我给女儿的一封信：对写作、AI与财富的探讨

宝麒：

我想向你介绍两位美国畅销书的华人作家：Amy Tan 和张纯如。Amy Tan 是一位非常著名的华裔美国作家，她的作品多聚焦于华人移民家庭的生活与心理挣扎，尤其是母女关系的深刻描写。Amy Tan 1952年出生于美国旧金山，父母是中国移民。尽管她是在美国出生和成长，但她的作品常常围绕着中美文化冲突，以及华裔女性在传统与现代之间的挣扎。她的成名作《喜福会》（The Joy Luck Club）非常值得一读，这本书讲述了八位华裔美国女性及她们母亲的故事，探讨了文化身份、家庭关系，以及代际间的冲突。Amy Tan 是一个非常擅长讲故事的作家，她的作品通过细腻的笔触呈现了移民家庭中母女之间复杂而深刻的关系。虽然她自己并没有亲身经历过中国的生活，她的写作却充满了对中国文化的理解与尊重。她的写作风格可能在土生土长的中国人眼中并不完全“真实”，因为她的作品常常是通过西方的视角来讲述中国的故事，甚至有些人批评她“迎合西方读者的兴趣”。不过，我认为，你完全可以读她的书，从她的写作技巧中汲取灵感。她擅长将个人故事与广泛的文化背景结合起来，让读者既感受到情感的共鸣，又能深入思考文化差异与认同的问题。

另一位作家的写作风格则截然不同。她是历史学家张纯如，也是美国出生和成长，年龄与我相仿。尽管如此，她却有着深厚的中国文化背景，因为她的父母从小与她用中文沟通，并且培养了她对中国文化的深厚情感。她的成名作《南京大屠杀：被遗忘的二战浩劫》非常值得一读，这本书以严谨的史料揭示了南京大屠杀的惨痛历史，让读者深刻了解中国人的苦难与坚韧，以及性格中的复杂性。她的第二本书《中国人在美国》（Chinese in America）同样出色，它追溯了华人移民在美国的历史足迹，探讨了文化适应与身份认同的挑战。张纯如是一位严谨的学者，她的书籍能让你最真实地了解历史，当然，你也可以从中窥探中国人性格的复杂性。

我觉得，如果你有兴趣写关于中国的故事，可以参考这两位作家的写作方式，既能保持故事性，又能做到真实感。而你正好处于能够掌握这两种写作风格的阶段。

另外，我知道你非常反感运用 AI，但其实 AI 是一个非常好的工具。你如果不好好运用，未来一定会后悔。比如，历史细节上，AI 能帮助你快速修改和校对。我最近学到了一个很棒的运用 AI 的方法：不是直接问 AI 一些问题，而是问它：“你觉得我有什么不足？你认为我可以如何提高？如果你是我，你认为最有效的方法是什么？”这样的提问方式，能大大拓宽你的视野。很多人说 AI 只是讨好人，这是因为 AI 会根据你的习惯去迎合你。但如果你让 AI 指出你的缺点，它也会毫不犹豫地告诉你。所以，AI 是个非常有趣而实用的工具，任何高傲或固执的态度，都会让你在未来落后于同龄人。在这个问题上，我们曾有过争论，我也一再提到，很多人当年都曾抵制汽车、电脑、互联网，但这些都是人类文明的进步标志。如果你拒绝，终究会被时代抛在后面。

还有，我知道你不喜欢讨论钱，但又非常节俭。我只能说，在任何情况下，无论贫富，节约都是一种美德。但钱是现代生活中不可或缺的一部分，你要学会用更聪明的眼光看待它。我是活到今天才渐渐领悟这一点的，而我的导师，可以说是查理·芒格。我现在每天都听他的讲座，每次都觉得有豁然开朗的感觉。如果你有时间，不妨也听听他的一些智慧之言。当然，他的讲座非常多，你不可能都听完。如果你有兴趣，我可以分享一些我认为你应该听的片段。

至于我们是否会在一月份去广州，我们可以在感恩节时再决定。昨天我和你爸爸讨论了明年秋天去西藏和丝绸之路的旅行计划，这让我感到非常兴奋。你知道，只有去像这样的地方，爸爸才会感到有真正的兴趣。

祝你今天过得充实又愉快。

妈妈

Bokei,

I’d like to introduce you to two bestselling Chinese American authors: Amy Tan and Iris Chang.

Amy Tan is a very well-known Chinese American writer whose works focus on the lives and emotional struggles of Chinese immigrant families—especially the complex and profound relationships between mothers and daughters. Born in San Francisco in 1952 to Chinese immigrant parents, Tan grew up in the United States but often explored the tensions between Chinese and American cultures in her writing, as well as the challenges faced by Chinese American women balancing tradition and modernity.

Her breakout novel, The Joy Luck Club, is well worth reading. It tells the stories of eight Chinese American women and their mothers, exploring cultural identity, family bonds, and generational conflict. Amy Tan is a gifted storyteller. Through her delicate and insightful prose, she portrays the depth and nuance of mother-daughter relationships within immigrant families.

Although she never personally experienced life in China, her writing reflects a deep respect and sensitivity toward Chinese culture. Some native-born Chinese readers feel her depictions are not entirely “authentic,” since she often presents China through a Western lens. Some even criticize her for “catering to Western tastes.” Nevertheless, I believe her work offers valuable lessons in narrative craft—you can learn a great deal from her ability to weave intimate personal stories into broader cultural themes. Her writing invites readers to connect emotionally while reflecting deeply on issues of identity and belonging.

The second author I’d like you to know is Iris Chang, whose writing style is completely different. She was also born and raised in the U.S., around my generation, but she possessed a profound connection to Chinese culture. Her parents spoke Chinese with her at home and instilled in her a strong sense of cultural identity and emotional attachment to her heritage.

Her groundbreaking book The Rape of Nanking: The Forgotten Holocaust of World War II is essential reading. It meticulously documents the atrocities of the Nanjing Massacre with academic rigor and compassion, allowing readers to grasp both the suffering and resilience of the Chinese people—and the complexity of human nature itself. Her second major work, The Chinese in America, is equally remarkable. It traces the history of Chinese immigration to the United States, exploring themes of adaptation, discrimination, and cultural identity. Iris Chang was a meticulous scholar whose books offer readers a deeply truthful understanding of history. Through her work, you can also glimpse the multifaceted character of the Chinese spirit.

If you are ever interested in writing stories about China, I encourage you to draw inspiration from both authors. Amy Tan shows how to make stories emotionally vivid and compelling; Iris Chang shows how to make them historically grounded and authentic. You are in a unique position to balance both—combining narrative beauty with truth.

Now, about AI—I know you’re strongly opposed to using it, but it’s actually an incredibly powerful tool. If you don’t learn to use it well, you’ll regret it one day. For instance, when writing about historical details, AI can help you revise and fact-check instantly. Recently, I discovered a remarkable way to use AI: instead of simply asking it factual questions, you can ask, “What do you think are my weaknesses? How can I improve? If you were me, what would be the most effective way to grow?” Questions like these can dramatically expand your perspective.

Many people say AI just flatters users—but that’s because it adapts to what it thinks you want to hear. If you ask it to critique you honestly, it will. AI is a fascinating and practical tool; any arrogance or stubbornness about it will only hold you back. You and I have debated this before. I’ve often reminded you that many people once resisted cars, computers, and the Internet, yet each became a milestone in human progress. Those who refused to adapt were eventually left behind.

I also know you dislike talking about money but are extremely frugal. Let me just say—frugality is a virtue in any circumstance, rich or poor. Yet money is an essential part of modern life, and you need to learn to view it with wisdom and perspective. I’ve only come to understand this later in life, and I consider Charlie Munger my mentor in this area. I still listen to his talks every day, and each time I feel enlightened. If you ever have time, you might listen to some of his wisdom as well. Of course, there are far too many lectures to get through them all, but if you’re interested, I can share a few that I think would be most meaningful for you.

As for whether we’ll go to Guangzhou in January, we can decide around Thanksgiving. Yesterday, your dad and I talked about traveling to Tibet and the Silk Road, and the idea thrilled me. You know, your dad only feels truly interested when he’s exploring places like that.

Love, Mom