By Peter Patten, Reference Librarian, Walsh Library
Since his first book, Rivertown: Two years on the Yangtze, published in 2001, Peter Hessler has focused on insightful portrayals of ordinary Chinese people rather than on Chinese politics. That said, he does not avoid showing how the people he knows - students, delivery workers, teachers and others - are inevitably affected by the Chinese political system. This is clear from the first pages of Other Rivers: A Chinese Education.
After a long absence from China, Hessler returned to teach a university course rather than the basic English he had once taught in a rural school. His “Introduction to Journalism and Nonfiction” class drew more applicants than he could accept, including one student who wrote, “In China, you will see a lot of things, but often you can’t say them.” As an American journalist, Hessler’s words were under close watch, with cameras in every classroom and no way of knowing who might be monitoring them. The real trouble began when a student filed a jubao, or complaint to authorities, about his response to an essay claiming that citizens in civilized nations cannot question national sovereignty. Hessler had replied that in countries with the rule of law, such as the United States, Canada, and Europe, people are free to make statements supporting independence movements. The comment caused an online scandal that drew the attention of officials. At a department meeting, administrators reminded faculty that certain topics, including those deemed politically sensitive, should not be discussed. Ultimately, Hessler’s contract was not renewed, and he was forced to leave China with his family. His experience became a powerful example of how censorship and fear continue to shape academic and public life.
Hessler’s experience of Chinese education extends beyond his university teaching to his role as a parent of twin daughters in elementary school. At a time when American education faces criticism for demanding too little of students,a clear disparity is evident. Students have extraordinary pressures placed on them and parents are hyper-involved in their children’s education. Hessler describes how the parents of the children in his daughters’ class frequently post on chat groups about the smallest details, referring to their children as though they had merged with themselves. “We have finished our math”. “We will be wearing shorts today”. This kind of dry, understated humor, though subtle, is consistently present for the attentive reader and one of the pleasures of reading his books. Many schools in China publicly post student rankings so everyone knows who is first and who is the last. Maintaining student self esteem is not a priority in China, at least not for those at the bottom. In spite of this, the dedication of Chinese students can surprise anyone unfamiliar with China. During an earthquake, one student rushed into a collapsing building to save English textbooks. Rather than being admonished for recklessness, his actions were praised by a teacher.
Among the things distinguishing Other Rivers from the books on China centered around dark events like the Great Leap Forward and the Cultural Revolution, Hessler's personal experience of China’s changes over twenty five years and his enduring attachment to his students are what stand out and make him worth reading. Many of his original students went on to live ordinary lives as teachers while some, following Deng Xiaoping’s saying “To be rich is glorious”, indeed became quite rich. One of Hessler’s former students created a business installing elevators in old apartment buildings. Most older buildings in China lack elevators, forcing residents to climb many flights of stairs. This former student, turned entrepreneur, offered a solution: residents could pay a fee, scaled by floor level, to install an elevator and receive a key that only reached their own apartment.
Between 1978 and 2019, China’s economy grew at an astonishing 9.5% annually, lifting millions from poverty into the middle class. Opportunities flourished, and optimism was widespread. In recent years, however, growth has slowed, and many young graduates now face a more competitive job market. This shift has inspired the “lying flat” movement, where some young people push back against burnout and social pressure by stepping away from constant striving. While the mood has become more uncertain, China continues to adapt to a new economic reality after decades of rapid change.
Drawing on twenty-five years of experience in China, Hessler skillfully weaves together past and present. His discussion of John Dewey’s lectures on educational reform in China from 1919 to 1921, which later influenced the school his daughters attended, adds depth to the narrative and insight into his students’ lives. Despite the great diversity of themes and materials Peter Hessler cohesively integrates Chinese education, the covid lockdown and his personal experience of censorship into an impressive and unified memoir that should appeal to anyone interested in China.
Other Rivers: A Chinese Education is available through Fordham University Libraries: Walsh Library LA1133.7 .H37 2024
Naturally, as library people often do at this time of year, we reflect upon the details and events of 2025, and that includes a list of the books we read over the past year. One of the many perks of working at a library is perhaps the most obvious: We are surrounded by books! Read on to discover what books our library staff could not put down in 2025.
Alexa Sanders, Electronic Resources Librarian
One of my favorite books I read this year was The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennet, the first book in the Shadow of the Leviathan series. This is a fantasy murder mystery that follows a Watson-and-Holmes style duo tasked with investigating crimes across a vast empire that runs on a unique biotech magic system. The scope of worldbuilding in this book is insane, but I also found the book had a lot to say about bureaucracy, corruption, and governance in times of crisis. The second book, A Drop of Corruption, came out this year and was just as great!
Gabriella DiMeglio, Archives and Special Collections Librarian
My favorite book that I’ve read this year is The Secret History by Donna Tartt. This story is set at a picturesque liberal arts college whose campus sounds a bit like Fordham's. The plot is (hopefully) less reminiscent of Fordham, as it's marked by murder and a list of questionable values. Tartt uses an intriguing form -- psychological thriller -- to deliver a provocative commentary on the world of academia.
Maria Sanchez, Access Services and Circulation Support Staff
Everything is Tuberculosis by John Green
Did you know Adirondack chairs and the state of New Mexico probably wouldn't exist without tuberculosis? Everything is Tuberculosis: the history and persistence of our deadliest infection by John Greene is not only an informative and well told story of the entrenchment of this disease in human history, but it's beautifully and compassionately written as a call to action for the millions of people who are actively living with TB or who will soon contract it. Greene points out how devastating it is that there is a cure for this horrifying illness, but the cure is not available where the disease is active due to healthcare inequities. In this country we are insulated from the suffering and deaths because we've been able to eradicate it here, but Green warns if the disease continues to spread in the rest of the world it may mutate and become a problem for us once again. You will be fascinated, saddened and angered by what you learn in this book!
Frances Seabrook, Access Services Assistant
Set during the early twentieth century, The Heart is a Lonely Hunter by Carson McCullers, follows a few oddballs living in a small Southern town. Its characters meditate on gender, race, and class, and the book migrates between darkly funny and heart-wrenching. Also, a must-read for anyone who grew up a tomboy.
What if you worked for a top-secret government agency that brought time travelers from the past to modern-day London? Also, what if your ward was a handsome British naval officer who was lost in an infamous polar expedition, and you two fell in love? The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley is for fans of AMC's The Terror, or anyone looking for a romance with complex characters who frequently make wrong decisions and compartmentalize things they definitely shouldn’t.
Jeannie Hoag, Reference & Assessment Librarian
Both cozy and literary, Tom Lake by Ann Patchett, takes place primarily at a Michigan cherry orchard during harvest season in 2020. As the narrator and her family rush to complete the harvest (understaffed because of the pandemic), she shares the story of her brief acting career and her brush with fame.
Jane Suda, Head of Reference & Information Services
The Stars Too Fondly by Emily Hamilton is pure escapist delight for lovers of science fiction, rom-coms, and action. It is set in the year 2061. The planet Earth is soon to be uninhabitable due to climate change. Four friends in their 20s accidentally steal a spaceship originally designed to launch a survival colony on a distant planet. The dark matter that runs the spaceship also bestows superpowers upon the friends, which they dearly need to survive their adventure and save humanity. This quick read is the perfect antidote to scholarly article overload.
Hannah Lettieri, Emerging Technologies Librarian
The Bee Sting by Paul Murray was the first book I read this year and I still haven't been able to get it out of my head. This novel is a funny, tender, and beautifully messy story about a family on the brink. Paul Murray weaves humor and heartbreak so effortlessly that you can’t help but root for every imperfect character. If you love immersive, heartfelt fiction, this one’s a must-read.
HEY RAMS!-- What were some of your favorite books that you read this year? We'd love to hear about them. Comment below and let us know what should be on our reading list next.