Gus Lee
Gus Lee, born on August 8, 1946, in San Francisco, California, is a notable author who began his writing career at the age of forty-five after a diverse background in the military and law. His first book, *China Boy*, published in 1991, draws heavily from his own childhood experiences growing up in a challenging environment shaped by his Chinese-American heritage, familial conflicts, and the quest for identity. Lee's early life was marked by the loss of his mother and a tumultuous relationship with his stepmother, leading him to seek solace and strength through boxing and academic achievement. His protagonist, Kai Ting, mirrors Lee's journey, exploring themes of resilience and cultural struggle in his subsequent novels, including *Honor and Duty* and *Tiger's Tail*. Beyond fiction, Lee has written memoirs and leadership books, such as *Courage: The Backbone of Leadership*, focusing on personal development and the lessons learned throughout his life. As of the mid-2020s, he remains active as a leadership consultant and executive coach, continuing to share insights from his multifaceted experiences. Lee's work resonates with those interested in personal growth, cultural identity, and the complexities of the immigrant experience in America.
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Subject Terms
Gus Lee
- Born: August 8, 1946
- Birthplace: San Francisco, California
Author Profile
Writer. Gus Lee came to writing late in life, at age forty-five, after having a career in the military and as a lawyer. In 1989, his daughter asked him a question about his mother, and that simple question led to his first book, China Boy, in 1991. Born in San Francisco in a tough neighborhood, the Panhandle, Lee found his childhood full of danger on the streets. At home, he felt divided. His father and mother had come from mainland China in the early 1940s and were wealthy and educated. His father had a military background and had fought for the Nationalist army. American Christian missionaries had educated his mother. Lee’s mother died when he was five years old, and his stepmother had new ideas about the traditional Chinese ways. Lee had to fight in the streets with the help of boxing courses he took at the Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA). He also had to battle at home with his stepmother, who wanted him to become more American.
Lee describes the early days as being very stifled by rules at home. Lee rebelled against his controlling stepmother, reading his homework but refusing to concentrate. He got good grades but was not involved. Lee’s father also attempted to direct him, objecting to the Christianity that the stepmother taught her stepson and projecting an atheistic approach that Lee felt was not right. Lee kept his mind focused on one goal—he wanted to become a West Point cadet. When he was appointed, he felt great relief, even though his life away from home as a plebe would be tough. Lee actually found the horrible harassment as a plebe at West Point to be easier than living at home.
Lee's first novel, China Boy, uses many autobiographical events to tell the story of a young boy, Kai Ting, growing up in San Francisco. Skinny, weak, and timid, Kai Ting finds a friend at the neighborhood YMCA, learns self-defense, and returns to the streets with more confidence.
His second novel, Honor and Duty (1994), also uses Kai Ting as his fictional hero and takes this character through many tough days at West Point. Kai Ting must obey the older cadets, study mathematics, and follow the West Point honor code. Coming upon a group of cheating cadets, Kai Ting agonizes about reporting them to the authorities, knowing they will be removed from West Point if he informs them. His acclaimed 1996 novel Tiger's Tail (1995) takes place at the demilitarized zone (DMZ) on the Korean Peninsula and follows a man dealing with personal demons stemming from his involvement in the Vietnam War. It also paints the cultural differences between Chinese, Koreans, and Americans. No Physical Evidence (1998) is another thriller set in San Francisco. Lee also published a memoir, Chasing Hepburn (2002), that charts four generations of his family's history, from China to the United States. He also published Courage: The Backbone of Leadership (2015) and The Courage Playbook: Five Steps to Overcome Your Fears and Become Your Best Self (2022), detailing his advice concerning leadership and courage. Additionally, With Schwarzkopf: Life Lessons of the Bear (2015) is a tribute to his friend and mentor, H. Norman Schwarzkopf. In the mid-2020s, Lee continued to work as a leadership consultant and executive coach.
Bibliography
"Author Profile: Gus Lee." Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center, apa.si.edu/bookdragon/author-profile-gus-lee. Accessed 11 Oct. 2024.
Gus Lee - Leaders of Character, LLC, www.guslee.net. Accessed 11 Oct. 2024.
Guthmann, Edward. "Gus Lee Mined His Isolated Boyhood for a Novel about the City He Loves - Now It's a Book Club Pick." SF Gate, 26 Sept. 2005, www.sfgate.com/entertainment/article/Gus-Lee-mined-his-isolated-boyhood-for-a-novel-2567730.php. Accessed 11 Oct. 2024.
Shen, Yichin. "The Site of Domestic Violence and the Altar of Phallic Sacrifice in Gus Lee’s China Boy." College Literature, vol. 29 no. 2, 2002, pp. 99–114.
Simpson, Janice C., and Iyer Pico. "Fresh Voices above the Noisy Din." Time, vol. 137, 1991, pp. 66–67.
So, Christine. "Delivering the Punch Line: Racial Combat as Comedy in Gus Lee’s China Boy." MELUS, vol. 21, no. 4, 1996, pp. 141–55.
Stone, Judy. "Gus Lee: A China Boy’s Rites of Passage." Publishers Weekly, vol. 243, no. 12, 1996, pp. 47–49.