Enemy of Youth (China's first psychological self-help book)

Author: Ai Yi
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-11-01
Features: "The Enemies of Youth" features an extremely restrained and concise writing style, profound thoughts, and stands at the pinnacle of youth. With a sharp pen, it directly targets the "enemies," delivering intimate language that serves as both a stern teacher and a close friend, both a source of comfort and a display of experience. Even after closing the book, its words linger in the mind, and one may even unconsciously imitate the author's approach to re-examine, question, and even subvert it. Such a book is given to you and me, who are about to, are in the midst of, or have already walked through the years of youth, urging us to look forward, move forward, and rise higher together. Let us together gaze, experience, and cherish.
Communist Youth League Central Committee School Department Recommendation: May this book bring you a "piece of psychological sunshine." "The Enemies of Youth" is China's first self-help book, written by Ai Yi, a renowned university scholar, famous film and television program planner, and the new host of CCTV's "Frank Talk." Since its publication 12 years ago, it has sold nearly a million copies, accompanying a generation through unforgettable youth and serving as a complete manual for youth development. Recently, the fourth edition of "The Enemies of Youth" has been officially launched by China Chang'an Publishing House under the meticulous revision of Ai Yi.
The writing of "The Enemies of Youth" incorporates the "stage-by-stage presentation and interpretation" structure introduced by American pathological psychologist Paul W. Weiss. The book is divided into five parts—Preface—Farewell to Sixteen, Misty Dreams of Youth (18–20), Tentative Years (20–23), Days of Financial Hardship (23–25), Moments of Dreamshattering (26), and A New World Never Arrived (27–28)—and a Postscript—Thirty, Autumn Morning. It divides the inevitable 10-year period of adolescence into five stages, listing the main problems and difficulties of each stage, which are called "enemies," and examines them one by one. The book blends rationality with academic depth, avoiding both superficiality and extremism, as well as dogmatism and emptiness. By depicting vivid and realistic life scenes, it reflects both the joys and sorrows of growth, showcasing the relentless pursuit of ideals, work, love, marriage, and other beautiful things in life, while also conducting layered analyses of the anxieties, insecurities, poverty, faith, conflicts, and other challenges one must face during growth. It strives to calmly identify the root causes, succinctly explain psychological principles, and explore the best solutions.