3 Review(s)

Expanded from Paul's award-winning The Expat Life columns for WSJ.com, "Big In China" traces Alan's three and a half years in China - a time of life-changing experiences during which he reinvented himself, most prominently as the leader of a Chinese blues band called Woodie Alan. The band quickly achieved great success, and Paul soon found himself and his bandmates touring China, being named Beijing Band of the Year, and recording a CD that has earned praise from American musical luminaries from the Allman Brothers Band to ZZ Top. However, as exhilarating as the band's success was, it was only one part of the expat experience that was invigorating for Paul's entire family. Paul also reveals the challenges he and his family faced living in a foreign land, including trying not to become stuck inside the expat bubble so many construct around themselves when living abroad. "Big In China" is a book for anyone who wants to go on a journey, or who merely wants to come along on one.