Humanities Reader for High School Volume 2

Author: Peng Changzheng, Editor-in-Chief
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2004-10-01
Features: 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 sentences: "The school taught me the knowledge to survive, and 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 moving words inspired the editors to launch a column called Heartfelt Voices, seeking "resonance with shared aspirations" among readers. At the same time, they strongly conveyed a message—the arrival of the information age and the rapid changes in social life had left many readers confused and lost, yearning 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 Serious Enterprise Company. He shared the same sentiment and proposed compiling a series of humanities readers for middle and high school students. Upon returning to Lanzhou and discussing with colleagues at the magazine, everyone agreed that this was a worthwhile endeavor. Thus, the editorial work for the Reader Humanities Reader series, titled Reader Humanities Reader for middle school students, 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 format, followed by the difficult task of selecting appropriate articles. After several editorial meetings, it was finally decided to center the Reader around the growth of middle school students, with a focus on humanities enlightenment. Each topic would address specific issues the target audience faces or will face, with one topic per unit. The 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 feature works by renowned authors, as well as contributions from ordinary writers and middle school students. 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 reflections. As the ancients said, "Though the process of winnowing is arduous, only then can the gold be revealed." The selection process was both a challenge and an opportunity—recognizing the gems while also grappling with the limitations of missing some pearls.
To ensure the Reader addresses the needs of its readers, we invited 12 cultural figures from diverse backgrounds to serve as chief editors for each volume. Among them are Hu Yaquan and Zheng Yuanxi, founders of Reader magazine; Chen Shaoquan, who served as editor-in-chief of Reader for eight years; Sha Yexin, Bi Shumin, Cheng Damei, and Liu Yanmin, all acclaimed writers; Zhou Guoping, a scholar; Deng Kangyan, editor-in-chief of Phoenix Weekly; 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's compilation and refinement.
To guide middle school students in their reading, the chief editors wrote prefaces and chapter introductions for each volume. Some prefaces use stories to showcase the richness of life, others summarize life experiences through rational reflections, and some share personal insights into life’s meaning. The concise introductions are like darts piercing the soul’s deepest secrets or rain nourishing parched hearts. They accompany students in their joys and sorrows, helping them grow. These philosophical texts add depth and resonance to the Reader, making it a memorable experience.
The Reader Humanities Reader is a collective effort that will soon be published. While some articles may not meet everyone’s expectations, it represents a new attempt by Reader magazine to publish beyond its usual scope. In line with the recent call by the Central Committee and the State Council to strengthen and improve the moral education of minors, we hope the Reader will help students discern right from wrong, beauty from ugliness, and good from evil, fostering noble moral sentiments.
We dedicate the Reader Humanities Reader to the future pillars of the nation, to this era that cannot do without humanistic care, and to all those who are lost yet yearn for healthy growth. Children who love Reader will not go astray! Literature alone is not enough in language education; it must also include humanistic thought!
A feast for the soul—Reader Humanities Reader
The Reader Humanities Reader is a 23-year collection of Reader magazine’s finest, offering middle school students a rich feast of the mind. It is the most readable middle school language reader, designed to nurture spiritual growth. Modeled after the world-famous American Reader, it emphasizes humanity, reason, and wisdom, marking another milestone for Reader.
The Reader brings into its scope what middle school students directly observe, feel, support, oppose, think, question, struggle with, and hope for. It encourages them to reflect on these issues through universal human values, providing spiritual nourishment. The content ranges from emotions like family, friendship, love, and teacher-student relationships to broader topics such as society, life, ethics, history, culture, education, morality, war, peace, science, environmental protection, rural revitalization, reform, democracy, the rule of law, self, nation, human rights, and freedom. The depth of exploration aligns with the cognitive level of middle school students.
Each unit focuses on a single theme, offering a new perspective on the spiritual world. For example, the first semester of the first grade (Grade 7, First Semester) includes units like "Unforgettable Teacher’s Kindness," "Childhood, Passing Through the Sky," "Wings of Imagination," and "Shining Hearts," catering to the spiritual needs of this age group. The final semester of the third year of high school (Grade 12, Third Semester) features units like "Farewell to Middle School," "Windows of the World," "My University," and "Carrying a Bouquet Forward," which move readers emotionally while inspiring them to strive.
The Reader offers a diverse array of literary styles—prose, poetry, lyrics, news, commentaries, political essays, fables, satirical pieces, speeches, and manifestos. The emotional depth, intellectual richness, and vivid language create a harmonious tapestry of beauty and thought. The selections are vast and varied, showcasing styles ranging from elegant and refined to profound and solemn, from magnificent and artistic to simple and sincere, from dynamic and powerful to subtle and gentle, from flowing like springs to roaring like tides. Each piece has its unique charm.
Because of its depth and emotional resonance, the Reader Humanities Reader quickly gained attention. Soon after its publication, it was featured on Focus Interview on CCTV, with calls flooding the magazine’s office daily. The business of Serious Enterprise surged as word spread.
The Reader Humanities Reader as a tool for cultivating literary talent
When people think of literary talent, they often feel it is mysterious. In reality, literary talent means knowing a lot, knowing deeply, expressing accurately, and expressing vividly. China’s traditional language education has long been ineffective, with students struggling with reading and writing skills. One key reason is that traditional textbooks are rigid and fail to provide new spiritual nourishment, leaving students with limited perspectives on life. They know little, know superficially, express inaccurately, and fail to convey their thoughts vividly—this is the weakness of traditional language education. The Reader Humanities Reader addresses these shortcomings by expanding students’ knowledge and deepening their understanding, thereby inspiring them to express themselves and, in turn, enhancing their thinking skills.
In terms of "expanding knowledge," the Reader covers a vast range of topics—almost everything. It includes what middle school students observe, feel, support, oppose, think, question, struggle with, and hope for: family, friendship, love, teacher-student relationships, society, life, ethics, history, culture, education, morality, war, peace, science, environmental protection, rural revitalization, reform, democracy, the rule of law, self, nation, human rights, and freedom. The depth of exploration matches the cognitive level of middle school students. It reflects their current thoughts, evokes life experiences, broadens their cultural horizons, and inspires their desire to express, providing a foundation for cultivating literary talent.
In terms of "deep knowledge," the Reader is compiled based on universal human values. As Thomas Jefferson, one of the founding fathers of the United States, said, "We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." This statement embodies the spirit of the Declaration of Independence, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. It reflects the ultimate values of humanity, which are also the values of the Reader.
Though different countries and cultures have distinct histories and contexts, as humans, they share the same ultimate values. Thinking about the issues in the Reader through this lens offers fresh perspectives, breaks free from outdated notions, and reveals the essence of things, providing rational grounding for cultivating literary talent.
The Reader also helps students reflect on how to express themselves better. It includes a variety of literary forms—prose, poetry, lyrics, news, commentaries, political essays, fables, satirical pieces, speeches, and manifestos—without limiting the unit structure to a single genre. Each unit focuses on a central theme, which can be expressed through multiple styles. This exposes students to different literary forms and helps them understand various ways to convey the same idea.
Thus, the Reader Humanities Reader serves as a language education tool: to cultivate literary talent!
A book desired by the times—Reader Humanities 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 the Reader Humanities Reader, a 12-volume series. The voice-over announced, "This is a good book!" The inclusion of the Reader in Focus Interview was initially due to the promotion of Reader magazine, but its special attention stemmed from the fact that it is a book much needed in today’s society—a book desired by the times.
The Reader encompasses what middle school students directly observe, feel, support, oppose, think, question, struggle with, and hope for, encouraging them to reflect on these issues through universal human values and gain spiritual nourishment. Therefore, the content is arranged from phenomena middle school students can perceive, addressing the questions they care about—family, friendship, love, teacher-student relationships, society, life, ethics, history, culture, education, morality, war, peace, science, environmental protection, rural revitalization, reform, democracy, the rule of law, self, nation, human rights, and freedom. The depth of exploration aligns with the cognitive level of middle school students.
In this era of social transformation, the Reader helps those who are suffering, confused, anxious, and uncertain to establish a humanistic spirit that drives progress. For the moral education of adolescents, it is truly a rare gem.
The Reader is divided into middle school and high school volumes, totaling 12 books. It is the latest "" (spiritual soup) offered by Serious Enterprise in collaboration with Reader magazine. Modern people need modern spiritual sustenance. Modern middle school students need humanities to guide their growth. The book includes what middle school students observe, feel, support, oppose, think, struggle with, and hope for, encouraging them to reflect on these issues through their own values and gain spiritual nourishment. It fosters modern perspectives, broadens cultural horizons, and enriches aesthetic tastes among students.
The collection features many brilliant articles—some describe the destruction of the ecosystem, leaving readers shaken; others depict the beauty of nature, captivating readers’ interest. Through their wisdom and vivid language, the authors illustrate a simple truth: humans must not claim superiority over nature. Humans are but members of nature, children of nature, at most, elder children. Let us be good elder children, cherishing all living things and coexisting harmoniously in this cosmic home.
The collection also includes moving stories about new emotions, hometowns, reading, and science, all equally delightful. I believe journalists will appreciate them.