On Enjoyment by the Masses and the Elegance

Author: Zhu Ziqing
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-05-01
Features: "Small Books by Eminent Scholars," a playful name. This term "eminent scholars" has two meanings: 1. The author of the book is an eminent scholar; 2. The book is written for everyone, serving as a read for all. As for "small books," it simply refers to their length—just that they are relatively shorter in size. In terms of academic rigor, they are not light; some are quite substantial. In fact, the size of a book is also relative. A book with 100,000 words might seem small in today's printing conditions, but in the era of Laozi or Confucius, it would hardly be considered small. There is a purpose behind editing this series: to save readers' time, allowing them to gain more knowledge in a shorter period. In the age of information explosion, there is too much to learn. Supplementary reading has become a frequent need. If one is not good at supplementary reading, grabbing a little here and a little there, patching up this today and that tomorrow, the results may not be very effective. If reading is treated like taking medicine, one may also lose the (cóng róng - ease and joy) and pleasure that should come with reading. Each book in this series is short in length, so even if readers read it carefully and savor it slowly, it won’t take much time, allowing them to fully enjoy the joy of reading. If they choose to treat these books like medicine, they are small in dosage, easy to take, and easy to digest. We also have another purpose: to contribute to cultural accumulation. We gather those works that have stood the test of time and are recognized by readers, publishing them together so that they do not fade into oblivion. Some books were once bestsellers but are now hard to find; others may not have attracted much attention at the time but have proven to be of great value over time. Both types of books need to be unearthed and given a chance to shine again. Books on science and technology focus on practicality, and once outdated, they may not attract many readers anymore, except for those studying the history of science and technology. In contrast, the humanities are different—many books remain fresh and relevant no matter how often they are read. However, this series is not just a reprint of old books. We also want to invite renowned scholars to write new small books that combine academic rigor with accessibility to meet the growing needs of readers. The "Small Books by Eminent Scholars" have a small format, so readers can tuck them into their pockets and read a few pages anytime, anywhere. Waiting by the roadside, queuing for theater tickets, on the bus, or in the park—anywhere, they can read. If more readers engage in this, it will add a touch of culture and learning to society. Isn’t that a good thing?