New Books in Sociology Xiang Biao and Wu Qi, "Self as Method: Thinking Through China and the World" (Palgrave Macmillan, 2022)
Sep 22, 2025
In this engaging discussion, Xiang Biao, a social anthropologist and director at the Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology, shares insights from his impactful book, Self as Method. He emphasizes the importance of intellectual activism for China’s youth, encouraging them to think independently. The conversation explores how social media influences polarization, the distinction between self-improvement and systemic change, and the significance of local observation for individual agency. Xiang also discusses the intersection of theory and public engagement, highlighting new research on ambition.
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Break Academic Hibernation
- Xiang Biao urges breaking academic hibernation to connect social science to public life.
- He argues social science should give people a meaningful big-picture to understand themselves.
Think Through Concrete Conflicts
- Pay attention to concrete conflicts to avoid polarized, moralizing debates.
- Detailed, local understanding prevents profiling opponents and supports practical policy discussion.
Use The Self As Analytical Method
- Problematising your own life reveals how social forces shape you and enables clearer action.
- Open up your self as a landscape to connect personal history to collective change.
