My Life in China and America by Yung Wing read by Ted Lai | Full Audio Book

My Life in China and America by Yung Wing (容闳) (1828 - 1912)
Genre(s): Memoirs, Modern (19th C)

Read by: Ted Lai in English

Chapters:
00:00:00 - 01 - Preface and I. Boyhood
00:22:51 - 02 - II. School Days
00:34:59 - 03 - III. Journey to America and First Experiences There
00:43:56 - 04 - IV. At Monson Academy
00:54:29 - 05 - V. My College Days
01:05:47 - 06 - VI. Return To China
01:28:09 - 07 - VII. Effort to Find a Position
01:39:57 - 08 - VIII. Experiences in Business
01:56:31 - 09 - IX. My First Trip to the Tea Districts
02:19:21 - 10 - X. My Visit to the Taipings
02:42:45 - 11 - XI. Reflections on the Taiping Rebellion
02:57:16 - 12 - XII. Expedition to the Taiping Tea District
03:17:27 - 13 - XIII. My Interviews with Tsang Kwoh Fan
03:40:53 - 14 - XIV. My Mission to America to Buy Machinery
03:49:11 - 15 - XV. My Second Return to China
04:02:22 - 16 - XVI. Proposal of My Educational Scheme
04:15:40 - 17 - XVII. The Chinese Educational Mission
04:30:16 - 18 - XVIII. Investigation of the Coolie Trap
04:37:35 - 19 - XIX. End of the Educational Mission
05:03:02 - 20 - XX. Journey to Peking and Death of My Wife
05:14:48 - 21 - XXI. My Recall to China
05:37:00 - 22 - XXII Coup D'Etat of 1898
05:48:19 - 23 - Appendix

My Life in China and America by Yung Wing is more than a memoir — it's a firsthand account of a life lived between worlds at a pivotal moment in history. Widely considered the first major Chinese American autobiography, and one of the earliest works of Asian American literature, it offers a rare and deeply personal perspective on identity, immigration, and cultural exchange.As the first Chinese graduate of Yale University, Yung Wing's journey traces both the promise and complexity of East-West relations in the 19th century. Through his role in leading the Chinese Educational Mission, he championed education as a bridge between nations — while also confronting the growing prejudice that would culminate in policies like the Chinese Exclusion Act. Yung Wing's memoir also demonstrates what it means to be Asian American, able to go between two cultures while not fully fitting into either.This memoir offers listeners an intimate, deeply human story of resilience and vision — making it not only a cornerstone of American history, but a powerful narrative that still resonates today. - Summary by Ted Lai