Dan Wang: How He Became America’s Favorite China Expert | How I Write
How I Write24 Sep 2025

Dan Wang: How He Became America’s Favorite China Expert | How I Write

I interviewed Dan Wang, a writer and analyst whose annual letters from China have become a first draft of modern Chinese history. We talked about how he blends personal observation with deep analysis, how to skip the cliches and write with texture instead, and how classical music and literature have shaped his writing style. What’s unique about Dan is that he built a name for himself by writing one essay per year (in an age where writers are encouraged to publish consistently). We also talked about his approach to travel writing, the difference between living in Beijing, Shanghai, and Hong Kong, how AI is changing the way he thinks (but not how he writes), and why China’s influencer culture is his least favorite thing about the country. 00:1:04 Why Dan writes Annual Letters00:07:53 Dan’s favorite novel00:15:01 Dan’s method for writing00:26:02 Why most travel writing stinks00:30:44 How to travel through China00:33:05 The regions of China, explained00:44:47 Trade books vs. academic books00:53:46 The problem with history books01:01:42 Did Dan write his book with AI?01:10:50 Dan’s least favorite part about China1:15:42 A critique of American elites1:33:08 Dan’s website got blocked in China1:39:52 What China mocks about America1:54:49 A simple way to improve your writing Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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Ada Limón & Joy Harjo: Everything I Learned From The World's Greatest Poets | How I Write

Ada Limón & Joy Harjo: Everything I Learned From The World's Greatest Poets | How I Write

I interviewed Ada Limón and Joy Harjo, two of America’s most celebrated poets and former U.S. Poet Laureates. We talked about the art of deep listening, how to translate the music of the world into la...

17 Sep 202547min

AJR: The Writing Secrets Behind TikTok's Viral Sounds | How I Write

AJR: The Writing Secrets Behind TikTok's Viral Sounds | How I Write

I interviewed Jack and Ryan from AJR, the band that has built one of the most original voices in modern music. We talked about how they use humor and vulnerability to write songs that connect on a dee...

10 Sep 20251h 31min

Steven Pressfield: The Brutal Truth About Creative Success | How I Write Classic Episode

Steven Pressfield: The Brutal Truth About Creative Success | How I Write Classic Episode

Every so often, I’ll re-publish one of my favorite How I Write episodes. This classic episode is with Steven Pressfield, the author of more than 25 books who speaks as beautifully about the creative p...

3 Sep 20251h 26min

Jimmy Soni: Kobe Bryant’s Secret Obsession with Writing | How I Write

Jimmy Soni: Kobe Bryant’s Secret Obsession with Writing | How I Write

I interviewed Jimmy Soni, who is currently writing a book about Kobe Bryant. He spent six years on his previous book about the origin story of PayPal and has mastered the art of investigative biograph...

27 Aug 20251h 30min

John Lennox: AI, God & Writing | How I Write

John Lennox: AI, God & Writing | How I Write

I interviewed John Lennox, the Oxford mathematician who's spent decades bridging science and faith. We talked about why John 1:1 reveals we live in a word-based universe, how to recognize God-breathed...

20 Aug 20251h

Henrik Karlsson: One of the world’s most under-rated writers | How I Write

Henrik Karlsson: One of the world’s most under-rated writers | How I Write

I interviewed Henrik Karlsson, a writer who's developed a five-step method for writing that starts with exploring without pressure and ends with crafting the opening last, after everything else is don...

13 Aug 20251h 31min

Jayne Anne Phillips: Learn Storytelling from a Pulitzer Winner | How I Write

Jayne Anne Phillips: Learn Storytelling from a Pulitzer Winner | How I Write

I interviewed Jayne Anne Phillips, who won the Pulitzer Prize for fiction for her novel Night Watch. We dug into passages from her writing that will show you how she thinks about voice, character, and...

6 Aug 202551min

Rosanne Cash: Writing Masterclass from 4x Grammy Winner | How I Write

Rosanne Cash: Writing Masterclass from 4x Grammy Winner | How I Write

I interviewed Rosanne Cash, a 4-time Grammy winner who's been writing songs for over 40 years. She's mastered something most writers struggle with: turning raw emotion into beautiful, lasting songs. S...

30 Juli 20251h 7min

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