Who Am I?: An Autobiography of Emotion, Mind, and Spirit (Wisconsin Studies in Autobiography)

"A stunningly good book-entrancing, exciting, beautifully written, full of aperus that stimulate, tantalize, and fulfill. Perhaps it is enough to say that I like it even better than any of Tuan's already published books." -David Lowenthal, author of The Past Is a Foreign Country Who Am I? reveals the bittersweet success story of a Chinese-American who came to this country as a twenty-year-old graduate student and stayed to become one of America's best-known writers on cultural geography, landscape, nature, and environment. His autobiography is unique. No other tells a comparable story of a Chinese immigrant whose life in the American academic world mixes recognition, accolades, and even affection-all signs of success-with a deep sense of personal failure. At one level this is a chronicle of brilliant achievement, at another the story of descent from the "world stage" to privacy. Tuan's story progresses from a childhood in which his father hobnobbed with such Chinese leaders as Chou En-lai to an adulthood spent in a number of U.S. universities. His success in writing on themes of great interest to the general public curiously isolated him from his scholarly base in geography. At a more serious level, Tuan's bitterness lies in his belief in his own moral failings, his lack of courage-including the courage to be open about his homosexuality-resulting, as he writes, "in a life that is seamed in ambivalence-achingly empty at the core, despairingly alone, yet often content, occasionally even happy," as when he catches glimpses of heaven in his exploration of the beautiful and the good. Who Am I? is the bittersweet memoir of a Chinese American who came to this country as a twenty-year-old graduate student and stayed to become one of America's most innovative intellectuals, whose work has explored the aesthetic and moral dimensions of human relations with landscape, nature, and environment. This unusually introspective autobiography mixes Yi-Fu Tuan's reflections on a life filled with recognition, accolades, and even affection -- all signs of success -- with a deep sense of personal failure.The son of a prominent Chinese diplomat, Tuan moved from a cosmopolitan childhood to a relatively quiet life as an academic in the United States, where his books on topics as diverse as the cultural role of pets and the moral implications of urban design have met with international scholarly and public acclaim. Yet, Tuan finds his life increasingly marked by detachment and isolation. In Who Am I?, he probes what he sees as his moral failings, his lack of courage -- including the courage to be open about his homosexuality -- resulting, as he writes, "in a life that is seamed in ambivalence -- achingly empty at the core, despairingly alone, yet often content, occasionally even happy, " as when he catches glimpses of heaven in his exploration of the beautiful and the good. Who Am I? Is The Bittersweet Memoir Of A Chinese American Who Came To This Country As A Twenty-year-old Graduate Student And Stayed To Become One Of America's Most Innovative Intellectuals, Whose Work Has Explored The Aesthetic And Moral Dimensions Of Human Relations With Landscape, Nature, And Environment.--jacket. Yet, Tuan Finds His Life Increasingly Marked By Detachment And Isolation. In Who Am I?, He Probes What He Sees As His Moral Failings, His Lack Of Courage - Including The Courage To Be Open About His Homosexuality - Resulting, As He Writes, In A Life That Is Seamed In Ambivalence - Achingly Empty At The Core, Despairingly Alone, Yet Often Content, Occasionally Even Happy, As When He Catches Glimpses Of Heaven In His Exploration Of The Beautiful And The Good.--jacket. 1. Autobiography: My Angle -- 2. World Stage And Public Events -- 3. Personal: From Parents To Stone -- 4. Intimate: From Justice To Love -- 5. Salvation By Geography -- 6. A Good Life? Yi-fu Tuan. Includes Bibliographical References. "Who Am I? is the bittersweet memoir of a Chinese American who came to this country as a twenty-year-old graduate student and stayed to become one of America's most innovative intellectuals, whose work has explored the aesthetic and moral dimensions of human relations with landscape, nature, and environment."--BOOK JACKET. "Yet, Tuan finds his life increasingly marked by detachment and isolation. In Who Am I?, he probes what he sees as his moral failings, his lack of courage - including the courage to be open about his homosexuality - resulting, as he writes, "in a life that is seamed in ambivalence - achingly empty at the core, despairingly alone, yet often content, occasionally even happy," as when he catches glimpses of heaven in his exploration of the beautiful and the good."--BOOK JACKET. Contents......Page 6 Illustrations......Page 8 1 Autobiography: My Angle......Page 12 2 World Stage and Public Events......Page 21 3 Personal: From Parents to Stone......Page 42 4 Intimate: From Justice to Love......Page 71 5 Salvation by Geography......Page 99 6 A Good Life?......Page 126 Notes......Page 144 Acknowledgments......Page 148