Who will save us from the self-help revolution?

Sinica: Who will save us from the self-help revolution?

Someone desperately needs to call a fumigator, because China's self-help bug is eating up the woodwork. Train station bookstores may always have served the genre's trite pabulum to bored businessmen legging it cross-country, but in recent months the popularity of the cult has spread more widely, to the point one can't go to a party these days without being accosted for one's thoughts on "the Secret", or hear co-workers fume over where their cheese might have gone and which of their colleagues has probably taken it.

Drowning in this morass of anti-Enlightenment thinking? Join us on Sinica as we excoriate the self-help movement in a show featuring an almost unanimous bewilderment, tempted only by the fascinating insights of Eric Hendriks, Peking University postdoc and lecturer and researcher on this fascinating topic. We welcome all listeners to share their feedback and thoughts in the comment section below, and encourage everyone to download our standalone mp3 file to share this show with friends and colleagues who may have fallen victim to the self-help bug.

milesl

said on

July 2, 2015

This was a fabulously interesting podcast episode to me, both because I share Kaiser's loathing for the gamut of the self-help subgenres (whoever said that during the episode said it seconds after I voiced the same word) AND because I'm just really interested in Eric's comparison as a former (7-year) resident of Germany.... So I'm commenting mostly to request the promised pieces of his book, which I will *also* order in its entirety when it's out (Eric never mentioned the publisher, & so if it's an outrageously expensive academic one, I may not order it *personally*).

I've never commented before, and I've been listening to the podcast for only a few months now, but I must say it's wonderful. On the regular feed now!

Huohuo Huang

said on

July 2, 2015

I am also here to request the promised pieces of Eric's book, or his email address which was promised to be put on this website.

It is a very intriguing and thought-provoking topic. Besides what has been discussed in the episode, I would also like to listen to discussion on the growing anti chicken soup mentality among young people/generation in 1-tier cities, one of the behaviors is muting their relatives or even parents on wechat moments because of that.

Eric C. Hendriks

said on

July 2, 2015

Hi Huohuo and Miles,

Yes sorry, we forgot to add my email. It's e.c.hendriks@pku.edu.cn

If you write me, I will send you the introduction and conclusion of my book (will be published this summer by Brill) and a summary of my findings on China.

Best, Eric

milesl

said on

July 3, 2015

Thank you, will do, Eric! And another thought about the relationship between particular political landscapes and self-help: How very different this sounds ...

"I am no longer accepting things I cannot change. It is now time to change the things I cannot accept."

...when it come from the mouth of a progressive candidate for U.S. President!! (Bernie Sanders '16, last night in Madison, WI, USA)

james.treleaven

said on

July 9, 2015

Please have Michael Pettis on the podcast to talk about what is going on with the Chinese economy. He has more intelligent and interesting things to say about the Chinese economy than everyone else in the world put together, IMHO. For goodness sakes - look at his CV. How many people have fought in the trenches like Soros AND taught in the ivory tower like Krugman? Please, please, please have Michael Pettis on.

shanghainow_ornever

said on

August 5, 2015

can't remember if it was this podcast or another one (sometimes I listen to a few back to back), but I recall you saying something about having developed sciatica, Kaiser. at the risk of sounding like a self-help guru, I can give you some tips on dealing with that, if you like. just drop an email...

knutwimberger

said on

August 23, 2015

http://www.mycountryandmypeople.org/blog-2133823458/-is-kaiser-kuo-after-all-just-a-cynical-snob-tbc-a-critical-reply-to-a-sinica-podcast-on-self-help-literature

solveigssuess

said on

April 10, 2016

Aihwa Ong has written articles and books on China's liquid approach to sovereignty- addressing China's appropriation of neoliberal logic. Her article called "Neoliberalism as a Mobile Technology" is a must read after hearing this podcast sesh!

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