Compelled to Excel: Immigration, Education, and Opportunity Among Chinese Americans

Nancy López, Professor of Sociology at the University of New Mexico, reviews Compelled to Excel: Immigration, Education, and Opportunity Among Chinese Americans. The book is about how Chinese American young adults from a diverse range of economic backgrounds view their educational choices and ambitions. The respondents represent a range of class background, some from predominantly white suburban neighborhoods, and others from ethnic enclaves. The author concludes that despite these differences, both groups use ethnic culture to explain their educational paths, yet are pessimistic about racial discrimination in the workplace; for this reason, many chose utilitarian professions with specific licensing. 

Read book review at https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1747-7379.2005.tb00287.xf.