Why do the brightest "genius students" mostly come from elite backgrounds? In this globalized world, how do Chinese elites cultivate their next generation through education? The book Study Gods: How the New Chinese Elite Prepare for Global Competition provides an answer, opening a door to understanding China and the future global elite.

"Study Gods" examines from a unique perspective how the next generation of Chinese elites step into the global elite ranks. Yi-Lin Chiang, Assistant Professor of Sociology at Shanghai New York University, conducted fieldwork for eight years, tracking the growth paths of 28 Chinese "study gods" (xushen) in top high schools, showcasing how these well-off and high-achieving Chinese "study gods" grow into global elites.

The book received the Pierre Bourdieu Award for the Best Book in Sociology of Education from the Sociology of Education section of the American Sociological Association, making it the first award-winning work focused on non-U.S. cases, and author Yi-Lin Chiang is also the first non-U.S. recipient in the history of the award. Join us on February 25 at Yale Center Beijing as Yi-Lin Chiang engages in an in-depth discussion on her book.