I recently finished reading Peter Hessler’s latest book: Other Rivers: A Chinese Education, which delves into his personal and professional experiences in China. Having heard about its impending release in June, I was eager to dive in as soon as I got my hands on a copy in July.

This is my first time reading his book, though I had heard of him before. The book covers a wide range of topics, including his family background, memories of living in Fuling, his children’s experience attending online classes at a Chinese school, his connections with former Fuling students, his teaching stint at Sichuan University, the perspectives of two generations, and the changes and constants in the city. Hessler’s writing strikes a balance between humor, authenticity, and gravity.

Hessler’s experiences, though mainly concentrated in Sichuan and Chongqing, felt incredibly real. His detailed observations and meticulous documentation made the book more engaging than many news articles. His descriptions of his twin daughters’ daily school life in Chengdu were more vivid and specific than many media reports, including charming references to Li Bai’s “Farewell to Wang Lun,” Taylor Swift’s nickname “Meimei”, and Trump’s “Chuan Jian-Guo”.

It’s clear that Hessler has a deep affection for the places where he has lived, but he doesn’t shy away from criticizing certain aspects. He touches on the concept of “the outsider” and references “Farewell, John Leighton Stuart” and Pearl S. Buck, explaining why he feels compelled to voice his opinions: as a foreigner, his views are not always accepted, but being an outsider allows him to hear more genuine stories and notice things locals might overlook. Given the strained relations between two great nations across the Pacific, he might not have had the chance to return to China, which seems to have prompted him to discuss some sensitive topics and keywords openly.

One of the most moving parts of the book was Hessler’s depiction of the pressures and educational experiences across three generations. He discusses John Dewey’s educational philosophy in China; his students in the 1990s, many of whom were first-generation college students with uneducated, farming parents, faced food scarcity and had a peculiar understanding of foreign countries due to ideological education. His students at Sichuan University, mostly only children, had parents with established careers, but their growth was entirely centered around the gaokao, causing psychological stress. His twin daughters’ schooling involved odd English textbooks, math exercises, and supplementary lessons, though the parents were more communicative and had improved parenting philosophies. However, due to the competitive elimination system, they still fell short of Dewey’s educational ideals.

Hessler’s book provides a nuanced and deeply personal look at life in modern China, blending humor with serious social critique. It offers valuable insights into the complexities of Chinese society and the challenges faced by its people.