Humanities Reader for High School Volume 1

Author: Peng Changzheng, Editor-in-Chief
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2004-10-01
Features: Children who read the Reader magazine will not go astray! Literature alone is not enough in language arts; humanistic thinking is equally important! A heartwarming feast for middle school students, compiled from 23 years of Reader magazine's essence.
Highly readable middle school language arts reader. Several years ago, a graduate student from a famous university in Beijing, before studying abroad, sent a postcard to the Reader magazine with just a few words: "The school taught me the knowledge to survive, but Reader taught me the principles of being a person. Thank you, editors!" Reader magazine receives similar letters every day, especially around the Spring Festival and graduation time. These touching words moved the editors, leading to the creation of the Heartfelt Voices column, where readers can freely express their thoughts, seeking "resonance with shared voices and aspirations." At the same time, it strongly conveys a message—the confusion and uncertainty brought by the information age and rapid social changes have made more readers yearn for responsible media to focus on the growth of their minds and the solace of their spirits.
Two years ago, while on a business trip to Guangzhou, I discussed this with Mr. Deng Liangping of Guangdong Zhenxin Enterprise Company, who shared the same sentiment. He proposed compiling a series of humanistic readers for both high school and middle school students. Upon returning to Lanzhou and discussing with colleagues at the magazine, everyone agreed it was a worthwhile endeavor. Thus, the editorial work for the Reader Humanistic Reader middle school edition was launched simultaneously in Lanzhou and Guangzhou in August 2002. Over the past two years, the editorial process has undergone multiple revisions.
Initially, the challenge lay in structuring the Reader Humanistic Reader. Later, the difficulty shifted to selecting appropriate articles. After several editorial meetings, it was finally decided to center the reader on the growth of middle school students, with a focus on humanistic enlightenment. Each topic would address specific issues the target audience faces or will face, with one theme per unit. The Reader Humanistic Reader is divided into two volumes—middle school and high school—each containing six books, totaling 220 units. Each unit includes 3-7 articles, carefully selected from hundreds or even thousands of candidates. These articles range from works by renowned authors to those by ordinary writers, with many contributions from middle school students themselves. The pieces vary in style—some profound, some elegant, some passionate—each imbued with a strong humanistic spirit.
The titles of each unit are designed to be engaging, such as "There Will Always Be a Window Open for You" in the high school volume 4, "Seeing Language Through a Third Eye," and "The Voice of History." They are filled with poetic and rational reflection. As the ancients said, "Through countless efforts, though arduous, the gold will shine when the sand is blown away." The editorial process was both a challenge to discern true gems and a bittersweet journey, filled with both triumph and regret. To ensure the Reader Humanistic Reader's quality, we invited 12 cultural figures from diverse backgrounds to serve as chief editors for each volume, hoping to gather wisdom to guide the project. Among them are Hu Yaquan and Zheng Yuanxi, founders of the Reader magazine; Chen Shaoquan, who served as editor-in-chief of the Reader for eight years; Sha Yexin, Bi Shumin, Cheng Damei, and Liu Yanmin, all Reader contracted writers whose works have had a far-reaching impact; Su Zhongjie, a prose writer with a strong sense of justice; Deng Liangping, who embodies both a businessman and a thinker; and Zhang Lijun, a national-level teaching expert. These editors bring deep insights into the growth of human minds and societal development, offering unique perspectives on the Reader Humanistic Reader's compilation and refinement.
To help middle school students find the best reading path, the editors wrote prefaces and chapter introductions for each volume. Some prefaces guide readers through the vibrant tapestry of life through stories; others distill life experiences through rational summaries; and some share personal reflections on life's meaning. The concise introductions are like darts, piercing the deepest parts of the soul; like rain, nourishing parched hearts, accompanying students in their breaths, emotions, joys, and sorrows. These rich, philosophical words add depth and resonance to the Reader Humanistic Reader, leaving a lasting impression.
The Reader Humanistic Reader, a product of collective effort, is now ready for publication. While some articles may not meet everyone's expectations, it represents a new attempt by the Reader magazine to publish beyond its usual scope. Aligning with the recent call by the Party Central Committee and the State Council to strengthen and improve the moral education of minors, we hope the Reader Humanistic Reader will enhance students' ability to discern right from wrong, beauty from ugliness, and good from evil, fostering noble moral sentiments and making a tangible contribution.
With this, we dedicate the Reader Humanistic Reader to the future pillars of the nation, to this era where humanistic care is indispensable, and to all those who are confused, seek guidance, and yearn for healthy growth!
The Reader Humanistic Reader is a set of books designed to nurture the spiritual growth of middle school students, modeled after the world-famous American Reader, with a stronger emphasis on humanity, reason, and wisdom. It encompasses everything middle school students observe, feel, agree with, oppose, think about, question, struggle with, and hope for, encouraging them to reflect on these issues through universal human values, thereby gaining spiritual nourishment.
The content is arranged based on phenomena middle school students can directly perceive, addressing the problems they care about—such as family, friendship, love, teacher-student relationships, society, life, life, ethics, history, culture, education, morality, war, peace, science, environmental protection, "the three rural issues," reform, democracy, the rule of law, self, nation, human rights, freedom, and more. The depth of exploration aligns with the level of understanding typical for middle school students.
For each age group and academic stage, one unit explores one theme, presenting a new spiritual perspective. For example, in the first semester of the first year of middle school (Grade 7, First Semester), units like "Unforgettable Teacher's Gratitude," "Childhood, Passing Through That Sky," "Wings of Imagination," and "Shining Hearts" cater to the spiritual needs of this stage. In the second semester of the third year of high school (Grade 12, Second Semester), units like "Farewell Middle School Days," "Windows of the World," "My University," and "Carrying a Bouquet Forward" are both touching and inspiring.
The literary forms are diverse—prose, poetry, lyrics, news reports, commentaries, political essays, fables, musings, speeches, manifestos, and fiction—all included. The emotional depth, artistic expression, and stylistic richness are interwoven, creating profound and moving works. The selections are vast and varied, with styles ranging from elegant and subtle to profound and solemn, from magnificent and beautiful to simple and sincere, from dynamic and powerful to gentle and unobtrusive, from flowing like springs to roaring like oceans. Each piece has its unique charm.
Because the Reader Humanistic Reader is rich, profound, moving, and engaging, it quickly gained attention. Soon after its publication, it was featured on CCTV's Focus Interview program, attracting widespread interest and daily inquiries from all over the country, boosting Zhenxin Enterprise's business.
The Reader Humanistic Reader: A Land of Literary Talent—On the Reader Humanistic Reader
On September 8, a set of books sat on the desk in the Focus Interview studio of CCTV. As the camera zoomed in, viewers could clearly see that the books were the Reader Humanistic Reader, a 12-volume set. The off-screen host declared, "This is a wonderful book!" The reason the Reader Humanistic Reader was featured on Focus Interview was first due to the promotion of the Reader magazine, but it also received special attention because it is a book much needed in today's society—a book that the era craves!
The Reader Humanistic Reader encompasses everything middle school students observe, feel, agree with, oppose, think about, question, struggle with, and hope for, encouraging them to reflect on these issues through universal human values, thereby gaining spiritual nourishment. Therefore, the content is arranged based on phenomena middle school students can directly perceive, addressing the problems they care about—such as family, friendship, love, teacher-student relationships, society, life, life, ethics, history, culture, education, morality, war, peace, science, environmental protection, "the three rural issues," reform, democracy, the rule of law, self, nation, human rights, freedom, and more. The depth of exploration aligns with the level of understanding typical for middle school students. Thus, in this era of social transformation, the Reader Humanistic Reader can help those who are suffering, confused, uncertain, and anxious to establish a humanistic spirit that drives progress. For the moral education of adolescents, it is truly an invaluable book.
The set is divided into middle school and high school volumes, totaling 12 books. It is another "spiritual soup" offered by Zhenxin Enterprise, in collaboration with the Reader magazine, to middle school students. Modern people need modern spiritual sustenance. Modern middle school students need humanistic thinking. The book includes everything middle school students observe, feel, agree with, oppose, think about, struggle with, and hope for, encouraging them to reflect on these issues through their own values, thereby gaining spiritual nourishment. It helps establish modern perspectives in middle school students, broadens their cultural horizons, and enriches their aesthetic tastes.