“Sunset Survivors”: an interview with Lindsay Varty
Nicholas Gordon talks to Lindsay Varty, author of Sunset Survivors: Meet The People Who Are Keeping Hong Kong’s Traditional Industries Alive.
“Under Red Skies: Three Generations of Life, Loss, and Hope in China” by Karoline Kan
Under Red Skies is being plugged as the first English-language memoir by a Chinese millennial, which already sets it apart from other books about China’s younger generation. Books like Alec Ash’s Wish Lanterns or Zak Dychtwald’s Young China, for all of their merits, were written by expats. In contrast, Chinese-born Karoline Kan tells the story…
“India Connected: How the Smartphone is Transforming the World’s Largest Democracy” by Ravi Agrawal
With almost 17% year-on-year growth, India’s is the world’s fastest growing smartphone population; more than a billion phones are estimated to be sold over the next five years. There are now more Indians with smartphones than the entire population of the United States, driven by phones that cost as little as 10,000 rupees (US$150).
“Silent Invasion: China’s Influence in Australia” by Clive Hamilton
In January 2018, Australian Senator Sam Dastyari of the Labor Party resigned. It was the culmination of a year-long scandal involving foreign donations and influence peddling. In his support for China’s claims in the South China Sea, Dastyari disagreed with the China policy of both the government and the Australian Labor Party. It was revealed…
- Interviews | News | Opera
“The art form of the future”: an interview with Neal Goren
Nicholas Gordon talks to Neal Goren, music director for the world premier run of the chamber opera Mila at the Asia Society in Hong Kong.
Modernization and the the Mosuo: An interview with Choo Waihong
Nicholas Gordon interviews Choo Waihong, author of The Kingdom of Women: Life, Love and Death in China’s Hidden Mountains.
- Classical music | Interviews | News | Opera
“Classical music does not belong to the West”: an interview with soprano Lei Xu
Nicholas Gordon talks to Chinese operatic soprano Lei Xu, who is singing Violetta in More Than Musical’s production of La Traviata.
The Ganges and India’s Future: an interview with Victor Mallet
Nicholas Gordon interviews Victor Mallet, author of River of Life, River of Death.
“Blood and Silk: Power and Conflict in Modern Southeast Asia” by Michael Vatikiotis
Predictions for the future of Southeast Asia on the whole follow two different narratives. On the one hand, ASEAN is celebrating its 40th anniversary, and forty years of interstate peace along with it. The region’s economy is growing at breakneck speed, led by countries like Vietnam and the Philippines. Yet, on the other hand, news…
Easternization: “A game-changer for not just the world economy, but also for international politics”
Nicholas Gordon interviews Gideon Rachman, author of Easternization: Asia’s Rise and America’s Decline From Obama to Trump and Beyond.
“A significant deterioration of the political environment”: an interview with Michael Vatikiotis
Nicholas Gordon interviews Michael Vatikiotis, author of Blood and Silk.
“Generation HK: Seeking Identity in China’s Shadow” by Ben Bland
Whether or not you agree with the arguments of Hong Kong’s student activists, everyone can agree that their emergence has been one of the biggest changes to Hong Kong’s political situation for at least a decade.
“The ASEAN Miracle: A Catalyst for Peace” by Kishore Mahbubani and Jeffery Sng
The ASEAN Miracle observes that Southeast Asia is the world’s most diverse region. Although obvious once mentioned, it still seems novel. Southeast Asia’s history is a mix of Chinese, Indian and Islamic influences, with sizable populations of several of the world’s major religions. Yet despite this and its complicated colonial and postcolonial history, Southeast Asian…
ASEAN has succeeded against all odds
Nicholas Gordon interviews Kishore Mahbubani, author of The ASEAN Miracle.
“Hong Kong in the Cold War” by Priscilla Roberts and John M Carroll (eds)
Hong Kong in the Cold War, edited by Priscilla Roberts and John M Carroll, is an academic collection of essays about the city’s history during the first half of the Cold War. The collection can roughly be split into two halves: Hong Kong’s security situation, and its cultural development.
