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The Fortune Cookie Chronicles: Adventures in the World of Chinese Food by Jennifer 8. Lee

Jennifer 8. Lee got the idea for The Fortune Cookie Chronicles when she read an article about 110 people all winning a lottery playing the same numbers, a statistical anomaly. It turns out that they all got the same six numbers from fortune cookies. She delved into the history of Chinese food in America, discovering that most of it didn't originate in China. General Tso's chicken, chop suey, and fortune cookies were all invented in the United States. She explored why American Chinese food is so popular and why so many Chinese immigrants come to the U.S. to start or work in Chinese restaurants. The Fortune Cookie Chronicles has received mostly positive reviews with the Rocky Mountain News saying, "Overall, The Fortune Cookie Chronicles is a marvelous work of journalism, history and exploration of an enduring cultural institution. It's also a pure pleasure to read. After finishing the book, you'll never take for granted the small pleasures you experience the next time your order of beef with broccoli, white rice and tea arrives steaming at your table.