Society

Nguyen Canh Binh: A man born in 1972 with unconventional aspirations.

Phuong Chi • February 9, 2026 14:40

The memoir "Born in 1972 - The Aspiration for Life of a Contrarian" has been well-known in the publishing market for the past few years, and recently, it has been mentioned again with the official release of its English version on Amazon (USA). On this occasion, we had a conversation with the author of the book - Mr. Nguyen Canh Binh, founder and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Alpha Books.

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The memoir "Born in 1972 - The Aspiration for Life of a Contrarian" has been well-known in the publishing market for the past few years, and recently, it has been mentioned again with the official release of its English version on Amazon (USA). On this occasion, we had a conversation with the author - Mr. Nguyen Canh Binh, founder and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Alpha Books - from his personal story to his journey with books, his reflections on generational qualities, reading culture, the Vietnamese publishing industry in the context of integration, as well as the challenges of bringing Vietnamese books to a global audience.

PV: Born in 1972, he grew up during a time of great hardship in the country and entered adulthood at a time of dramatic societal change. Looking back, what imprints of the times does he see on the destinies of each individual in his generation?

Nguyen Canh Binh:I was born in 1972 and spent my childhood growing up in a period of scarcity, not only of material things but also of emotional well-being. The rules and regulations of society were much more rigid and restrictive than they are now. Perhaps that's why we (like previous generations) had to be more patient, thrifty, and resourceful than many young people today. Our generation entered adulthood at a time when the Doi Moi (Renovation) period was underway, society was changing rapidly, and the measures of success were changing just as quickly.

Looking back, I see that the most significant imprint of the times on each person's destiny is the spirit of self-reliance, adaptability, and a constant concern about the value of life. We carried with us the habits of frugality and caution from difficult times, while also being swept up in the "must move fast" pace of the open-door era. This struggle created a generation with many internal conflicts but also rich in energy to start over, relearn, and move forward. We can be considered the bridge generation between the centrally planned economy and the open-door policy.

PV: Reading the memoir "Born in 1972 - The Aspiration for Life of a Contrarian," one gets the feeling that the author is not just telling his own story but is also exploring the memories of an entire generation. According to him, what aspects of those experiences are very personal, and what are the shared feelings of the generation born in 1972?

Nguyen Canh Binh:What's common among the 1972 generation, and more broadly, the adults around that period, is the feeling of being caught between two worlds: on one side, the collective memory of the centrally planned economy era, and on the other, the open doors of the market economy with both opportunities and pitfalls. Many people of my generation faced the same question: "Who am I, and what values ​​do I want to live my life by, when everything around me is changing so rapidly?"

But within that shared mindset and experience, I, personally, seemed different, more independent in thinking, more creative and stronger in action, courageous in doing difficult and new things... From researching the US Constitution, starting a publishing company, writing books… and expecting social impact rather than passively accepting and remaining within established norms and patterns.

PV: Many people of his generation chose faster, "safer" paths in the context of a market economy., cHe, on the other hand, remained dedicated to books – a slow, difficult, and risky field. Looking back, does he ever feel a little… regret for having taken that path?

Nguyen Canh Binh:My life has been filled with specific choices, turning points, failures, moments of confusion, and decisions that went against the grain. I believe no one can live my life for me, and no one can take responsibility for my actions. But I wouldn't say I regret anything. I think every choice has its price. Publishing books is slow, difficult, risky, and sometimes very lonely—though it offers more freedom—yet I chose books not just as a profession, but because I believe books are a way of building society: slow but profound, quiet but enduring.

Indeed, there were times I wondered, "If I had chosen a more convenient, easier path back then, would life have been easier?" Maybe. But I also know one thing for sure: If I hadn't chosen books, I would have lacked a major reason to wake up each morning feeling like I was doing something meaningful. For me, that meaning is the most important part of my value.

PV: If we consider the memoir "Born in 1972" - The will to live of someone who goes against the grain"As a form of self-dialogue, what do you think is in that book—questions he wrote to answer for himself, rather than to persuade or inspire others?"

Nguyen Canh Binh:There are a few questions I think I wrote down primarily for self-reflection: Am I living by fear or by desire? What is success ultimately? Is it money, status, or peace of mind in retrospect? How far can a person go against the current without losing themselves? When I'm wrong, do I dare to admit my mistakes and start over?

I don't think memoirs are a place to "preach" to others. I'm simply trying to honestly recount a person's journey through life, with its limitations, mistakes, and lessons learned; and also its plans, even though I know that not everything, every desire, can be achieved.

PV: Looking back on his own journey and that of his peers, he believes that the generation born in 1972...teamdayWhat are some outstanding qualities or characteristics?

Nguyen Canh Binh:If I had to name a characteristic, I think it would be resilience and the ability to adapt. The 1972 generation wasn't born into abundance, so they had to learn to endure early on. However, we didn't just stand still in our suffering like the older generation, because when we matured, around 15-17 years old, we "opened our eyes" to the world and began to see a new world with new values. Thanks to that, we always found ways to adapt and move forward: learning more, starting over, changing careers, changing direction…

Furthermore, there's a very clear characteristic: practicality coupled with ambition. The harsh realities of the past prevent us from indulging in unrealistic dreams, but ambition prevents us from accepting a mediocre life. These two things often contradict each other, creating a feeling that's difficult to fully resolve, but it's precisely this conflict that motivates us.

Nguyen Canh Binh's memoir, "Born in 1972 - Lust for Life of the Contrarian," was honored with the 2024 National Book Award. The English version, titled "Born in 1972 - Lust for Life of the Contrarian," has just been officially released on Amazon – a fiercely competitive e-commerce platform that demands publications meet stringent standards regarding content, editing, copyright, and format. The memoir's content is not simply a personal recollection but reflects the major turning points of a generation growing up amidst the dramatic changes in Vietnamese history, from war and the centrally planned economy to integration.

PV: The memoir "Born in 1972" - The will to live of someone who goes against the grain" was released on AmazonButthe world's largest e-commerce and book distribution platform.. Thisnot just as a publishing eventnBut it was also an experiment to bring the story of a Vietnamese person, a Vietnamese generation, to a global audience. When stepping into that space, what aspects of his story, of his generation, did he think could resonate with readers outside of Vietnam?

Nguyen Canh Binh:I viewed publishing on Amazon as a test: a technical test, a test to see if the story of a Vietnamese person, a Vietnamese generation, could reach readers outside of Vietnam.

There is actually still much work to be done, but I believe there are experiences that are universal. It can resonate with readers outside of Vietnam: Growing up in poverty, maturing amidst upheaval, searching for meaning in life, overcoming failure and striving to start over. It's not just a story about Vietnam; it's a story about people.

PV:KSpeaking of bringing Vietnamese books to the world, based on your practical experience, what do you see as the biggest challenge?

Nguyen Canh Binh:When it comes to bringing Vietnamese books to the world, the biggest challenge, in my opinion, is not just translation or distribution, but the ecosystem.

First of all, we lack a sufficiently skilled team of translators. Translation is always difficult; even with AI support, it still hasn't completely replaced human translators, but the low cost makes it unpopular.

Furthermore, there's a lack of agents to introduce copyrights to international publishers, and a lack of long-term strategies. Getting a book onto Amazon isn't difficult, but selling the copyright to international publishers is much harder. It's similar to the art market; it needs not only artists and beautiful paintings but also art brokers…

And then there's the crucial question: Which book should we choose, which story should we tell, and are the editing, presentation, and translations up to international standards?

To reach the world, you can't just do it with one book or one-time effort. It has to be a long-term program, with investment and someone responsible for seeing it through to the end. I hope for a project called "1,000 Vietnamese books to reach the world," with support/investment from the government, only then can we hope for success…

PV: Looking back on his life, the publishing industry, and the future, what are his greatest expectations for the next generation of publishers?

Nguyen Canh Binh:I have two highest expectations for the younger generation of book publishers in Vietnam: Firstly, professional integrity: publishing is not just about revenue/sales/profit, but about creating culture. It requires patience, discipline, and high quality standards, from manuscript selection, editing, translation, to communication. Secondly, a spirit of innovation and aspiration: daring to experiment with new models, new technologies, and new approaches to readers, while still maintaining the core values ​​of knowledge and kindness towards readers.

I hope that future generations will usher in a truly modern publishing industry for Vietnam, creating a better reading environment where young people view reading (both paper and digital) as a vital skill, and further, bringing Vietnamese culture and people to the world, connecting with and becoming a true part of the world.

PV: Thank you, Mr. Nguyen Canh Binh, for the open conversation!

Mr. Nguyen Canh Binh (born in 1972 in Do Luong, Nghe An) is the founder and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Alpha Books Joint Stock Company and Omega Vietnam. He is also the Director of the Vietnam Intellectual Cooperation Center (VICC) and the founder of the ABG Young Leaders Program.

Mr. Nguyen Canh Binh is also a renowned translator and speaker specializing in world business books related to the marketplace. Always concerned about and wanting to contribute to future generations, he has developed many programs that contribute to community development, such as the "Journey of Knowledge," "Reading Together," and "Ambassador of Reading Culture."