University Students' Must-Read Books

Author: Tao Tiesheng (Editor-in-Chief), Zhao Shangjia (Compiler)
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2002-01-01
Features:
3. A Social and Economic History of Later Medieval Europe by James H. Thompson (USA), translated by Xu Jialing et al., Commercial Press, 1992 edition. Traditional historiography merely described history as a political and military narrative, with minimal attention paid to economic and social aspects, particularly social history, which was almost entirely neglected. The author, James H. Thompson (1869–1942), belonged to the Western "New Historicism" school and broke from tradition by expanding the scope of historiography beyond traditional political and military history to encompass all aspects of human society. He emphasized the close interplay between economic, social, and political conditions and their dynamics, striving to reveal the laws of historical development based on the conditions and changes in the economic and social context. The author believed: "In history, none of these phenomena exist in isolation." This book documents the economic and social conditions of continental Europe from the 14th to the first half of the 16th century. With 22 chapters, the author focuses on significant events in European history, such as the Hundred Years' War between England and France, the German city leagues, the wool industry in Italy, the financial policies of the Papacy and its monarchies, guilds, banks, foreign trade, and the early struggles of the nascent proletariat. It is a highly valuable reference work for studying medieval social and economic history and the emergence of capitalism.
4. The Old Regime and the French Revolution by Alexis de Tocqueville (France), translated by Feng Tang, Commercial Press, 1992 edition. This is a renowned work on the French Revolution, published in 1856. In the first half of the 19th century, several prominent French historians wrote about the French Revolution, such as Thiers, Mignet, and Michaud. Tocqueville (1805–1859) presented a broader and deeper perspective. He referred to the 60 years following 1789 as the French Revolution, aligning with the view of some 20th-century historians who saw the nearly century-long period from 1789 as the outbreak to the completion of the revolution. Tocqueville utilized extensive primary sources, focusing on the unique patterns of French history within the broader context of European historical trends, and emphasized the influence of national characteristics and traditions on the French Revolution, giving the book exceptional value. Tocqueville was a conservative liberal thinker. His other major work, Democracy in America (1835, 1840, in two volumes), also reflected his keen insights and incisive analysis.
5. The Social Contract by Jean-Jacques Rousseau (France), translated by He Zhaowu, Commercial Press, 1980 edition. This is one of the major works of Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712–1778), a key figure in the French Enlightenment, and an important classical document in the history of world thought. Written around 1754 and formally published in Amsterdam in 1762, the central idea of the book is that humans are born free and equal, and the state is a product of free agreement among free people. If freedom is forcibly taken away, it equals the revolutionary right of free people to reclaim their freedom by force; the sovereignty of the state lies with the people, and the best form of government is a democratic republic. During the French Revolution, this book became the theoretical foundation of the Jacobins, embodying the democratic sentiments and political ideals of the republicans at the time. The Declaration of Independence in the American Revolution and the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen in the French Revolution were deeply influenced by it.
6. A Global History (Two Volumes) by William H. McNeill (USA), translated by Wu Xiangying and Liang Jimin, Shanghai People's Publishing House, published in 1988 and 1992, divided into The World Before 1500 and The World Since 1500. Published in the U.S. in 1970 and 1971, this book has long been acclaimed and is still considered by Westerners as the best world history. The author, William H. McNeill, is one of the representatives of the "global historical perspective." The essence of this perspective is to break free from Eurocentrism and view world history from a global standpoint. In McNeill's own words, it "studies the history of the world as a whole, not just of a particular country or region; it concerns all of humanity, not just Westerners or non-Westerners." The perspective of the book is akin to that of an observer living on the moon, examining the planet as a whole, which differs significantly from the views of observers living in London, Paris, Beijing, or Delhi (see Volume 1, p. 54). Of course, the book still has a long way to go to truly break free from Eurocentrism, but the author's efforts in this regard are commendable.
7. The Origins of World War II by A. J. P. Taylor (UK), translated by Pan Renjie et al., East China Normal University Press, 1991 edition. First published in 1961, numerous historical works on the same topic had emerged by then, each with its own value. However, Taylor's book remains a constant draw for generations of readers. Taylor's work is characterized by its broad perspective, sharp language, and challenges to almost every conventional conclusion. Taylor argued that World War II was not the result of Hitler's "planned" and "timetabled" conspiracy, nor was appeasement synonymous with stupidity and cowardice. The war stemmed from the greater disruption of the European balance of power after World War I and was directly caused by the unintended mistakes of political leaders. The book sparked a decade-long debate in the historical community upon its release. Some scholars accused it of exonerating Hitler and disrespecting established historical judgments and values, while others saw it as marking the rise of a new "revisionist" school, with Taylor regarded as one of the greatest British historians of the 20th century. In the 1970s, with improved research conditions and the opening of vast archival materials, the study of the origins of World War II flourished like never before. Calm, thorough research revealed many of Taylor's oversights, dogmatism, and contradictions, yet also surprised scholars with the enduring insight and sharp intuition of his original observations. It is undeniable that the book's groundbreaking significance was profound.
8. The Third Wave by Alvin Toffler (USA), translated by Zhu Zhiyan et al., Sanlian Bookstore, 1984 edition. Since the late 1950s, with the advent of the high tide of the technological revolution, a new interdisciplinary field called "futurology" has flourished abroad. Alvin Toffler, a sociologist of journalist origin and a distinguished professor at Cornell University, published The Third Wave in New York in 1980, a key work of its time and discipline. The book divides human civilization into three stages: the first wave (agricultural), the second wave (industrial), and the ongoing third wave. It vividly describes the transformations taking place and occur in human political structures, production organizations, media transmission, family composition, social moral norms, consumption behavior, and psychological traits under the influence of the new technological revolution. The book's distinctive feature lies in its focus not just on technological progress but on how technological forces will profoundly reshape human social life in all its aspects, not just in. Toffler could not provide a precise definition of the third wave he described at the time, but 20 years later, in a sense, it can be seen as a prophecy of the now popular "knowledge economy," showcasing his remarkable foresight.
4. Advanced Chinese Grammar by Yang Shudu, reprinted by Commercial Press, 1984 edition. In 1920, Yang Shu Du began writing Advanced Chinese Grammar while teaching at Beijing Normal University. He used the manuscript for teaching while revising and expanding it, finally completing the book in 1929. The book consists of ten chapters. The first chapter, "General Introduction," discusses the origin, evolution, and classification of language, the origins and development of Chinese, and the emergence of Chinese grammar studies. Chapters 2 to 10 introduce the categories and usage of nouns, pronouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, prepositions, conjunctions, particles, and interjections. The book's features: ① Rich linguistic materials with highly detailed word class classification; ② Extensive incorporation of previous research, drawing from various sources; ③ Attention to correcting errors in Mashiyutong and making it more aligned with the realities of classical Chinese; ④ Establishing a grammar system centered on word classes, elucidating the general patterns of classical Chinese grammar. Compared to Mashiyutong, this book made many improvements, but it lacked a comprehensive analysis and description of Chinese, particularly in syntax, which appeared fragmented and inconsistent in style. Additionally, while Yang criticized Mashiyutong for imitating Latin grammar, he himself often rigidly adhered to English grammar, distorting the facts of classical Chinese.