Lisa See
Born: February 18, 1955 – Paris, Île-de-France, France
Lisa See is an American author whose fiction and nonfiction explore Chinese and Chinese American history, women’s lives, family bonds, and migration. Best known for Snow Flower and the Secret Fan, Shanghai Girls, and Lady Tan’s Circle of Women, she is a New York Times bestselling writer whose books are widely translated.
Biography & Author's Journey
Lisa See was born in Paris and raised in Los Angeles, where her life moved between her mother’s household and her father’s family in Chinatown. That dual inheritance became the foundation of her work: she grew up close to a Chinese American family history that would later supply both subject matter and emotional depth. At Loyola Marymount University, she began as an art history major and graduated with a B.A. in Humanities after creating a Modern Greek Studies concentration. She has described that education as an introduction to the pleasures of research, a habit that remained central to her fiction. Another early influence was her mother, the novelist Carolyn See, who encouraged discipline, curiosity, and the practice of writing every day.
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Snow Flower and the Secret Fan
Lisa See
Ancient women's secret language reveals revolutionary bonds across generations
The Island of Sea Women
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A captivating tale of female friendship, resilience, and cultural heritage set against the backdrop of Korea's tumultuous history.
Lady Tan's Circle of Women
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Defiant female healer breaks boundaries in Ming Dynasty China
Snow Flower and the Secret Fan
Lisa See
Ancient women's secret language reveals revolutionary bonds across generations
The Island of Sea Women
Lisa See
A captivating tale of female friendship, resilience, and cultural heritage set against the backdrop of Korea's tumultuous history.
Lady Tan's Circle of Women
Lisa See
Defiant female healer breaks boundaries in Ming Dynasty China
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Community Voices
"Lisa See is a confident, lyrical, smart, impeccably researched writer"
— L.A. Review of Books
"Lisa See’s mesmerizing new historical novel celebrates women’s strengths—and the strength of their friendships"
— O, The Oprah Magazine
"No one writes about female friendship, the dark and the light of it, with more insight and depth than Lisa See"
— Sue Monk Kidd
"In rendering the complex pain and joy of the mother-daughter bond, Lisa See makes this novel a deeply emotional and satisfying read"
— USA Today
"Lisa See is a New York Times bestselling author, a thorough researcher and a wonderful storyteller"
— Toronto Star
"Celebrated for novels that pull readers deep into Chinese history and culture, Lisa See imagines the life story of Tan Yunxian"
— Washington Post
"Lisa See transports readers to the remote mountains of China"
— Real Simple
"Lisa See excels at mining the intersection of family, friendship and history"
— Jodi Picoult
From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
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"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
