Kevin Kwan is a Singaporean-born American novelist best known for satirising the lives of Asia’s ultra-wealthy elite. He rose to international prominence with his debut novel Crazy Rich Asians (2013), a comedic, sharp-eyed portrayal of extravagant wealth and entrenched family politics in Singapore. The novel became an international bestseller, translated into more than 40 languages, and was adapted into a groundbreaking Hollywood film in 2018, notable for its all-Asian cast and global box office success.
Born into an established Singaporean family, Kwan moved to the United States at the age of 11. He studied creative writing at the University of Houston before earning a degree in graphic design and photography from Parsons School of Design in New York. Before turning to fiction, he worked as a creative consultant and collaborated on nonfiction projects, including I Was Cuba and Luck: The Essential Guide.
Kwan expanded his debut into a trilogy with China Rich Girlfriend (2015) and Rich People Problems (2017), cementing his reputation for witty, satirical storytelling about wealth, tradition, and identity in contemporary Asia. In 2020, he published Sex and Vanity, a modern retelling of A Room with a View, which debuted on the New York Times bestseller list.
Beyond commercial success, Kwan’s works have sparked conversations about representation, diaspora identities, and cultural clashes between East and West. In 2018, he was named one of Time magazine’s “100 Most Influential People,” underscoring his impact on literature, popular culture, and the visibility of Asian narratives worldwide.
In this episode of the Pearl Lam Podcast, Pearl Lam sits down Kevin Kwan to delve into the intricate dynamics of East–West cultural dialogue and highlight the importance of telling Asian stories within a global context.
They also explore Kevin’s journey to becoming a celebrated author, revisiting his childhood experiences in Singapore and the United States. Kevin candidly reveals how many of his characters are inspired by real people and events, offering valuable insights into how personal histories shape storytelling and resonate with audiences worldwide.
Explore Kevin Kwan’s books here.
