In Chapter 4 of “The Geography of Thought: How Asians and Westerners Think Differently… and Why” by Richard E. Nisbett, the author explores how people from Asian and Western cultures have distinct cognitive styles. He talks about how Asians tend to think holistically, considering the context and relationships between elements, while Westerners lean towards analytic thinking, focusing on individual components and categories. This impacts problem-solving and social interactions significantly. While these insights help improve cross-cultural communication, there’s a concern that oversimplifying individuals based on their cultural background may lead to stereotypes and overlook personal differences within cultural groups. Nisbett’s analysis opens up questions about the underlying mechanisms shaping these cognitive styles and whether they can change over time. Personally, I’m intrigued by how culture influences thinking and how this affects my own experiences in diverse settings. I’m eager to see future chapters explore the implications of these differences in education, workplaces, and society, offering practical ways to promote cultural understanding and collaboration in our interconnected world.

Haley Strack from National Review criticizes how Lizzo treats bodies, saying, “As for the regard that Lizzo shows for bodies, they’re her favorite toys.” Strack accuses Lizzo of not taking the female body seriously and suggests that Lizzo defends herself by saying she respects women. Strack also talks about the MeToo movement, focusing on men’s behavior and saying we shouldn’t ignore Lizzo’s accusers just because she’s a female celebrity. Sophie Hayssen from Mother Jones talks about the financial problems of the dancers, saying, “The plaintiffs claim that the singer and her production company put dancers in a precarious financial position by leaving them on ‘soft hold’ between shows.” Hayssen emphasizes how Lizzo’s production company treated the dancers and connects this problem to bigger concerns about workers’ rights: “The Lizzo lawsuit shows you can’t have representation without labor rights.” These direct quotes highlight the big differences in how each side talks about and explains the accusations, making it clear that readers need to think carefully about each perspective.

Consider what you’ve read of Kenny Xu’s book as argument. What choices has he made as a writer to strengthen his argument? Refer to at least one quote, and format your quoting in MLA format.

Kenny Xu’s book, “An Inconvenient Minority: The Attack on Asian American Excellence and the Fight for Meritocracy,” discusses the struggles faced by Asian Americans in education and their pursuit of meritocracy. The author quotes, “A 2013 study of white Californians found that when white people were told about Asian American success on standardized tests, their support for standardized tests fell significantly” (Xu 167). This quote highlights a potential bias or discomfort that arises when certain individuals become aware of the success of Asian Americans. It also adds credibility to his argument and the thesis stated at the beginning of the book.

Xu, Kevin. An Inconvinient Minority The Attack on Asian American Excellence and the Fight for Meritocracy. New York City, Diverson Books, 2021.