Out of the Gobi

My Story of China and America

By: Weijian Shan, Janet Yellen - foreword

Narrated by: David Shih

Length: 17 hrs and 53 mins

Publisher's summary

Weijian Shan's Out of the Gobi is a powerful memoir and commentary that will be one of the most important books on China of our time, one with the potential to re-shape how Americans view China, and how the Chinese view life in America.

Shan, a former hard laborer who is now one of Asia's best-known financiers, is thoughtful, observant, eloquent, and brutally honest, making him well-positioned to tell the story of a life that is a microcosm of modern China, and of how, improbably, that life became intertwined with America. Out of the Gobi draws a vivid picture of the raw human energy and the will to succeed against all odds.

Shan only finished elementary school when Mao Zedong's Cultural Revolution tore his country apart. He was a witness to the brutality and absurdity of Mao's policies during one of the most tumultuous eras in China's history. Exiled to the Gobi Desert at age 15 and denied schooling for 10 years, he endured untold hardships without ever giving up his dream for an education. Shan's improbable journey, from the Gobi to the "People's Republic of Berkeley" and far beyond, is a uniquely American success story - told with a splash of humor, deep insight, and rich and engaging detail.

©2019 Weijian Shan (P)2019 Gildan Media

Out of Gobi - A Chinese Dream

A bright young man in a tumbling society, his life is out of his control. Study is the only thing you can do in the social-form downturn. Shan was extremely lucky to be who he is now but all the efforts he paid help him along the way. I shall not say it’s a Chinese dream story because we all deserve a better living and political environment to succeed. However, it is still a good story to tell and spread, to motivate everyone in the downhill to climb. You shall shine some day in some way.
Neve give up and grab the opportunities wherever you can. Be mercy to other and sticking to your families and lover. All the frustrations shall be gone

Superb history!

Step inside the mind of a man who endured the Great Leap backward and the cultural revolution of China! Weijian, you sir are a true inspiration! Thank you for sharing your story!

Absolutely perfect story-telling

Every chapter is so attractive and I just can not stop listening. Amazing life story!

Must read for anyone!

I thought I would be taking a risk on buying this book as there were very few reviews on Audible in comparison to other books but I saw it at a bookstore in the San Diego airport so I thought I would give it a try. I couldn’t stop listening to this book and listened to it any chance I got. The story is captivating and incredible and I enjoyed every minute of it. It teaches the importance of perseverance and hard work and making the best out of any situation.

Definitely Worth Reading

This is a great story! One of the few I have heard about concerning the effects of Mao’s rule on the people. The only two drawbacks are that the booked seemed to end rather abruptly, and I would like to have known more about life in China (on his family) while he has in the US. These are quite minor critiques. It wasn’t a book I could not put down, but I did always looked forward to the next amazing adventure. He has had a phenomenal life! The narration was excellent.

Great overview of 20century China.

China will never be understood with our an understanding of its privation, work ethic, corruption and and attachment to Mao and socialism. At heart it’s still a dictatorship.

OPPORTUNITY & FAILURE

Weijian Shan is a capitalist, a Chinese economist, CEO of an Asian investment company, and former professor at the University of Pennsylvania, Wharton School. Weijian Shan was born and raised in China during the Mao era. Shan has written a memoir of his experience in the Chinese Cultural Revolution which began in 1966 and ended with the death of Mao Zedong in 1976. Shan writes about China’s and America’s economic and political differences.

In 1966, Shan is barely a teenager, having only completed his grade school years. Shan, and many other teenagers, are sent to the Gobi Desert during the Cultural Revolution in China. Shan’s compelling story tells of his experience during the Revolution with an explanation of how he is chosen, at the age of 21, to go to college in Beijing. “Out of the Gobi” is published in 2019. Shan offers insight to Mao’s communist political ideas and gives listeners some thoughts about what Mao’s politics mean in the age of Xi Jinping’s rule of China.

Shan’s memoir is a tribute to his personal strength and determination. Reaching the age of 21 in the Gobi Desert did not impede his intellectual development. Through work experience, social engineering among peers, and a commitment to read everything he could find, Shan overcame his Gobi Desert relocation and lack of a high school education.

Great View of recent China History

As I am close in age to the Author I found his story one I was glued to till the end - A fantastic look at the last 40 years in China and US relations - thank you so much for sharing your story

Fascinating!

If you are interested in Chinese history and culture, then this is the perfect listen for you! This book was absolutely fascinating!

Author’s impressive struggles to end up a banker?

Enjoyed much however should have been better edited to delete repetition. Author carefully avoids opinions and criticism that could impugn his standing with Chinese authorities.
Gobi experiences often dull - I guess that’s part of what he desired to communicate