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Louder Than the Lies: Asian American Identity, Solidarity, and Self-Love
A primer on racism that offers an intersectional, anti-racist, coalition-building view of Asian American identity.
What does it mean to be Asian American? How does our racialization in the United States shape our lives and our worldviews? With candor and care, Ellie Yang Camp, a Taiwanese American educator, offers a set of ideas and frameworks to guide us toward a more nuanced understanding of these questions. Drawing on her experiences and observations from history, conversations with Asian American peers, and lessons derived from other people of color, Camp unpacks the confusing dynamics that underlie anti-Asian stigmas and stereotypes in the US. From the model minority myth to yellowface to anti-Blackness among Asian communities, Camp presses into hard questions and moments of discomfort, naming fears so that we might dispel them.
Key stories of resistance reveal the importance of solidarity, both among the diverse people under the Asian American umbrella and with all who are exploited by white supremacy. Acknowledging that racism is a system thrust upon us to control us, Camp fuels our boldness to challenge tropes, dismantle prejudices, and embrace self-determination as an act of radical liberation.
What does it mean to be Asian American? How does our racialization in the United States shape our lives and our worldviews? With candor and care, Ellie Yang Camp, a Taiwanese American educator, offers a set of ideas and frameworks to guide us toward a more nuanced understanding of these questions. Drawing on her experiences and observations from history, conversations with Asian American peers, and lessons derived from other people of color, Camp unpacks the confusing dynamics that underlie anti-Asian stigmas and stereotypes in the US. From the model minority myth to yellowface to anti-Blackness among Asian communities, Camp presses into hard questions and moments of discomfort, naming fears so that we might dispel them.
Key stories of resistance reveal the importance of solidarity, both among the diverse people under the Asian American umbrella and with all who are exploited by white supremacy. Acknowledging that racism is a system thrust upon us to control us, Camp fuels our boldness to challenge tropes, dismantle prejudices, and embrace self-determination as an act of radical liberation.
272 pages, Hardcover
Published October 22, 2024
27 people are currently reading
2940 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
October 23, 2024
[ 4.5/5 stars ]
In LOUDER THAN THE LIES, Camp excavates what it means to be Asian American.
Through visual diagrams which complement Camp's ideas, this book is beyond the author's personal journey searching for answers. Starting with the theme of racial and ethnic identity, Camp navigates between her Taiwanese roots and Asian Americanness, and as we share the Taiwanese heritage, our experiences overlap in terms of longing for the cultivation of our Taiwaneseness.
With approachable prose, Camp provides a thorough examination of the systems of oppression that nurture the racism in America. Using Asian American history as the foundation of her reflections, Camp unpeels the layers of Asian Americanness, exploring from model minority myth to erasure & exclusion to racist violence.
Mostly infuriating, in a process of dismantling the systems, Camp challenges one to examine one's relationships with whiteness, Blackness and Asian Americanness and one can often catch oneself wearing the white supremacy lens. What feels more personal is the meditation on "not Asian enough x too Asian" and the acknowledging feelings.
I think the author succeeds at being inclusive and closes the book in a hopeful tone by inviting one to decolonize and embrace the nuances and paradoxes of the identity. One easily recognizes the amount of work and research dedicated into this book, which a plethora of information can feel too dense at times.
LOUDER THAN THE LIES offers a deeper understanding of the Asian Americanness and its cultural expressions while also challenges our own bias. This book may work well for those who appreciate a more conceptual approach.
[ I received a complimentary copy from the publisher and author. All opinions are my own ]
In LOUDER THAN THE LIES, Camp excavates what it means to be Asian American.
Through visual diagrams which complement Camp's ideas, this book is beyond the author's personal journey searching for answers. Starting with the theme of racial and ethnic identity, Camp navigates between her Taiwanese roots and Asian Americanness, and as we share the Taiwanese heritage, our experiences overlap in terms of longing for the cultivation of our Taiwaneseness.
With approachable prose, Camp provides a thorough examination of the systems of oppression that nurture the racism in America. Using Asian American history as the foundation of her reflections, Camp unpeels the layers of Asian Americanness, exploring from model minority myth to erasure & exclusion to racist violence.
Mostly infuriating, in a process of dismantling the systems, Camp challenges one to examine one's relationships with whiteness, Blackness and Asian Americanness and one can often catch oneself wearing the white supremacy lens. What feels more personal is the meditation on "not Asian enough x too Asian" and the acknowledging feelings.
I think the author succeeds at being inclusive and closes the book in a hopeful tone by inviting one to decolonize and embrace the nuances and paradoxes of the identity. One easily recognizes the amount of work and research dedicated into this book, which a plethora of information can feel too dense at times.
LOUDER THAN THE LIES offers a deeper understanding of the Asian Americanness and its cultural expressions while also challenges our own bias. This book may work well for those who appreciate a more conceptual approach.
[ I received a complimentary copy from the publisher and author. All opinions are my own ]
August 24, 2024
This is a read that will challenge your ingrained biases and put it into context. Part social science, part memoir and also part self help in an anti racist vein, this read also puts into perspective how Asian Americans navigate white spaces. Both for Asian Americans and non Asians, this will help broaden thinking as well as understanding with grace.
I received an arc from the publisher but all opinions are my own.
I received an arc from the publisher but all opinions are my own.
January 28, 2025
really good read on asian american solidarity and how we fit into the fold of american culture because of our generally shared traits. i do think it's important as recent immigrants (especially those who are wealthy immigrants) to understand the place we hold in the minority community and how we can uplift each other.
December 1, 2024
Important. Profound. I'll be referring back to this book for a long time.
April 20, 2025
Such a fascinating and thorough perspective on the Asian American experience- I loved reading the stories on Asian American history they never shared in school. Helped to also articulate feelings I’ve experienced throughout my life that I’ve never had words for.
October 18, 2024
Gifted by the author
Very helpful guidelines that help us identify systemic biases and reshape our own ideas of what it means to be Asian American. This book is comprehensive in that it illustrates frameworks we can use in our day to day lives to understand a white supremacist system, and actual steps we can take to dismantle internal and external biases.
Since it’s meant as a guidebook, some parts are more introductory, and depending on the reader’s knowledge of Asian American history and experience in antiracist work, some information might not be new. Regardless, Camp has written an incredible framework that can help readers understand the world we live in and create a better environment for everyone.
Very helpful guidelines that help us identify systemic biases and reshape our own ideas of what it means to be Asian American. This book is comprehensive in that it illustrates frameworks we can use in our day to day lives to understand a white supremacist system, and actual steps we can take to dismantle internal and external biases.
Since it’s meant as a guidebook, some parts are more introductory, and depending on the reader’s knowledge of Asian American history and experience in antiracist work, some information might not be new. Regardless, Camp has written an incredible framework that can help readers understand the world we live in and create a better environment for everyone.
June 12, 2025
Louder Than The Lies by Ellie Yang Camp
Such a logical breakdown of racialized structures encountered living in the USA from the Asian-American perspective that up until now I have been largely unaware of. I am so grateful to hear this important perspective.
Such a logical breakdown of racialized structures encountered living in the USA from the Asian-American perspective that up until now I have been largely unaware of. I am so grateful to hear this important perspective.
December 6, 2024
A really good read. While the target audience is clearly Asian Americans, it gave me good historical context and a good picture of the challenges facing Asian American. Definitely recommend it!
December 22, 2024
I listened to the audiobook.
October 28, 2024
The cover and title got my attention, although I had no idea what the book was about and was totally unfamiliar with the author. Turns out this is a book where author Camp examines the Asian American identity, from within themselves, from the viewpoints of others, from the incorrect assumptions, etc.
Some of it is probably familiar to the reader if they have done any sort of reading or thought about Asian/Pacific Islander/Native Hawaiian Americans and what they have faced. Perhaps the most recent/well-known would be how the COVID pandemic led to a spike of Asian hate but of course that is not the only issue. Trying to untangle everything from generational trauma to what it means to be a member in today's day and age, navigating that dynamic, etc.
Some of it is probably not going to be familiar, as Camp is definitely talking to people within her own communities. Issues like addressing anti-Blackness, navigating and dismantling the systems of white supremacy, balancing identity (not being "Asian enough", etc.) Depending on your knowledge and experiences, a lot of this will be familiar and/or you may be lost (or both, I'd bet!).
I would say that in many ways this felt a bit like a 201 (vs. a 101 introductory type of text), although I would guess that would very much depend on the reader's background. If you're not as familiar I would guess you'll be lost (although it is still a good read and may be useful in helping you understand APIANHA better?). Ultimately this was best as a library borrow but for the right person it'd be a great purchase.
Some of it is probably familiar to the reader if they have done any sort of reading or thought about Asian/Pacific Islander/Native Hawaiian Americans and what they have faced. Perhaps the most recent/well-known would be how the COVID pandemic led to a spike of Asian hate but of course that is not the only issue. Trying to untangle everything from generational trauma to what it means to be a member in today's day and age, navigating that dynamic, etc.
Some of it is probably not going to be familiar, as Camp is definitely talking to people within her own communities. Issues like addressing anti-Blackness, navigating and dismantling the systems of white supremacy, balancing identity (not being "Asian enough", etc.) Depending on your knowledge and experiences, a lot of this will be familiar and/or you may be lost (or both, I'd bet!).
I would say that in many ways this felt a bit like a 201 (vs. a 101 introductory type of text), although I would guess that would very much depend on the reader's background. If you're not as familiar I would guess you'll be lost (although it is still a good read and may be useful in helping you understand APIANHA better?). Ultimately this was best as a library borrow but for the right person it'd be a great purchase.
November 14, 2024
Educator Ellen Yang Camp’s "Louder Than the Lies" delves into the complex issues of racism, white supremacy, and imperialism from the perspective of the ever-evolving Asian American identity. Yang, drawing from her Taiwanese heritage, a significant aspect of her East Asian positionality, shares her personal experiences of feeling alienated from the dominant Black and white racial discourse. Her narrative, which is a blend of history, sociology, psychology, and education, resonates with the truths about the stigmas and stereotypes about Asian Americans, citing recent events and the works of researchers and academicians from various disciplines.
I engaged with the book from my perspective as a Filipino American immigrant with more than 30 years of lived experiences in racialization in the United States. I have also been on a lifelong journey of decolonization, the arduous process of unpacking the harms of racism and my complicity in an imperialist system. As an educator, Yang’s approach invites people of Asian heritage to consider ideas about race they had not thought about before. This book makes an excellent read for Asian Americans who are just waking up to their identities as racialized beings in the American context. Any writer discussing the topic of race in the post-George Floyd era would be amiss not to confront whiteness and white supremacy. Yang breaks down these concepts in ways that people without grounding in social justice can understand.
I engaged with the book from my perspective as a Filipino American immigrant with more than 30 years of lived experiences in racialization in the United States. I have also been on a lifelong journey of decolonization, the arduous process of unpacking the harms of racism and my complicity in an imperialist system. As an educator, Yang’s approach invites people of Asian heritage to consider ideas about race they had not thought about before. This book makes an excellent read for Asian Americans who are just waking up to their identities as racialized beings in the American context. Any writer discussing the topic of race in the post-George Floyd era would be amiss not to confront whiteness and white supremacy. Yang breaks down these concepts in ways that people without grounding in social justice can understand.
February 17, 2026
Well, I didn't expect this book to be in-depth on all things race-related. I guess the title doesn't really give enough of a definition of what this book really shares & discusses. I was simply fascinated by this book. The author does a fantastic job of explaining things from her Asian-American point of view. I didn't realize how much the author would go through anti-Blackness & how it really is ingrained in us, thanks to societal system norms that are completely skewed in the wrong direction. Being a person of color, there is still so much that racism/colorism plays in everyday lives & your thought process. It's unfortunate how this can be so problematic yet people don't have discussions about it. The way people see white as good & black as bad goes back such a long time, & yet that shouldn't be the standard. Being able to get so much information & how the author learns & educates herself & others is amazing & desperately needed. One of the best books I have read! So go read & share this book.
April 28, 2025
OH. My. God.
The first few chapters, I started off thinking “breezy”, this is a book for white people who have never been exposed to Asian American history or the radicalized experience. Three stars from me.
As the chapters went on and the reflections got deeper though, I became so much more aware of the subtle emotions I’ve let go. The loneliness in white dominant spaces, always having my walls up and bracing myself for a micro aggression, criticizing myself and others for not being “Asian enough”— white supremacy in American culture is so wide reaching and it’s roots are powerfully at work to divide marginalized groups. By the end, I not only realized how much more I still have to do but also where to begin. What growth can look like for me, led by love, community, and pride. Definitely a five star experience.
The first few chapters, I started off thinking “breezy”, this is a book for white people who have never been exposed to Asian American history or the radicalized experience. Three stars from me.
As the chapters went on and the reflections got deeper though, I became so much more aware of the subtle emotions I’ve let go. The loneliness in white dominant spaces, always having my walls up and bracing myself for a micro aggression, criticizing myself and others for not being “Asian enough”— white supremacy in American culture is so wide reaching and it’s roots are powerfully at work to divide marginalized groups. By the end, I not only realized how much more I still have to do but also where to begin. What growth can look like for me, led by love, community, and pride. Definitely a five star experience.
October 1, 2024
Incredibly approachable, this book is super important for Asian Americans - and truly, all Americans - to read. Camp tells many relatable anecdotes, explains complicated terms in simple language, and breaks down Asian American identity in a compassionate and understanding way.
Camp does NOT condescend or make you feel stupid - and whether this is your first exposure to these ideas or it's old hat, this book is a great primer and jumping off point. "Louder than Lies" will definitely be a staple of Asian American studies in the future. I can't wait to have it be required reading for my children.
Camp does NOT condescend or make you feel stupid - and whether this is your first exposure to these ideas or it's old hat, this book is a great primer and jumping off point. "Louder than Lies" will definitely be a staple of Asian American studies in the future. I can't wait to have it be required reading for my children.
June 6, 2025
If I could, I would put this book in the hands of all my Asian American friends - assuming all want to make sense of their race and identity and ethnicity… I’ve read many books on Asian American identity but this is the first to help me frame and understand it in a tangible and accessible way. I love the personal stories, the graphics, and the careful and thoughtful way history was presented in a way academic and non-academic readers can understand. Such a much needed book and I’m absolutely so grateful for it.
March 8, 2025
An eye-opening, anti-racist guide for Asian Americans, Ellie Yang Camp masterfully walks through difficult and uncomfortable questions of identity, racism, and solidarity. By unpacking big concepts about race, Camp tries to make sense of what it truly means to be Asian American and how we can work towards collective liberation for all. I think this book is a great introduction to activism for Asian Americans and can help break down the most complicated parts of the anti-racist struggle.
April 6, 2025
Good intro to Asian American history/identity issues. There wasn't really anything new in it for me, but I do think it's good if you don't know a lot about Asian American history or are just beginning to look into past wrongs/historical discrimination in the US against Asians. She also provides discussion questions and prompts that are helpful.
May 27, 2025
when i think about books that make an impact, i know this book is now on my list. incredibly profound, informative, thought provoking. put everything i have felt growing up into words, backed up by history not told in schools. deep, hard topics covered in an easily digestible way for average readers. the support leading into chapter 6 felt personal but prepared me for what came. cried a lot, will continue to think about this book for an incredibly long time.
July 13, 2025
Wow! Just wow! This is essential rating. Everyone should read this. It should be taught in schools. Yessss! There are so many points here to discuss that I wouldn’t even know where to begin. I started highlighting my e-book so much that by the end of the second chapter I put it down and I ordered the physical book so that I could write all over it.
December 29, 2024
Ellie Yang Camp’s Louder Than the Lies is a powerful and poignant exploration of identity, resilience, and truth that resonates deeply in today’s world. As a reader, I deeply admire how the author amplifies underrepresented voices and challenges systemic injustices with both honesty and hope.
January 3, 2026
Some of this was basics laid out in a new, crystal clear way. Some of this was revelatory. Could be a quick read, could be something to linger over and return to as we unlearn racism and colonialist baselines, and consider our role in that change.
Read
October 30, 2024😣 audiobook is a no… tone isn’t there..
December 12, 2024
I will hold my comments till I have a book club surrounding this book and topic in the future.
January 4, 2025
Books that have heavy topics, but are easy to read are so important! Louder Than The Lies is geared towards Asian-Americans, but is a powerful and informative read for absolutely everyone.
August 28, 2025
Nice overview of the history of the struggle of Asian Americans with respect to mainstream discrimination and false negative stereotypes which are perpetuated through conventional media and politics. There is a continual struggle to "fit in" both the white and the black communities. Although many in the Asian community are high achievers, there is a ceiling where they are denied top positions in whatever fields they work in. At the same time, Asians are portrayed as a "model" minority causing disdain from other minority groups. Unfortunately to fit in within white communities, Asian Americans shed a lot of their cultural background. The book tries to motivate more action from the Asian American community to try to overcome these obstacles.
September 4, 2025
Ellie Yang nos presenta una narración en otro nivel de lo que es ser Asiática-Americana, nos brinda las definiciones, que es racismo desde las distintas perspectivas y cuales son las actitudes racistas que no las consideramos pero si lo son, nos presenta historia, estadísticas.
Capm nos brinda el rol que tiene y debería de tener el gobierno (lo pluralizo ya que USA no es el único país con un pueblo y gobierno racista). La importancia y diferencia entre cultura heredada.
Aborda el tema de migración, comparación y confusión racial, etnico y cultural.
La estructura es fácil de llevar, en este caso audiolibro, la narradora Carmilla Jo hace un estupendo trabajo
Racismo, Identidad, Cultura, Cultura heredada, Representación de tu cultura
Escritores, programas TV, de radio de tu cultura
Si naciste en México eres mexicano, pero el cómo tú te identifiques es distinto
Ejemp Alan es mexicano, pero puede que él se identifiques mexicovenezolano
Importancia de conocer los actos y palabras de carácter racista, la ignorancia de estos nos puede llegar a caer en comportamientos racistas
El racismo se creó por un grupo de personas para crear perder sobre otra persona
Nacionalidad: 1920
Blancos
Negros
Pero no los acuáticos, empezaron a protestar, por que solo los caucásicos eran considerados blancos
Parece que se han ganado derechos, pero la jerarquía blanca continua
Antes de cada capítulo te da advertencias del contenido, definiciones, te invita a escucharte, a detenerte para sentir, a hacer pausa de la lectura para recuperarte si estás sintiendo mucho
El dolor de un sistema racista
Vivimos todos los días en un sistema de supremacía
Capm nos brinda el rol que tiene y debería de tener el gobierno (lo pluralizo ya que USA no es el único país con un pueblo y gobierno racista). La importancia y diferencia entre cultura heredada.
Aborda el tema de migración, comparación y confusión racial, etnico y cultural.
La estructura es fácil de llevar, en este caso audiolibro, la narradora Carmilla Jo hace un estupendo trabajo
Racismo, Identidad, Cultura, Cultura heredada, Representación de tu cultura
Escritores, programas TV, de radio de tu cultura
Si naciste en México eres mexicano, pero el cómo tú te identifiques es distinto
Ejemp Alan es mexicano, pero puede que él se identifiques mexicovenezolano
Importancia de conocer los actos y palabras de carácter racista, la ignorancia de estos nos puede llegar a caer en comportamientos racistas
El racismo se creó por un grupo de personas para crear perder sobre otra persona
Nacionalidad: 1920
Blancos
Negros
Pero no los acuáticos, empezaron a protestar, por que solo los caucásicos eran considerados blancos
Parece que se han ganado derechos, pero la jerarquía blanca continua
Antes de cada capítulo te da advertencias del contenido, definiciones, te invita a escucharte, a detenerte para sentir, a hacer pausa de la lectura para recuperarte si estás sintiendo mucho
El dolor de un sistema racista
Vivimos todos los días en un sistema de supremacía
September 17, 2025
I randomly picked this one off the shelf from a bookstore in Pasadena.
Did y’all know that city was founded as a tuberculosis treatment town? Wild stuff.
Anyways. Had no real expectations of it, just sort of examining and exploring my own journey with Asian self-discovery of self-asian-discovery or whatever. Also, I get to call it what I want, because it’s my journey.
5-stars if this is your first read into the “uncomfortable” sides of history (in quotes because, like, sort of tired of people calling history where non-cis-hetero-white people aren’t centered as hero’s “uncomfortable”. Like, through whose lens asshole?)
4-stars if you’ve already jumped into the pool of actual history and critical thought and empathy. Which, seems like asking a lot these days; but is really just the bare minimum.
Did y’all know that city was founded as a tuberculosis treatment town? Wild stuff.
Anyways. Had no real expectations of it, just sort of examining and exploring my own journey with Asian self-discovery of self-asian-discovery or whatever. Also, I get to call it what I want, because it’s my journey.
5-stars if this is your first read into the “uncomfortable” sides of history (in quotes because, like, sort of tired of people calling history where non-cis-hetero-white people aren’t centered as hero’s “uncomfortable”. Like, through whose lens asshole?)
4-stars if you’ve already jumped into the pool of actual history and critical thought and empathy. Which, seems like asking a lot these days; but is really just the bare minimum.
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews