Happy Labor Day!

Chats, Koch brothers, authenticity and Rousseau from Yours Truly.

Instead of a post today, I want to invite you to the Calling the Shots 话语权时代 subscriber chat. Three posts in, we've already gathered a strong community of over 200 subscribers—thank you all for your support!

This long weekend, I'm spending time outside of the city in the burbs, rummaging through my bookshelves and revisiting some old reads. I re-read Ryan Hass’ Stronger: Adapting America’s China Strategy in an Age of Competitive Interdependence. And I have quite a few pages dog-eared on his analysis of projecting power and translating into influence. Despite some contradictions in his thesis, Hass skillfully weaves a compelling narrative. His storytelling approach offers valuable insights for crafting coherent and impactful arguments.

Another fantastic re-read is "Kochland: The Secret History of Koch Industries and Corporate Power in America." This book goes beyond chronicling how Koch Industries became one of the world's largest private companies and a political powerhouse. It also del…