Fool's offering

Author: Shen Congwen
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-05-01
Features: In recent years, I have written very little and done very little work. The publication of this small book has brought me both joy and deep shame. It is truly close to what the ancients called "a rustic offering of sun-warmed dung," though the substance may be insignificant, the intention is good. —Shen Congwen
"The Great and the Small Books" is a very playful name. The term "Great" here has two meanings: 1. The author of the book is a great figure; 2. The book is written for everyone, serving as a read for the masses. The term "Small" simply refers to its length—it is relatively brief. However, in terms of academic depth, it is not light; some of it is 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, would it still be considered small?
One purpose of compiling this series is 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 necessity. If one is not good at it, grabbing a little here and a little there—patching up this today and that tomorrow—may not yield the best results. If reading is treated like taking medicine, one may also lose the () and joy that should come with it. Each book in this series is brief, so even if readers read it carefully and savor it slowly, it won’t take much time, allowing them to fully enjoy the pleasure of reading. If they choose to treat it as medicine, it is small in dosage, easy to take, and easy to digest.
Another purpose is to contribute to cultural accumulation. We have collected works that have stood the test of time and have been recognized by readers, ensuring they are not lost to history. 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 rediscovered and brought back into the light. Books on science and technology focus on practicality, and once outdated, they attract few readers—used mainly by those studying the history of science and technology.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 entirely a reprint of old books. We also want to invite renowned scholars to write new small books that combine academic depth with accessibility, to meet the growing needs of readers.
The format of "The Great and the Small Books" is compact, small enough to fit in a pocket, allowing readers to pull it out and read a few pages anytime, anywhere. Waiting by the roadside, queuing for tickets, traveling, or lounging in the park—any of these moments are perfect for reading. With more readers engaging in this way, society will be enriched with cultural vibrancy and a spirit of learning. Wouldn’t that be a good thing?