Book excerpt: Cranes Among Chickens is a compelling memoir about a Taiwanese family, with tales of immigrants and pioneers, of ambition and rebellion, of three generations spanning one hundred years, two continents, five countries, and three wars. This family saga mirrors a tumultuous period in history as Taiwan transitioned from a 19th century backwater to a 21st century economic powerhouse. These collected stories drawn from diaries, letters, oral accounts, and the authors recollections of his own journey to American citizenship and professional acclaim provide a candid portrait of a remarkable family that has endured great change and overcome numerous challenges.