Book notes of HOW TO AMERICAN

Here is the revised version by ChatGPT:

This is one of the rare English books I have finished, and it is the first memoir I have ever read. I counted my reading speed—it took me one hour to read 20 pages. It was not easy, mainly because about 8 percent of the words were unfamiliar to me. However, the story was funny and lively, which intrigued me to keep reading. Eventually, I completed all 220 pages of this book.

The most impressive moment in the story was when this miserable guy, who struggled with his life, finally began to change on page 170. For almost 70 percent of the book, he was unlucky and pathetic, with bad things happening to him one after another.

This book tells the story of one of millions of immigrants. Every immigrant experiences culture shock and language challenges. The main character, poor Jimmy, moved to the US at age 13. On his first school day, a girl asked him, “What’s up?” He didn’t understand, even though he had been educated in English in Hong Kong. This left him desperate. Jimmy had no money and no girlfriend for many years. Compared to his two coworkers, who had slept with over a hundred women by their 30s, Jimmy was still a virgin despite trying multiple times to build relationships.

I had no idea who Jimmy O. Yang was before I read this book. I thought he was notable for his stand-up shows, but that wasn’t true. In the book, Jimmy revealed that many stand-up comedians are poor and barely get paid for their shows. Only those truly desperate would take this job to make a living. Jimmy’s real jobs included being a doorman, a DJ, and a used car salesman. He couldn’t even afford $300 in rent until he finally landed a role as a series regular actor, which allowed him to quit his second job as an Uber driver.

This book is quite fun, filled with interesting scenes and Jimmy’s inner reactions. It shows a young man’s struggle to assimilate into American society, find his identity, and chase his dream. However, he was often met with embarrassment, which was both hilarious and pitiable. Maybe that’s why comedy often carries sadness and tears.

At the end, Jimmy said that he didn’t see English, stand-up, and auditions as barriers but as opportunities to grow. I deeply agree with that. This story ended with a pure Asian movie, and Jimmy was proud of his ethnicity. He believed that all he and other Asian actors did would change and improve the impression of Asians in America and the world. It’s really worth a thumbs-up.

This book is a truly good memoir about a Chinese immigrant’s experience and how he chased his American dream. It also revealed things we usually only hear about on TV: gangsters, strippers, drugs, and how to audition in Hollywood. To be honest, it expanded my knowledge and gave me some surprises.

On the other hand, this book is excellent for intermediate English learners. The story is funny and engaging, and the language Jimmy used is common and natural in real life. While there are some new words, you can easily guess their meaning from the context.

I bought the audiobook as well, and I plan to read this book at least three more times. I look forward to enjoying Jimmy’s story again, exploring more details, and gaining even more benefits for my English learning.

My original version with corrections:

This is one my rarely finished English book, and it is the first memoir I had read.I had counted my reading speed, it cost me one hour to deal with 20 pages. It is not easy, mainly because there was about 8 percent words are strange to me, but the story is funny and lively, that intrigued me keep reading and eventually I completed all 220 pages of this book.

The most impressive moment in reading is that this miserable guy who struggled with his life until it really began changed on page 170, so almost 70 percent content from the beginning he was so unlucky and lame, bad things came after him one by one. This book is about one of the millions immigrants story. Every immigrant had experienced the culture shock and language challenge, our main character, poor Jimmy, he moved to US at his 13, at his first school day a girl asked him "What's up?" He didn't understand it at all, even he got English educated in HongKong, it is helpless and made him despertate. Jimmy had no money and no girl friend for many years, compare to his two co-workers, they had sex with over one hundred girls at their thirties, Jimmy was still a virgin even he tried many time but failed of building relationship with girls.

I have no any idea about Jimmy O Yang before I read this book, I thought this guy was notable by his stand up show, but it is not true. In the book Jimmy revealed that many stand up comedians are so poor and barely get paid from their show, only someone are truly desperate then they will take this job for living. So Jimmy's real job was like doorman, then was DJ and used car salesman. He even can't affort 300 bucks rent until he finally get the series regular actor change, so he could quit his second job at that time, Uber driver.

This book is quiet fun with many interesting scene and his inner reactions, it shows a young man's struggle with trying to assimillate US society, then find and chase his American dream. But as I mentioned, he was beaten with embarrassment  every time, those looks hilarious and pity, maybe that is why comedy always with sad and tears.

Needless to say(this phrase appeared many time so I remembered), at the end, Jimmy said that he didn't treat English, stand up and audition as barrier but opportunities to make him grow up, I deeply agree with that. This story ended with a pure Asian movie and Jimmy was proud his ethicity and believe all he and our Asian actors did will change and improve the impression by American and whole world, it really worth a thumb up.

Besides it is a truly good memoir about a Chinese immigrant experience and how to chase his American dream, it revealed some things we only heard them on the TV: gangsters, strippers, drugs and how to audition in Hollywood, etc. To be honest, it expanded my knowledge and gave me some shock.

On the other hand, this book is a good English learning material for intermediate learners. First of all, the story was very funny and intriguing, secondly the words Jimmy used are common and natural in real life. Even there are some new vocabs but you can easily guess the meaning by the context.

I bought its audio version as well when I was reading, so next I am going to read this book for more than three times, I am looking forward to enjoy Jimmy's story again with more details and get more benefits for my English learning.

Paragraph 1

• “one my rarely finished English book” → “ one of the rare English books I have finished ” (correct article use and plural form).
• “I had counted” → “ I counted ” (past simple is appropriate since the action is complete).
• “it cost me” → “ it took me ” (natural English phrasing).
• “there was about 8 percent words are strange” → “ about 8 percent of the words were unfamiliar ” (improved grammar and word choice).

Paragraph 2

• “changed on page 170” → “ began to change on page 170 ” (more precise phrasing).
• “he was so unlucky and lame” → “ he was unlucky and pathetic ” (better word choice).
• “bad things came after him one by one” → “ bad things happening to him one after another ” (smoother phrasing).

Paragraph 3

• “This book is about one of the millions immigrants story” → “ This book tells the story of one of millions of immigrants ” (clearer phrasing and grammar).
• “at his 13” → “ at age 13 ” (correct phrasing).
• “he tried many time but failed of building relationship” → “ despite trying multiple times to build relationships ” (correct grammar and smoother phrasing).

Paragraph 4

• “I have no any idea” → “ I had no idea ” (simplified and natural phrasing).
• “until he finally get the series regular actor change” → “ until he finally landed a role as a series regular actor ” (correct verb tense and phrasing).

Paragraph 5

• “quiet fun” → “ quite fun ” (spelling correction).
• “trying to assimillate US society” → “ to assimilate into American society ” (correct preposition and phrasing).

Final Paragraph

• “I have no any” → “ I had no idea ” (redundant “no any”).
• “it really worth a thumb up” → “ it’s really worth a thumbs-up ” (correct grammar and idiomatic phrasing).
• “vocab” → “ words ” (avoiding slang for consistency).

Key Points to Improve
1. Verb Tense Consistency: Stick to past simple when describing completed actions.
2. Sentence Structure: Simplify long sentences for clarity.
3. Word Choice: Replace less formal or awkward words with natural alternatives.
4. Grammar: Correct articles, prepositions, and plural forms.