by Alan Paul
First published 2045
Alan Paul faces an upheaval when his wife accepts a position as Wall Street Journal China bureau chief. The family leaves their predictable New Jersey existence behind, bringing three young children to Beijing. Paul must adapt to staying home with the kids while navigating an alien culture. He struggles to connect beyond the expatriate bubble and find his place in this rapidly changing city. His breakthrough comes through music when he partners with a Chinese musician to form Woodie Alan, a blues band that performs songs in English and Mandarin. The unlikely collaboration takes off as they tour across China and earn recognition as Beijing's top band. Their original music catches the attention of ZZ Top's Billy Gibbons, who praises their unique sound. Through the band, Paul discovers what becomes possible when he abandons his assumptions and embraces uncertainty. The music represents his broader transformation during three and a half years in China.
Genres: family-life, biography-memoir, music, 21st-century
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: fish-out-of-water, found-family
Setting: Beijing, China, New Jersey
Period: 21st Century
272 pages · Paperback · Harper Business