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.

In the first chapters, Cohen briefly describes how his upbringing is unusual when compared to other China experts of his generation, who were typically the children of missionaries or military members. He reflects on his Jewish heritage and his immigrant parents’ relentless pursuit of education. This set against the backdrop of the Great Depression and the lead up to WWII greatly shaped his worldview. He describes the unsettling presence of Nazi sympathising German-American groups that paraded through U.S. cities in an attempt to garner support for Hitler. His time at Yale as a scholarship student was marked by blatant antisemitism in academia and the legal profession. The early death of his father only added to his powerful sense of purpose.

As a Fulbright scholar in France, he witnessed the lingering aftereffects of the Holocaust firsthand. Aside from the Jewish experience, he repeatedly refers to disgraceful treatment of his Japanese-American classmates and colleagues. His recollections of Yale Law classroom debates remain accessible rather than overly niche. A particularly striking moment involved a debate on mass detentions, where he challenged a professor by asking whether he would support the internment of Americans of Scottish descent if the U.S. and Britain ever went to war. Aside from these heavy subjects, recollections of his younger years include humorous interludes, such as his frugal student lifestyle. This involved risky budget cafeteria meals to fund his European travels and losing a significant amount of weight through food poisoning in the process. Eventually, he chose law over political science studies both out of a respect to his father’s self-directed legal studies and out of a concern over being able to find meaningful employment outside academia.

During his year clerking for Chief Justice Earl Warren, he was surrounded by a cast of remarkably energetic individuals, each navigating their professional and personal responsibilities in Washington. He references legal cases such as Kinsella v. Krueger and Reid v. Covert, both dealing with civilians (wives in particular) accompanying military forces overseas. This memoir highlights how things have changed for women during his lifetime, a fact which he frequently comments upon. His observations about elite social circles highlight the exclusivity of Ivy League alumni functions and professional networking and how difficult it could be for those who couldn’t break into such circles. With some exceptions, the book typically offers succinct summaries of numerous figures he encountered, which can serve as a useful resource for further reading but may feel overwhelming in its breadth.

His post-Yale journey was shaped by a series of unconventional career moves, including avoiding being sent to war, working as an unpaid political speechwriter, and juggling financial pressures with a pregnant wife. Despite his lack of specialised experience in one area of law, his academic credentials granted him remarkable flexibility in choosing roles within different legal sectors, from law firms to pro bono work to sitting on committees. His time in California introduced him to colleagues whose lives had been dramatically shaped by historical upheavals. Many had fled the Nazis as children or endured Japanese internment camps. He describes the lasting resentment in Berkeley following the state government’s loyalty oath requirement and tensions among Japanese-American faculty regarding the wartime internment of their families. I found the strains of international conflicts playing out on American campuses to feel very reminiscent of currently unfolding events.

The author’s lifelong exploration of China began with the struggle to balance his Mandarin studies alongside legal teaching. He vacillated on prioritising spoken fluency over writing, confessing his embarrassment at being unable to write Chinese while some of his students had mastered it. This is something I also struggled with once I reached around the HSK5 level of study materials. Should I spend my time going out and speaking with people, or stay at home with Skritter in hopes of getting a certificate for employment purposes? It was somewhat comforting that this conflict, the subject of many Reddit posts and YouTube debates, was causing Cohen issues back in the 1960s.

Upon relocating to Hong Kong in 1963, he immersed himself in interviews with refugees from the mainland, many of whom had fled Chairman Mao’s Great Leap Forward. His research sought to understand how China’s criminal justice system functioned. He categorised legal actors into those accused, regular participants, and most crucially those administering justice, including police, prosecutors, judges, and officials. In an environment lacking legislative clarity, he examined how the boundaries between criminal and noncriminal behaviour were drawn, recognizing the discrepancies between law and practice across different societies. I particularly appreciated reading about how different Asian countries shaped their legal systems after opening up, whether influenced by French, German, or Soviet law. As a Mandarin speaker, I also enjoyed following the evolution of legal terminology, such as the shift from qiyue to hetong. He explores thought-provoking debates, such as the feasibility of law playing a meaningful role under communist rule and the balance between interpreting laws at face value versus considering political realities.

An ethical dilemma quickly emerged in his first experience fieldwork. What responsibility did he bear toward his interviewees, who had been indispensable in shaping his understanding? He went beyond academic engagement by helping them secure employment through his considerable network. Later, he published the article “Interviewing Chinese Refugees: Indispensable Tool for Legal Research on China” to document his approach. Finally, translation remained a persistent challenge in his work, as Chinese and English legal terminology presented intricate linguistic hurdles. His writing is sprinkled with self-deprecation and many jokes, recalling a suggestion from his wife that he could have sold more books by titling his work Sex, Chinese Law, and You! He also found himself confronted by academic scepticism, particularly from colleagues who questioned his extensive time abroad, remarking wryly, “If you fellows are professors, why aren’t you professing instead of taking so much time off to study China?”

His transition to Harvard marked a deepening of his comparative law expertise and China scholarship. Exposure to both the law school and Asian studies faculty at Harvard enhanced his understanding of public international law. One of his guiding motivations in Chinese studies was to facilitate the integration of communist China, called “Red China” at the time, into the world community. As the Vietnam War escalated, he became vocal in student protests, leading to tensions with alumni who disapproved of such activism. He also observed Harvard’s complex relationship with the government and military. Alongside colleagues from Harvard and MIT, he engaged in discussions on how Washington might soften its stance toward Beijing. With the upcoming 1968 U.S. presidential election, he and fellow scholars hoped to influence the incoming administration to end the prolonged diplomatic stalemate. The book underscores the cyclical nature of history, emphasising that similar geopolitical and legal struggles will continue.

In the late 1970s, the author was drawn into China’s emerging legal landscape when General Motors contacted him for assistance in structuring a joint venture investment in the country. As international businesses rushed in, he found himself at the centre of pioneering legal collaboration with the PRC. He conducted intensive training sessions for tax law officials and educators in Dalian, working within a system where no licensed lawyers existed. I’ve read a number of books about the Cultural Revolution, but not many accounts of the opening up of China and how difficult it must have been to find people to fill these roles. China’s legal profession had been dismantled during the Anti-Rightist Campaign and had yet to be formally reinstated. His request for financial documentation was denied on the grounds that such information constituted “state secrets,” leading him to urge Chinese authorities to reconsider their stance if they wished to attract foreign investment. Once again, these situations will resonate with anyone who has done business in China.

Around this time, his work started to expand elsewhere in the region. I would have also appreciated a brief overview explaining the political context behind Future President Kim Dae-jung’s kidnapping by the KCIA. While the author provides such background in other chapters, this section assumes the reader already has knowledge of South Korea at the time. Instead, the chapter opens with a discussion of the art tours available to his wife, leaving me to refer to Wikipedia to catch up.

By 1981, he made the difficult decision to leave Harvard to establish law offices in Beijing and Hong Kong, embracing the opportunity to shape China’s legal framework firsthand. His practice quickly expanded beyond traditional legal work, delving into trademark protection for companies such as IBM and Honda. Negotiating contract issues was complicated by deep-seated anti-Japanese sentiment stemming from World War II, which was evident when Japanese companies were deliberately excluded from industry conferences. In these sections, I wish he had described how he approached such difficult and sensitive situations. In his effort to acknowledge everyone who played a role in his journey, he occasionally delves too deeply into lists of Yale alumni he lunched with, rather than offering deeper insights into how he navigated complex social and legal challenges. I do wish he had provided a clearer window into his thought processes and decision making strategies.

Beyond corporate disputes, he also assisted in drafting China’s first foreign corporate and individual income tax legislation, marking another milestone in his legal work. His advocacy extended to human rights, supporting political prisoners in Taiwan, the Philippines, and South Korea through Harvard’s Center for International Affairs, which he had twice transformed into a haven for persecuted Asian democratic leaders. The Tiananmen Square crackdown of 1989 had severe consequences for legal and business relations. Rejecting an invitation to speak at an international rule-of-law conference hosted by PRC officials, he denounced their audacity in organising such an event so soon after June 4th. Western and Japanese investors halted operations in China, leading to sharp revenue declines for his law offices.

China’s legal system slowly evolved in the 1990s. Following Deng Xiaoping’s southern tour, the PRC permitted select foreign law firms to formally register under their own names. As this change unfolded, he neared retirement. By 1997, at age sixty-seven, he entered his firm’s “eldering process,” officially retiring at seventy with mixed emotions. Reflecting on his career, he recognised the limitations of working exclusively with government and corporate elites. His proposal to improve legal representation at the grassroots level was met with scepticism, as most Chinese lawyers operated within local government patronage systems and were reluctant to oppose official interests. His experience revealed the insularity that came with navigating high-level negotiations, underscoring the enduring challenges of legal reform in China and understanding the limitations of China’s legal and social systems.

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 is a fascinating autobiographical look at Jerome Cohen‘s experiences in the Chinese political sphere over the course of his career. I recommend this book to anyone interested in the history of Sino-American relations stretching back to the 1960s. It is so interesting to get an insight into such a monumental political career which is so incredibly poignant. Thanks to Netgally and Columbia University Press for the free digital ARC in exchanged for an honest review.