How to American
Jimmy Yang is a Chinese American actor, stand-up comedian, and writer known for starring in HBO’s Silicon Valley, Netflix’s Space Force, and the movie Crazy Rich Asians. In his memoir, How to American: An Immigrant's Guide to Disappointing Your Parents, we walk through Jimmy’s immigrant story from Hong Kong to America and how he pursued became his dream of becoming a Hollywood actor.
What was your favorite quote?
Throughout the book, there were about 50 standout quotes. The one that stood out the most was:
It’s exciting to chase after a new goal, but it’s meaningless if you can’t sit down and enjoy the moment.
When we pursue a new goal or endeavor, we are filled with invigoration and passion to reach the result. Tunnel visioning on the result leads us to lose sight of the journey and every milestone that led us there, including the points where we rest and enjoy the progress we made thus far. In an evergrowing society of fast-paced development, the latter tends to move towards the wayside more often than not. This quote is another reminder to take your time and know you are making progress toward an amazing goal.
What were the top 3 lessons you learned?
Lesson 1: How to check in on others
Jimmy pursued many side hustles to make ends meet while pursuing his creative endeavor. At one of these side hustles, Jimmy was a natural at improving profits and the atmosphere. One day, Jimmy notified his mentor/boss that he was moving to LA in pursuit of his passion, comedy. The mentor asked him to stay; however, he knew Jimmy had already made up his mind.
After moving, Jimmy received monthly calls from his mentor. The mentor asked if everything was all right and if Jimmy needed anything. Even though it was only a few minutes, the mentor showed he cared about Jimmy’s future and wanted to support him in any way he could.
Small calls and messages like this could mean the world to the receiver. We all want that sense of connection, and you never know what someone is going through. Whether it’s an old pal, past coworker, or mentee, hitting someone up from a past season of life could change their life.
Lesson 2: Show up even when you do not think you will make it
While working many side hustles, Jimmy continued to show up to guest character casting calls for roles he did not know of. Gradually through trial and error, these opportunities provided Jimmy with the means to develop his craft of acting. Eventually, Jimmy was slated as a guest character for one of his historical popular shows. His character which was only slated to guest star one day turned into three and then into a full-time series regular on the next season. He finally became a full-time actor.
Without Jimmy’s perseverance in attending all the opportunities presented to him, he would not have developed his skills for that first guest star appearance. Nevertheless, he always showed up even when the odds were against him.
Likewise to developing your craft, this same mindset can be translated to applying to jobs or spending time with others. Continue showing up!
Lesson 3: Choose your table wisely
On the set of Crazy Rich Asians, Jimmy was sitting with a full Asian cast. The table included big names such as Constance Wu, Michelle Yeoh, Awkwafina, and Ken Jeong. Unlike other shows, Jimmy was no longer known as the Asian American, but as the funny guy. He could be himself! Who sat at the table changed the relatability dynamics and even though all the cast members grew up differently, they all related to growing up as an Asian in a different country.
The world is a vast place filled with many different people and stories. We all relate to each other in different ways. Who will be sitting at your table?
What did you think about the book?
From front to back, this book felt like you were talking with a jokester at a dinner. The stories were one thing, but the comedy intertwined made them flourish. Jimmy’s story shows conviction and determination as he navigates uncomfortable environments and finds himself in the early chapters to thriving in the latter ones. The way he painted his anxious thoughts and still showed up in stand-up and acting was truly inspiring.
The latter chapters included some longer paragraphs to depict acting scenes. If split up, the readability would be easier to follow, but this barely retracted from the main storyline.
All in all, Jimmy’s story was a well-written memoir showcasing his inspiring story of how he became an American and pursued the American dream.
Want to read the book?
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