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Eastward, Westward: A Life in Law
Few Americans have done more than Jerome A. Cohen to advance the rule of law in East Asia. The founder of the study of Chinese law in the United States and a tireless advocate for human rights, Cohen has been a scholar, teacher, lawyer, and activist for more than sixty years. Moving among the United States, China, and Taiwan, he has encouraged legal reforms, promoted economic cooperation, mentored law students—including a future president of Taiwan—and brokered international crises.
In this compelling, conversational memoir, Cohen recounts a dramatic life of striving for a better world from Washington, DC, to Beijing, offering vital first-hand insights from the study and practice of Sino-American relations. In the early 1960s, when Americans were not permitted to enter China, he met with émigrés in Hong Kong and interviewed them on Chinese criminal procedure. After economic reform under Deng Xiaoping, Cohen’s knowledge of Chinese law took on a new importance as foreign companies began to pursue business opportunities. Helping China develop and reconstruct its legal system, he made an influential case for the roles of Western law and lawyers. Cohen helped break political barriers in both China and Taiwan, and he was instrumental in securing the release of political prisoners in several countries. Sharing these experiences and many others, this book tells the full story of an unparalleled career bridging East and West.
In this compelling, conversational memoir, Cohen recounts a dramatic life of striving for a better world from Washington, DC, to Beijing, offering vital first-hand insights from the study and practice of Sino-American relations. In the early 1960s, when Americans were not permitted to enter China, he met with émigrés in Hong Kong and interviewed them on Chinese criminal procedure. After economic reform under Deng Xiaoping, Cohen’s knowledge of Chinese law took on a new importance as foreign companies began to pursue business opportunities. Helping China develop and reconstruct its legal system, he made an influential case for the roles of Western law and lawyers. Cohen helped break political barriers in both China and Taiwan, and he was instrumental in securing the release of political prisoners in several countries. Sharing these experiences and many others, this book tells the full story of an unparalleled career bridging East and West.
384 pages, Hardcover
Published March 4, 2025
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May 14, 2025
In Eastward, Westward: A Life in Law, Jerome A. Cohen chronicles his life’s work in China and legal studies with warmth, humour and rare perspective. My interest in Cohen’s memoir was sparked by his incredibly engaging interview with the Asia Society, so I was thrilled when Columbia University Press sent over a copy for review. Cohen’s memoir presents an intimate exploration of his diverse legal career, a critical period in U.S.-China relations, and offers heartfelt reflections on his family and enduring friendships. His understanding of China’s political shifts and its recent return to repression is explored in the final chapters, highlighting his grasp of the cyclical nature of Chinese politics.
Given the expansive scope of this book, I compiled a list of mindsets and behaviours that I found particularly inspiring.
Commitment to Lifelong Learning
A classic immigrant-family devotion to education shaped his discipline. Even in his forties, he dedicated himself to rigorous Mandarin Chinese language studies, proving that learning new skills is possible at any stage of life. He describes it as, “I decided to do two hours every morning five days a week. Every hour required at least two hours of home preparation, so this was a major commitment, but I was determined to prove that, even at age forty-one, I was not too old to learn a new East Asian language.”
Courage to Defy Convention
He pursued paths others discouraged, carefully considering their concerns but ultimately following his own interests. His drive to become America’s first specialist in contemporary Chinese law reflected a pioneering mindset. He was discouraged from studying something described as a “narrow speciality” with such intensity, without knowing whether any opportunities would come from it. Although Cohen was very much within the system and a member of numerous old boys’ clubs, his independent thinking lent itself to his skills in critical analysis, advocacy, ethical integrity, and leadership in legal innovation.
Partnership as a Foundation for Growth
His marriage embodied mutual support, with each partner taking turns to pursue their own ambitions. Their opportunities were expanded through collaboration, whether through joint academic pursuits, securing research funding, or improving their language skills during their honeymoon. Although I don’t envy many of the employment or legal situations of the women profiled, I do envy how, for his example, his wife “… also saw greater opportunities to pursue her interests in Asian art history. Not only was she excited about the possibilities for faculty spouses to audit the many courses Harvard offered in Japanese and Chinese art, literature, and history, but the staff of the great Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, Massachusetts, and its school for budding artists warmly welcomed her contributions to lectures and to weekly educational television programs on art.” I have been a trailing spouse before, sometimes without work rights, and my partner’s employer certainly wasn’t offering free university classes, art tours or other enriching activities. We can’t know what happened beyond what is described in this book, but he dedicates quite a bit of space to his concerns over the education, employment and enjoyment of his wife and children.
Embracing New Experiences
A mindset focused on anticipation of future adventures defined his approach to career and life transitions. Aside from his many international and interstate moves, he included in his studies of China’s legal systems a working knowledge of China’s “…history, philosophy, society, economics, politics and culture…” Furthermore, even if he decided not to go down a particular path, he displays a deep respect and curiosity for what others were doing. One does not get the impression that people had to be ‘useful’ to him in order for him to take an interest in them. A genuine curiosity and a love of learning radiates through many of his social interactions. When faced with challenges later in his career, he said “Would I continue to be part of history in China or simply record it at home? Giving up on this adventure seemed inconsistent with the pioneering aspirations that had led me into Chinese studies two decades earlier.”
The Power of Community and Networking
Social interactions through shared hobbies (So much tennis in this book), meals, and professional gatherings played a vital role in career opportunities. He fully recognises that many of these networking meals were benefiting from the fact that the vast majority of his colleagues had partners not in paid employment who could manage the household and host on what seemed to be a professional level. He said, “It was an era when most faculty spouses were women who had not undertaken full-time employment and had the leisure to squander on gracious entertainment. Indeed, the pace of Harvard social life seemed so swift that it began to infringe on my research and class preparation. Nevertheless, it felt good to both of us to be appreciated and even flattered.”
Building connections through shared hobbies and meals has long been a cornerstone of both social life and career advancement. These personal bonds can open doors professionally, offering mentorship, job opportunities, or simply a strong support system. Yet, today’s work culture has shifted toward remote interactions, digital communication, and packed schedules that leave little room for leisurely networking. The decline in communal activities and shared meals means fewer opportunities to build meaningful relationships, making professional connections feel more transactional than personal. On the other hand, these social networks can also serve as a barrier to exclude others who may not come from the same social background as those in the in group.
Commitment to Writing as a Skill
He recognised writing, particularly legal writing, as a craft. He valued the distinct voices of others and admired the precision of seasoned legal minds. He said, “That is why Justice Frankfurter urged me to improve my writing and why he strongly suggested that the best way to do so would be to write something for at least fifteen minutes a day. “Write anything,” he said. “It doesn’t matter, so long as you keep practicing.” Throughout this memoir, Cohen encountered numerous situations where clear thinking and persuasive writing were essential to achieving meaningful influence on legal reform and policy.
Sustaining Connections Throughout Life
Even in retirement, he maintains active relationships and purpose through correspondence, publications, and digital meetings, showing how intellectual engagement can remain fulfilling well into later years. Reflecting on his time after retiring from the law firm, he observed that “Especially during the recent COVID-19 years, the publications, emails, phone calls, Zoom meetings, and visits of this distinguished six-decade harvest of talent have informed and sustained me. They have made the retirement from teaching that I chose at ninety barely noticeable.”
Focused Expertise with Broad Curiosity
Despite exploring a range of disciplines, he remained committed to developing a specialised academic and legal field, adhering to the principle that self-limitation is a mark of mastery. While he broadened his scope to include the legal systems of other East Asian countries and briefly studied Japanese, his primary focus remained on China.
Cohen is very keen to acknowledge everyone who contributed to his journey. It doesn’t come across as name-dropping, but the level of detail often including defining characteristics, degrees, and graduation years (typically from Yale) sometimes slows the momentum of the chapters. At times, I wished he had focused more on how he approached challenges in his career. For example, insights into his culture shock when switching universities, managing multiple responsibilities like teaching, publishing, and securing grants, would have added valuable perspective. Balancing an international legal career with academic engagement proved difficult and he sought to remain involved in university life but not overly committed. These struggles speak to his prestige and readers who work in academia today won’t recognise the world he worked in, particularly in the cushy working arrangements and luxurious housing. Additionally, after the Tiananmen massacre, he mentions the criticism he faced, such as accusations of either being “a friend of China” or a “running dog” for the regime, but he does not explore his personal reflections on these tensions or how it made him feel. This theme recurs throughout his career, from the Red China Scare during McCarthyism to Tiananmen and even into the pandemic era, making it a crucial topic for anyone navigating similar ethical conflicts today.
The dilemma of assisting China’s legal and economic development while simultaneously advocating for dissidents is touched upon but not deeply examined until the end of the book. He said, “Instead, they argue, engagement has enabled a communist dictatorship to become increasingly repressive at home and a threat to world peace and the values we cherish. Implicit in this view is the belief that those of us who sought to assist in the early efforts of Deng Xiaoping’s Open Door Policy to improve the legal system of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and its practice of both domestic and international law were not merely wasting our efforts but, like Dr. Frankenstein, had created a monster.” He discusses this viewpoint in the final chapter Was Helping China Build Its Post-1978 Legal System a Mistake? I think I would have preferred these thoughts interwoven throughout the earlier chapters rather than saved for the conclusion, but it was a pleasant surprise to find at the end.
For readers interested in East Asian policy and law, this book feels like having a mentor at your fingertips. It’s rare to find such a strong interdisciplinary work written by someone who had a front-row seat to major world events. It is in these final chapters that his love, understanding and admiration for the Chinese people shine through, particularly in his later years as he expanded his legal work from the corporations to the countryside. His engagement with and support of activists gave him fresh insight into Chinese law, making for a compelling conclusion. Students should turn to this work to trace the evolution of China’s legal and political landscape. More than just a historical account, it serves as a testament to the power of curiosity, dedication, and lifelong learning and reminds us that it’s never too late to grow, redefine ourselves, and shape the world around us.
This book was kindly provided by Columbia University Press for review.
Given the expansive scope of this book, I compiled a list of mindsets and behaviours that I found particularly inspiring.
Commitment to Lifelong Learning
A classic immigrant-family devotion to education shaped his discipline. Even in his forties, he dedicated himself to rigorous Mandarin Chinese language studies, proving that learning new skills is possible at any stage of life. He describes it as, “I decided to do two hours every morning five days a week. Every hour required at least two hours of home preparation, so this was a major commitment, but I was determined to prove that, even at age forty-one, I was not too old to learn a new East Asian language.”
Courage to Defy Convention
He pursued paths others discouraged, carefully considering their concerns but ultimately following his own interests. His drive to become America’s first specialist in contemporary Chinese law reflected a pioneering mindset. He was discouraged from studying something described as a “narrow speciality” with such intensity, without knowing whether any opportunities would come from it. Although Cohen was very much within the system and a member of numerous old boys’ clubs, his independent thinking lent itself to his skills in critical analysis, advocacy, ethical integrity, and leadership in legal innovation.
Partnership as a Foundation for Growth
His marriage embodied mutual support, with each partner taking turns to pursue their own ambitions. Their opportunities were expanded through collaboration, whether through joint academic pursuits, securing research funding, or improving their language skills during their honeymoon. Although I don’t envy many of the employment or legal situations of the women profiled, I do envy how, for his example, his wife “… also saw greater opportunities to pursue her interests in Asian art history. Not only was she excited about the possibilities for faculty spouses to audit the many courses Harvard offered in Japanese and Chinese art, literature, and history, but the staff of the great Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, Massachusetts, and its school for budding artists warmly welcomed her contributions to lectures and to weekly educational television programs on art.” I have been a trailing spouse before, sometimes without work rights, and my partner’s employer certainly wasn’t offering free university classes, art tours or other enriching activities. We can’t know what happened beyond what is described in this book, but he dedicates quite a bit of space to his concerns over the education, employment and enjoyment of his wife and children.
Embracing New Experiences
A mindset focused on anticipation of future adventures defined his approach to career and life transitions. Aside from his many international and interstate moves, he included in his studies of China’s legal systems a working knowledge of China’s “…history, philosophy, society, economics, politics and culture…” Furthermore, even if he decided not to go down a particular path, he displays a deep respect and curiosity for what others were doing. One does not get the impression that people had to be ‘useful’ to him in order for him to take an interest in them. A genuine curiosity and a love of learning radiates through many of his social interactions. When faced with challenges later in his career, he said “Would I continue to be part of history in China or simply record it at home? Giving up on this adventure seemed inconsistent with the pioneering aspirations that had led me into Chinese studies two decades earlier.”
The Power of Community and Networking
Social interactions through shared hobbies (So much tennis in this book), meals, and professional gatherings played a vital role in career opportunities. He fully recognises that many of these networking meals were benefiting from the fact that the vast majority of his colleagues had partners not in paid employment who could manage the household and host on what seemed to be a professional level. He said, “It was an era when most faculty spouses were women who had not undertaken full-time employment and had the leisure to squander on gracious entertainment. Indeed, the pace of Harvard social life seemed so swift that it began to infringe on my research and class preparation. Nevertheless, it felt good to both of us to be appreciated and even flattered.”
Building connections through shared hobbies and meals has long been a cornerstone of both social life and career advancement. These personal bonds can open doors professionally, offering mentorship, job opportunities, or simply a strong support system. Yet, today’s work culture has shifted toward remote interactions, digital communication, and packed schedules that leave little room for leisurely networking. The decline in communal activities and shared meals means fewer opportunities to build meaningful relationships, making professional connections feel more transactional than personal. On the other hand, these social networks can also serve as a barrier to exclude others who may not come from the same social background as those in the in group.
Commitment to Writing as a Skill
He recognised writing, particularly legal writing, as a craft. He valued the distinct voices of others and admired the precision of seasoned legal minds. He said, “That is why Justice Frankfurter urged me to improve my writing and why he strongly suggested that the best way to do so would be to write something for at least fifteen minutes a day. “Write anything,” he said. “It doesn’t matter, so long as you keep practicing.” Throughout this memoir, Cohen encountered numerous situations where clear thinking and persuasive writing were essential to achieving meaningful influence on legal reform and policy.
Sustaining Connections Throughout Life
Even in retirement, he maintains active relationships and purpose through correspondence, publications, and digital meetings, showing how intellectual engagement can remain fulfilling well into later years. Reflecting on his time after retiring from the law firm, he observed that “Especially during the recent COVID-19 years, the publications, emails, phone calls, Zoom meetings, and visits of this distinguished six-decade harvest of talent have informed and sustained me. They have made the retirement from teaching that I chose at ninety barely noticeable.”
Focused Expertise with Broad Curiosity
Despite exploring a range of disciplines, he remained committed to developing a specialised academic and legal field, adhering to the principle that self-limitation is a mark of mastery. While he broadened his scope to include the legal systems of other East Asian countries and briefly studied Japanese, his primary focus remained on China.
Cohen is very keen to acknowledge everyone who contributed to his journey. It doesn’t come across as name-dropping, but the level of detail often including defining characteristics, degrees, and graduation years (typically from Yale) sometimes slows the momentum of the chapters. At times, I wished he had focused more on how he approached challenges in his career. For example, insights into his culture shock when switching universities, managing multiple responsibilities like teaching, publishing, and securing grants, would have added valuable perspective. Balancing an international legal career with academic engagement proved difficult and he sought to remain involved in university life but not overly committed. These struggles speak to his prestige and readers who work in academia today won’t recognise the world he worked in, particularly in the cushy working arrangements and luxurious housing. Additionally, after the Tiananmen massacre, he mentions the criticism he faced, such as accusations of either being “a friend of China” or a “running dog” for the regime, but he does not explore his personal reflections on these tensions or how it made him feel. This theme recurs throughout his career, from the Red China Scare during McCarthyism to Tiananmen and even into the pandemic era, making it a crucial topic for anyone navigating similar ethical conflicts today.
The dilemma of assisting China’s legal and economic development while simultaneously advocating for dissidents is touched upon but not deeply examined until the end of the book. He said, “Instead, they argue, engagement has enabled a communist dictatorship to become increasingly repressive at home and a threat to world peace and the values we cherish. Implicit in this view is the belief that those of us who sought to assist in the early efforts of Deng Xiaoping’s Open Door Policy to improve the legal system of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and its practice of both domestic and international law were not merely wasting our efforts but, like Dr. Frankenstein, had created a monster.” He discusses this viewpoint in the final chapter Was Helping China Build Its Post-1978 Legal System a Mistake? I think I would have preferred these thoughts interwoven throughout the earlier chapters rather than saved for the conclusion, but it was a pleasant surprise to find at the end.
For readers interested in East Asian policy and law, this book feels like having a mentor at your fingertips. It’s rare to find such a strong interdisciplinary work written by someone who had a front-row seat to major world events. It is in these final chapters that his love, understanding and admiration for the Chinese people shine through, particularly in his later years as he expanded his legal work from the corporations to the countryside. His engagement with and support of activists gave him fresh insight into Chinese law, making for a compelling conclusion. Students should turn to this work to trace the evolution of China’s legal and political landscape. More than just a historical account, it serves as a testament to the power of curiosity, dedication, and lifelong learning and reminds us that it’s never too late to grow, redefine ourselves, and shape the world around us.
This book was kindly provided by Columbia University Press for review.
October 24, 2025
This is a riveting memoir by China's most optimistic critic. Before reading this, I knew that he was one of the pioneers in the study of Chinese law in America, but I didn't know he was involved in freeing so many people from wrongful detention by authoritarian regimes, from Kim Dae-Jung to Annette Lu to Chen Guangcheng ... It is as if history itself was talking to us.
That said, I subtract one star for him saying things like thanking his "three sons and their attractive consorts" ------ what kind of person still refers to their family like that in the 2020s?
That said, I subtract one star for him saying things like thanking his "three sons and their attractive consorts" ------ what kind of person still refers to their family like that in the 2020s?
February 21, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews