Not a Self-Help Book: The Misadventures of Marty Wu | Yi Shun Lai | Talks at Google

TL;DR

The video discusses the lack of diversity in the publishing industry and the importance of reading and publishing diverse books.

Transcript

what a pleasure to be here with all of you um we are here to talk about reading diversely but I want to just give you a little bit of background of what uh of what we're talking about here um here's what I know about these United States um and these are figures from the 2015 census that came out last year uh we are 77% white 133% black or African-A... Read More

Key Insights

• 🖤 The publishing industry lacks diversity, and there is a need for more representation in literature.
• 😑 Small and micro presses are often more focused on publishing diverse books compared to larger publishing houses.
• 🫠 It is important to read diversely and be conscious of the types of books being read to encourage more diversity in literature.
• 👨‍🔬 Writers should strive to accurately portray diverse cultures, either through personal experience or thorough research.

Questions & Answers

Q: Why does the speaker believe it is important for literature to reflect the demographics of society?

The speaker believes that literature is a reflection of society and should represent the diverse experiences and cultures of the population.

Q: What advice did the popular agent give the speaker regarding her book?

The agent advised the speaker to make the mother character more Asian by including more broken English and cultural indicators.

Q: Why does the speaker believe it is important to demand diversity in literature as readers and consumers?

The speaker believes that by demanding diversity in literature, readers can encourage the publishing industry to publish a wider range of voices and stories.

Q: How does the speaker recommend finding diverse books?

The speaker suggests seeking out small and micro presses that focus on publishing diverse narratives. She also recommends looking at personal bookshelves and being conscious of the types of books being read.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The speaker discusses the demographics of the United States and the lack of diversity in the publishing industry.

• The speaker shares her experience of trying to publish her own book and the feedback she received from agents and editors.

• The speaker highlights the importance of reading diversely and the need for more representation in literature.