Write

Dan Wang: How He Became America’s Favorite China Expert | How I Write

How I Write vor 11 Monaten

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1:59:40

I interviewed Dan Wang, a writer and analyst whose annual letters
from China have become a first draft of modern Chinese history. We
talked about how he blends personal observation with deep analysis,
how to skip the cliches and write with texture instead, and how
classical music and literature have shaped his writing style.
What’s unique about Dan is that he built a name for himself by
writing one essay per year (in an age where writers are encouraged
to publish consistently). We also talked about his approach to
travel writing, the difference between living in Beijing, Shanghai,
and Hong Kong, how AI is changing the way he thinks (but not how he
writes), and why China’s influencer culture is his least favorite
thing about the country. 00:1:04 Why Dan writes Annual
Letters00:07:53 Dan’s favorite novel00:15:01 Dan’s method for
writing00:26:02 Why most travel writing stinks00:30:44 How to
travel through China00:33:05 The regions of China,
explained00:44:47 Trade books vs. academic books00:53:46 The
problem with history books01:01:42 Did Dan write his book with
AI?01:10:50 Dan’s least favorite part about China1:15:42 A critique
of American elites1:33:08 Dan’s website got blocked in China1:39:52
What China mocks about America1:54:49 A simple way to improve your
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