Live like a gentleman

Author: Berman
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-03-01
Features: Silence and tranquility constituted the main temperament of 19th-century British gentlemen, enabling them to remain composed as they traveled the world. Today, we can still see their images in faded photographs: sitting cross-legged on a desolate desert, with a simple lunch laid out on a white tablecloth in front of them (of course, accompanied by a bottle of wine); despite the scorching heat, they remained impeccably dressed, wearing ties. In extremely concise terms, a gentleman's spiritual temperament should include knightly courage, a moral sense of serving the public, a silent character grounded in firm composure, and an unwavering humility and politeness even in extreme difficulties. When a nation is prosperous, a middle class inevitably emerges alongside it. However, material success cannot transform a person into a gentleman. Xu Gan, a scholar from the late Eastern Han Dynasty, said, "A wise person's words are worth listening to, their appearance is worth emulating, and their actions are worth following. They should also praise others' virtues and gently correct their faults." Only then can one be a true gentleman, a model worth emulating, whether in the 19th-century British Empire at its zenith or in 21st-century China, which is rapidly rising. This book describes the details of British gentlemen's lives for today's Chinese middle class. —Edward Berman
In the book, Mr. Berman meticulously explores the exemplary characteristics of gentlemen from various aspects, such as behavior, upbringing, dining habits, home choices and decor, leisure activities, forms of exercise, fashion concepts, and social occasions, with each topic given dedicated attention. From the 18th century to the present day, from estate gatherings to club memberships, from the etiquette of playing golf to the standards for choosing cars, from clothing preferences to the ideal length of trouser legs, the lifestyles of gentlemen across different eras are laid bare, fully reflecting a British gentleman's attention to detail. From this perspective, the book can be considered a standard guide for gentlemen. It not only clarifies the modern concept of "aristocracy" for readers but also offers specific advice on how the middle class or those aspiring to it can live with dignity and nobility. Mr. Berman's original intention in writing this book was to hope that the "gentleman class" could rise in China, and that the Chinese nation would thereby become noble and extraordinary. This is also the purpose for which Tongdao Xinwen Company and China Business Publishing House presented this book to contemporary society.