Books in Asian Americans of Achievement series

Daniel K. Inouye was born to Japanese immigrant parents in Honolulu in 1924. When Inouye was just 17 years old, the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor swept his nation into war and forever changed the course of his life. Inouye's heroic actions on an Italian battlefield during World War II eventually earned him his country's highest military award, the Medal of Honor, but it also cost him his right arm and his dreams of becoming a surgeon. Determined to pursue a career in public service, after Hawaii achieved statehood in 1959 Inouye became the first Japanese American to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives and later the Senate. During the 1970s and '80s, he attracted national attention for his role in investigating two major political scandals, the Watergate scandal and the Iran-contra affair. One of the U.S. Senate's longest-serving members, Inouye shows no signs of slowing down.

Vera Wang is a top fashion designer whose name is known around the world. Working first at Vogue magazine and then for Ralph Lauren, Wang opened her own business in 1990. She started with bridal gowns, but her collection has since grown to include evening-wear and daywear, as well as fine jewelry, fragrances, eyewear, and tablewares. A perfectionist with an eye for detail, Wang has infused her work with a simple gracefulness that is truly timeless. In this elegant biography, readers will learn what motivates and inspires this strong-willed visionary to create distinct fashions that bring out a woman's spirit.

From the day she laced up her first pair of skates, Michelle Kwan knew she belonged on the ice. When she was 7 years old, she vowed that she would one day be an Olympic skater, and went straight to work on making her dream come true. By the time she was 12, she was already competing with top skaters from around the world. At age 15, Kwan won her first national and world titles. And in 1998, she made skating history at the U.S. Championships when she received 15 perfect scores for presentation in her long and short programs, the most perfect scores ever for a female skater. Michelle Kwan is the story of a gifted young athlete whose determination and focus have enabled her to become the most decorated skater in U.S. history. Though the only medal ever to elude her was the Olympic gold, Kwan remains a true champion, and she has shown just as much grace in her setbacks as she has on the ice.

Oscar-winning director Ang Lee's work captures cultural, racial, sexual, and generation clashes from China to Wyoming. His creative genius bloomed late: he came to America from Taiwan at age 23, but didn't make his first film until age 37 because language and cultural barriers were difficult to overcome. Two of his movies, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and Brokeback Mountain, are among the most influential films ever made. Lee has made movies in English, Taiwanese, and Mandarin Chinese, making him a true global artist.