Biao Xiang；Qi Wu

4.41245 learners

In this candid, far-reaching conversation between sociologist Xiang Biao and writer Wu Qi, *Using Oneself as a Method* introduces a radical approach to understanding the world: treating your own personal experiences as a critical research tool. Drawing on Xiang’s formative years at Peking University—from a transformative year of military training to his ground-breaking fieldwork in Beijing’s Zhejiang Village—his struggles adapting to Oxford’s rigorous doctoral program, and his eye-opening time in Singapore, the book unpacks the tensions between academic theory and lived reality. It explores globalization’s unspoken dynamics, the rigid divide between 'center' and 'margins' in Chinese society, and the hollowing out of public discourse today. Rejecting abstract jargon and elite-centric thinking, Xiang advocates for rooting research in everyday life, embracing self-reflection, and empowering readers to turn their own stories into a lens to unpack hidden social truths.

Xiang Biao

3.6675 learners

Based on 6 years of immersive participant observation in Beijing’s Zhejiang Village—a bustling enclave of Wenzhou migrant entrepreneurs—*Transcending Boundaries* challenges Western-dominated social science frameworks that often misinterpret Chinese social dynamics. Author Xiang Biao unpacks how this community thrived beyond formal systems, building a nationwide circulation network rooted in flexible, overlapping family and business ties. He critiques outdated theories like embeddedness and the traditional-modern dichotomy, introducing localized concepts such as *xi* (a dynamic, individual-centered network) and "cluster of relations" to explain the village’s resilience—from evading government crackdowns to bouncing back stronger after the 1995 mass cleanup. This ethnographic study advocates for centering everyday practices over abstract theories, offering a fresh lens to understand migrant communities, informal economies, and the interplay between grassroots networks and state institutions.