2025-2026 Great Michigan Read

Hear Curtis talk about his memoir here: INSERT LINK

Everything I Learned, I Learned in a Chinese Restaurant by Curtis Chen

This novel follows Curtis, an American-born Chinese gay man coming of age in 1970s and 1980s Detroit, as he navigates the complexities of identity, family expectations, and societal prejudice. Set against the backdrop of historical events like the Detroit Race Riots and the murder of Vincent Chin, the story explores racism, class struggles, and the challenges of being LGBTQ+ in a conservative community. Through Curtis’s experiences at the University of Michigan and in Detroit’s Cass Corridor, the book examines economic shifts, crime, and cultural evolution while highlighting the resilience of marginalized communities. Ultimately, it is a deeply personal and socially relevant narrative about self-discovery, activism, and the power of storytelling.

Resources

About the Author

Curtis Chin is the author of the award-winning memoir, Everything I Learned, I Learned in a Chinese Restaurant. A co-founder of the Asian American Writers’ Workshop in New York City, Curtis Chin served as the non-profits’ first Executive Director. He went on to write comedy for network and cable television before transitioning to social justice documentaries. Chin has screened his films at over 600 venues in twenty countries. He has written for CNN, Bon Appetit, the Detroit Free Press and the Emancipator/Boston Globe. A graduate of the University of Michigan, Chin has received awards from ABC/Disney Television, New York Foundation for the Arts, National Endowment for the Arts, and more. His essay in Bon Appetit was just selected for Best Food Writing in America 2023 and his short doc, “Dear Corky” premiered on American Masters (PBS). He is currently working on a new docuseries on the history of Chinese restaurants in America.

Schools, libraries, independent book clubs, colleges, universities, arts and cultural institutions, and a range of other non-profits and organizations are invited to become Great Michigan Read partners. Registration for the 2025-26 Great Michigan Read will open in spring 2025.

Registering as a Great Michigan Read partner can be completed using these steps:

Login or create a new user account on the Michigan Humanities grant and program portal, located here.
After registration opens, visit the Great Michigan Read Partner Registration Form, and fill out the required details.
You will receive an automated “registration received” email after you have submitted the form.

Registered partners will receive copies of the book, reader’s guides, promotional materials, and other educational resources.

Great Michigan Read Action Grants of up to $750 are available to support Great Michigan Read programming and are awarded to registered Great Michigan Read partners. Grant applications for the 2025-26 Great Michigan Read will open in spring 2025. These grants are non-matching and can be used for the following purposes:

Materials: The purchase/rental of supplementary resources that complement the Great Michigan Read title, including books, films, traveling exhibits, and other educational opportunities.
Guest speakers and venue rental: Honoraria and/or travel expenses for guest speakers, performers, and/or workshop leaders for Great Michigan Read events, discussions, and lectures.
Food, transportation, and promotional expenses: Expenses in these categories may be included, but should not be the primary emphasis of your Great Michigan Read Action Grant application.