{"product_id":"this-was-funnier-in-china-an-american-comedians-cross-cultural-journey-9781668087565","title":"This Was Funnier in China: An American Comedian's Cross-Cultural Journey","description":"\u003cb\u003eA heartfelt, one-of-a-kind memoir chronicling the hilarious, absurd, and thought-provoking experiences of an American pursuing comedy in China, learning first-hand how humor does and doesn't translate--and whether laughter transcends borders. \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003e \u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ci\u003eI marched onstage in a long robe beside my Shifu, under the curious eyes of a thousand Chinese comedy fans, armed only with a microphone and the goal to kill onstage or die trying.\u003c\/i\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ci\u003eOver the speakers, the host shouted: \u003c\/i\u003e\u003ci\u003e\"Welcome to the stage: Master Ding Guangquan and his American disciple, Ai Jie Xi!\"\u003c\/i\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e When self-proclaimed American class clown Jesse Appell signed up to study Mandarin in high school, he never imagined that one day his name would be written into the traditional family tree of Chinese comedy. But when he first moves to Beijing to apprentice to the legendary Master Ding, a single show is all it takes for Jesse and his fellow comedy misfits to understand that book learning means bombing jokes. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e To truly get the big laughs, he realizes he needs to know everything, like how long the fuse is on a thirty-cent firework, what card games coal miners play over Chinese New Year, and why comedy writers in Shanghai sometimes sleep in heart-shaped beds. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e The result? Asking questions that might seem simple--if they weren't being asked by an American caught in the breakneck whirlwind of a rising China. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \"\u003ci\u003eWhat do people here find funny?\"\u003c\/i\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ci\u003e\"How do you deal with hecklers?\"\u003c\/i\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e And, of course, the biggest one of all: \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ci\u003e\"Can I say that?\"\u003c\/i\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e From Jesse's first forays into the traditional teahouse performance scene to being the only American cast member and writer on a Chinese version of \u003ci\u003eSaturday Night Live\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eThis Was Funnier in China\u003c\/i\u003e captures an American's wide-eyed, enthusiastic experiences trying to build a world where we can all laugh together.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e Jesse Appell\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Avid Reader Press \/ Simon \u0026amp; Schuster\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 02\/10\/2026\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 288\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eBinding Type:\u003c\/b\u003e Hardcover\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 0.95lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 9.10h x 6.20w x 1.30d\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN:\u003c\/b\u003e 9781668087565\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eReview Citation(s): \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003ePublishers Weekly\u003c\/i\u003e 11\/10\/2025\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eKirkus Reviews\u003c\/i\u003e 01\/01\/2026\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eJesse Appell is a comedian in China where his original comedy works have passed half a billion views on Chinese and international internet sites, earning Silver Play Button plaques from both Youtube and Bilibili. He has been featured on the front page of \u003ci\u003eThe\u003c\/i\u003e \u003ci\u003eBoston Globe\u003c\/i\u003e with Tom Brady and the Pope, and has appeared on a veritable alphabet soup of news media: CBS, TEDx, BBC, PBS, and NPR in the West; CCTV, Beijing TV, Shanghai TV, and China Radio International in Asia. \u003ci\u003eThis Was Funnier in China\u003c\/i\u003e is his first book.\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"booksdeli.com","offers":[{"title":"Jesse Appell \/ Hardcover \/ English","offer_id":47659164172445,"sku":"9781668087565","price":49.69,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0619\/5648\/9373\/files\/img_6db3e3ae-8266-4eac-aa6e-9141f41f1fed.jpg?v=1771352035","url":"https:\/\/booksdeli.com\/products\/this-was-funnier-in-china-an-american-comedians-cross-cultural-journey-9781668087565","provider":"booksdeli.com","version":"1.0","type":"link"}