BOOK REVIEWS
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Publisher’s Weekly (starred review)“In this impressive debut, [former] Buddhist chaplain Han offers an illuminating analysis of the intersection of race and privilege within American Buddhist communities”
Read the full review on PW |
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Booklist“Be the Refuge is first and foremost a celebration. Han’s interviewees descend from numerous countries, followed various paths to their faith, practice in different ways, and often question the validity of their own identity; but Han argues—compellingly and joyfully—that all contribute to a diverse and thriving American Buddhism.”
Read the full review on Booklist (subscribers only) |
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Kirkus Reviews“Han’s debut book, which began as her master’s thesis, might have languished as a sociological study for academics if not for the advice of novelist Ruth Ozeki, who told her, ‘Make it an account of your curiosity. Put yourself in’”
Read the full review on Kirkus |
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Library Journal“Han’s contribution to this overlooked aspect of the Asian American experience is an important one as it gives a voice to many invisible people in American society’”
Read the full review on Library Journal (subscribers only) |
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San Francisco Book Review (5/5 stars)“In Be The Refuge, Buddhists from all backgrounds will find truth in the words of like-minded people from various Asian streams, dealing squarely with the complexity of ‘betwixt-and-between’ racial identities and life experiences”
Read the full review by Maileen Hamto on San Francisco Book Review |
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The Existential Buddhist“Readily accessible to all readers... personal, intimate, and urgent”
Read the full review by Seth Zuihō Segall on The Existential Buddhist |
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Chaplaincy Innovation Lab“Han brings a chaplain’s skills of deep listening and storytelling, moving from dialogue and narrative to meaning-making and analysis”
Read the full review by Elaine Yuen on Chaplaincy Innovation Lab |
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Buddhadharma“Each section of Han’s groundbreaking volume traces the history of important Asian American Buddhists’ contributions in the West—from the initial trailblazers, to the bridge-builders, to the integrators, to the refuge-makers”
Read the full review by Joie Szu-Chiao on Buddhadharma |
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Tricycle“Be the Refuge opens the door for deep and difficult conversations about race, religion, and representation”
Read the full review by Wendy Biddlecombe Agsar on Tricycle |
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Lion’s Roar“Each section of Han’s groundbreaking volume traces the history of important Asian American Buddhists’ contributions in the West—from the initial trailblazers, to the bridge-builders, to the integrators, to the refuge-makers”
Read the full review by Tracy Franz on Lion’s Roar |
INTERVIEWS
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March 2021 | Tricycle
Young. Asian. American. Buddhist: What These Words Cannot SayMemoir, anger, intersectionality, refuge-making: based on a conversation with Dr. Ann Gleig, hosted by Books & Books
Read the full interview on Tricycle |
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January 2021 | Asian/Pacific American Librarians Association
APALA Author Interview: Chenxing Han
Identity and diversity, publishing challenges, reading recommendations, and beloved libraries: an interview with Jaena Rae Cabrera
Read the full interview on APALA |
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January 2021 | Dharma Realm Buddhist University
Dharma Coming to Life: An Interview with Author Chenxing Han
On the intersection of chaplaincy, writing, and Buddhism: an interview with DRBU
Read the full interview on DRBU |
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Summer 2020 | Buddhadharma
Forum: How Millennials are Reframing the Buddhist PathA conversation with Gesshin Greenwood, Matthew Hepburn, and Lama Bryn Dawson, moderated by Ray Buckner
Read on the full dialogue on Buddhadharma |
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July 2020 | Medium
Interview with a Writer: Chenxing HanWriting process, future projects, advice for aspiring writers: an interview with Vincent Lim
Read the full interview on Medium |
PODCASTS
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Published February 2, 2021
The Road Home PodcastA conversation with Ethan Nichtern, who writes, “This episode is dedicated to Chenxing’s friend and inspiring fellow crusader in Buddhism and race relations; the late, great, Angry Asian Buddhist, Aaron J. Lee”
Listen on The Road Home |
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Published February 6, 2021
The Road Home PodcastA conversation with Koun Franz, who notes, “Your book opens with this beautiful invocation, and it really invites the reader into a Buddhist space... it’s a stance that I would love to see more of”
Listen on The Lion’s Roar podcast |
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Published January 18, 2021
The Imperfect Buddha PodcastA conversation with Matthew O’Connell, who writes that Be the Refuge “fills a gap in our collective understanding”
Listen on IBP |
MENTIONS
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March 2021 | North Atlantic Books
NAB Stands Against Anti-Asian Racism & HateNorth Atlantic Books stands against the violence and racism perpetrated against Asian Americans and in solidarity with Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities.
Read on the North Atlantic Books blog |
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March 2021 | Tricycle
Addressing Violence Against Asian Americans
“Asian American Buddhists have made invaluable contributions to the development of American Buddhism. We should all recognize that and be grateful for it.”
Read on Tricycle |
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January 2021 | Washington Post via Religion News Service
Millennial and Gen Z Buddhists Created an Online Forum to Explore Their IdentityCaitlin Yoshiko Kandil on how the Young Buddhist Editorial, founded by millennial and Gen Z Asian Americans
Read on Washington Post (subscribers only) or Religion News Service |
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February 2021 | Buddhistdoor Global
Millennial and Gen Z Buddhists Created an Online Forum to Explore Their IdentityJustin Whitaker on the one-year anniversary of the Young Buddhist Editorial
Read on Buddhistdoor Global |
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March 2021 | Young Buddhist Editorial
“Be the Refuge” Shines Light on Asian American Buddhism
Derek Tahara on the themes within, and writing process behind, Be the Refuge
Read on Young Buddhist Editorial |
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February 2021 | Aunt Lute Books
New Book Out Now by Former Aunt Lute Staff MemberNews and notes from the intersectional feminist publisher Aunt Lute Books
Read on Aunt Lute Books |
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February 2021 | North Atlantic Books
Letter from the Publisher: Be the RefugeTim McKee on the collective efforts that brought Be the Refuge into being
Read on the North Atlantic Books blog |
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January 2021 | Tricycle
Buddha Buzz Weekly: Tashi Wangchuk Released from PrisonEmily DeMaioNewton and Karen Jensen on Tashi Wangchuk’s release, the Young Buddhist Editorial, and other uplifting news
Read on Tricycle |
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November 2020 | Religion News Service
Dying “the Buddhist Way” Gains in Hospice Centers in the WestKen Chitwood on the emergence of Buddhist-oriented hospices in the United States and elsewhere
Read on Religion News Service |
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2018 | Wheel of Dharma
TechnoBuddha Conference 2018: Incorporating Buddhism into Our Daily LivesCalvin Tamano and Kiyumi Nishida on Jodo Shinshu Center’s eleventh annual gathering of young adult Buddhists
Read on Wheel of Dharma |
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2017 | Runner’s World
Running for Her LifeJohn Brant on the extraordinary life of Amy Frohnmayer Winn
Read on Runner's World |
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2016 | The Atlantic
How Can South Africa Kickstart Its Tech Industry?Rebecca Gibian and Diana Crandall on the rise of coding and programming organizations in Cape Town
Read on The Atlantic |
