About this item
An Asian American basketball star walks into a gym. No one recognizes him, but everyone stares anyway. It is the start of a joke but what is the punchline? When Won Lee, the first Asian American in the NBA, stuns the world in a seven-game winning streak, the global media audience dubs it “The Wonder”—much to Won’s chagrin. Meanwhile, Won struggles to get attention from his coach, his peers, his fans, and most importantly, his hero, Powerball!, who also happens to be Won’s teammate and the captain. Covering it all is sportswriter Robert Sung, who writes about Won's stardom while grappling with his own missed hoops opportunities as well as his place as an Asian American in media. And to witness it all is Carrie Kang, a big studio producer, who juggles a newfound relationship with Won while attempting to bring K-drama to an industry not known to embrace anything new or different.
The Sense of Wonder follows Won and Carrie as they chronicle the human and professional tensions exacerbated by injustices and fight to be seen and heard on some of the world’s largest stages. An incredibly funny and heart-rending dive into race and our “collective imagination that lays bare our limitations before blasting joyfully past them” (Catherine Chung). This is the work of a gifted storyteller at the top of his game.
About the Author
Matthew Salesses was adopted from Korea. He is the author of the Amazon bestseller, THE HUNDRED-YEAR FLOOD, the national bestseller, CRAFT IN THE REAL WORLD, and the PEN/Faulkner Finalist DISAPPEAR DOPPELGÄNGER DISAPPEAR. His writing can be found in Best American Essays 2020, NPR, The New York Times, The Guardian, VICE.com, and many other publications. His previous books include I'M NOT SAYING, I'M JUST SAYING (a novel) ; DIFFERENT RACISMS: ON STEREOTYPES, THE INDIVIDUAL, AND ASIAN AMERICAN MASCULINITY (essays) ; and THE LAST REPATRIATE (a novella) . In 2015, Buzzfeed named him one of 32 Essential Asian American Writers. He has taught for Tin House, Kundiman, and One Story, among others.
