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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Journal of Global Buddhism“Han’s narrative is refreshing and gripping as she organizes her data in such a way you feel you are just following along on her deeply emotional journey of struggling to find peers, gradually feeling less lonely and less angry, and eventually losing a dear friend”
Read the full review by Dr. Hsiao-Lan Hu on Journal of Global Buddhism |
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Reading Religion“Han’s vivid storytelling shatters the racialized stereotype of ‘the superstitious Asian Buddhist’”
Read the full review by Dr. Jessica Zu on Reading Religion |
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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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Asian/Pacific American Librarians Association“A celebration of Asian American Buddhist practice that seeks to boost their exposure and call for a collective Asian American Buddhist identity”
Read the full review by Tim Chu on APALA |
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Sumeru Books“A celebration of Asian American Buddhist practice that seeks to boost their exposure and call for a collective Asian American Buddhist identity”
Read the full review by John Negru on Sumeru |
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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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July 2021 | Buddhistdoor Global
For the Ancestors and for Peace: A Conversation with the Organizers of “May We Gather”
An interview with Harsha Menon on the May 4th national Buddhist memorial for Asian American ancestors
Read the full interview on Buddhistdoor Global |
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May 2021 | Los Angeles Review of Books
Authorship as ChaplaincyAn interview with Ana Mina of LARB on what Buddhism offers Asian Americans, balancing patience and urgency, how the internet and the pandemic have shaped Be the Refuge, and more
Read the full interview on LARB |
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May 2021 | Insight Meditation Society
Meet the Author: Chenxing HanAn interview with Albert Karcher for the IMS Book Club
Read the full interview on IMS |
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May 2021 | San Francisco Zen Center
Roots and Refuge: An Interview with Chenxing HanAn interview with Tova Green on Be the Refuge and May We Gather
Read the full interview on the SFZC blog |
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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 May 3, 2021
Ten Percent Happier with Dan Harris | What Everyone Who Meditates Should Know“If you meditate (or do yoga, for that matter)… you owe a gigantic debt of gratitude to the giants and geniuses in Asia who developed these practices. Today on the podcast we talk to two fascinating guests, Chenxing Han and Duncan Ryūken Williams, about what it’s been like for them to be Asian American Buddhists in the midst of this spate of anti-Asian hate crimes, and walk us through the long and ugly history of anti-Buddhist violence in America.”
Listen on Ten Percent Happier |
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Published May 16, 2021
Buddhist Church of Oakland | Gotan-e ServiceA Dharma talk conversation with Rev. Harry Bridge, in a special service commemorating the birth, youth, life and teachings of Shinran Shonin. Our dialogue begins at the 17 min 20 sec mark in the video.
Watch on BCO’s YouTube channel |
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Published April 23, 2021
Noble Mind | On Raising the Voices of Asian AmercaA conversation with Katherine King, PsyD and Alex Gokce, MSW, who recommend this episode for “insights on coping with anti-Asian violence, finding your path as an Asian American, and learning what you can do to create more inclusive Buddhist communities”
Listen on Noble Mind |
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Published May 13, 2021
Interfaith Voices (full show) | A Different View of American BuddhismA conversation with Ambereen Khan: “Han reflects on the teachings of Buddhism that guide her through encounters with suffering, isolation, and grief’
Listen on Interfaith Voices |
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Published March 28, 2021
Interfaith Voices (abridged version) | Where Are All the Asian American BuddhistsA conversation with Ambereen Khan: “Han skillfully brings her training as a chaplain to curate conversations and a new framework for understanding how privilege, culture, and identity intersect in the American Buddhist landscape”
Listen on Interfaith Voices |
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Published February 2, 2021
The Road Home Podcast | Be the Refuge with Chenxing HanA 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
Lion’s Roar Podcast | Asian American Buddhists and The Myth of Two BuddhismsA 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 Podcast | Be the Refuge, Asian Buddhism in AmericaA 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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May 2021 | San Diego Public Library
Read More! with Trevor: Asian American & Pacific Islander Month“Buddhist layperson Chenxing Han writes a necessary correction to many American ideas about Buddhists and Buddhism.”
Watch the 2-minute video on SDPL’s YouTube channel |
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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 |
