Classic Reading (Essential Readings in Chinese and Foreign Classics)

Author: Guo Mianyu et al.
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-02-01
Features: Reading all the great masterpieces is like conversing with the noble figures of past eras. And it is a conversation that is well-prepared. These great minds show us in their conversations not anything else, but the essence of thought. — (French) Descartes
There are so many masterpieces that we no longer have the time to explore them one by one. We must trust the choices of our predecessors; one generation may make mistakes, but the whole of humanity will not. — (French) Hume
With limited time, contemplate the essence of a hundred classic masterpieces: Masterpieces record the development of society and the joys, sorrows, virtues, and vices of humanity. Reading a few masterpieces thoroughly in a lifetime can enhance one's cultural taste and self-cultivation, perfect one's personal charm. Forge the inner world and emotions; focus on true values and authentic life. In today's society of "opportunity and crisis coexisting," there is so much we do not understand, so much we need to learn. We must continuously enrich our knowledge, improve our quality, knowledge, and capital. Today, the relationship between knowledge and success is becoming increasingly close. Only by calming down to accumulate knowledge and grow in ability can we equip ourselves to seize opportunities. The key to reading is not "quantity" but "quality." The purpose of this book is to recommend valuable, classic, and suitable books to everyone, so that everyone can, within limited time, grasp the outline of the thought essence of hundreds of great figures from ancient and modern times, both at home and abroad. This is a cultural package that modern people urgently need in spirit and soul.
The purpose of introducing classic works is to spark the reader's interest in the works themselves. If readers can appreciate the charm of the works from the introduction and then read the original text, the charm of the classics itself will produce a transcendence, a support, and a rational sedimentation in people's spirit and personality. Let us use experience and reason to make choices in the course of our lives. This book has three criteria for selecting works:
(1) It has outstanding literary value.
(2) It has highly creative and innovative thinking in various fields of knowledge.
(3) It possesses profound spiritual insights and perceptiveness.