 First edition | |
| Author | Qian Julie Wang |
|---|---|
| Audio read by | Qian Julie Wang |
| Language | English |
| Subject | Memoir |
| Publisher | Doubleday |
Publication date | September 7, 2021 |
| Publication place | United States |
| Media type | Print (hardcover), e-book, audiobook |
| Pages | 320 |
| ISBN | 978-0385547215 (hardcover) |
Beautiful Country: A Memoir of an Undocumented Childhood is a 2021 memoir byChinese American lawyerQian Julie Wang. It was published on September 7, 2021 byDoubleday, an imprint ofPenguin Random House. InThe New York Times, reviewer Elisabeth Egan described the book as a "powerful story" that "reminds us how lucky we are to have the privileges unlocked by thislittle blue booklet [United States passport] — and what others risk and endure every day in hopes of getting one too."[1] The book's title derives from the literal translation of the Chinese word for the United States (Chinese:美国;pinyin:Měiguó), which means "beautiful country".[2]
InBeautiful Country, Wang writes about the hardships that she and her parents faced upon their arrival to the United States in 1994, as undocumented immigrants fromChina. She discusses the numerous challenges she faced growing up in poverty, and how she emerged from all of it with her dreams bruised but intact.
Wang wrote the book on her phone during her subway commute to her law office, finishing a first draft in 2019.[3]
Beautiful Country was published inhardcover ande-book format on September 7, 2021, byDoubleday, an imprint ofPenguin Random House. An audiobook, narrated by Wang, was released the same day.[4] Beautiful Country was also available throughthe Book of the Month club as one of its selections for the month of September 2021.[5][6]
Following its publication, Wang promoted her memoir through a series of media appearances, including an interview onNBC'sToday Show withJenna Bush Hager, who had recommended the "impactful" memoir to her "Read with Jenna" book club.[7][8] Wang also promoted the book onNPR and at theChicago Humanities Festival.[9][10][11]
The book debuted at number three onThe New York Times' nonfiction best-seller list.[12][13]
Rana Foroohar of theFinancial Times wrote thatBeautiful Country "shows us how struggle can grind people down, making them as paranoid and cruel to each other as the system is to them."[14] Kaitlin Jefferys ofVoice magazine wrote that the memoir leaves readers with a positive message: "cling on to your dreams no matter your circumstances."[15]
In December 2021, formerPresident of the United StatesBarack Obama includedBeautiful Country in his top 13 book recommendations of 2021.[16]
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