Adeline Yen Mah

Adeline Yen Mah is the author of the best-selling Falling Leaves (1997) and Chinese Cinderella (1999). Her latest book is Watching The Tree (HarperCollins $135). Tianjin-born Yen Mah, who gave up medicine to write full-time, now lives in California and London

Describe your latest book.

Watching The Tree is a sequel to Falling Leaves and Chinese Cinderella. In my first two books, I tried to paint a truthful portrait of my life and family relationships. In Watching The Tree, I'm attempting to relate what I have learnt from my past. This book is designed to give the reader an intimate glimpse into a Chinese mind. Divided into 12 chapters, each is headed by a proverb and starts with a true story from my childhood (or youth) to lead the reader into the main theme. He or she will learn the basis of my personal philosophy and the reason why I think the way I do.

How important was the timing of the book?

Everywhere in the world, there is a real hunger to find meaning in our lives and to understand who we are and why we are here. Nowhere is this search more urgent than in China where, since the death of Mao, people have become increasingly desperate to find meaning and substance. The success of cults such as Falun Gong reflects this hunger. Many are seeking alternatives to materialism, Communism and the institutional religions.

Philosophy starts with wonder and knowledge is power. Aristotle said, 'All men by nature desire to know.' Indeed, Chinese and Westerners alike are all searching for rational and intelligent answers.