Humanities Reader for High School Volume 1

Author: Peng Changzheng, Editor-in-Chief
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-10-01
Features: Children who love the Reader magazine will not go astray! Literature alone is not enough in language arts; humanistic thinking is equally important! A feast for the soul for middle school students, compiled from 23 years of Reader's essence!
Highly readable middle school language arts reader. Several years ago, a graduate student from a prestigious university in Beijing, before leaving for study abroad, sent a postcard to the Reader magazine with just a few words: "The school taught me the knowledge to survive, Reader taught me the principles of being a person. Thank you, editors!" Reader magazine receives similar letters every day, especially around the Spring Festival and graduation time. These touching words inspired the magazine to launch the Heartfelt Voices column, allowing readers to express their thoughts freely and seek "resonance with shared voices and aspirations." At the same time, they strongly convey a message—the arrival of the information age and the rapid changes in social life have brought confusion and disorientation, making more and more readers yearn for responsible media to focus on the growth of their minds and the solace of their spirits.
Two years ago, while on a business trip to Guangzhou, I discussed this with Mr. Deng Liangping of Guangdong Serious Enterprise Company, and he shared the same sentiment. He proposed compiling a series of humanistic readers suitable for both high school and middle school students. Upon returning to Lanzhou and discussing with my colleagues at the magazine, everyone agreed that this was a worthwhile endeavor. Thus, the editorial work for the Reader Humanistic Reader Middle School Edition was launched simultaneously in Lanzhou and Guangzhou in August 2002. To date, the editorial process for the Reader has spanned two years, with multiple revisions along the way.
Initially, the challenge lay in structuring the Reader format, followed by the difficult task of selecting appropriate articles. After several editorial meetings, we finally decided to center the Reader on the growth of middle school students, with a focus on humanistic enlightenment. Each topic would address a specific issue faced by this particular readership, with one theme per unit. The Reader is divided into two volumes—middle school and high school—each containing six books, totaling 220 units. Each unit includes 3–7 articles, all carefully selected from a pool of dozens or even hundreds of candidates. These articles feature works by renowned authors, as well as those by ordinary writers and even more by middle school students. The pieces range from profound and majestic to concise and elegant, all imbued with a strong humanistic spirit.
The titles of each unit are designed to be engaging, such as "There Will Always Be a Window Open for You" in the high school volume, "Seeing Language Arts Through a Third Eye," and "The Voice of History." They are filled with poetic charm and rational reflection. As the ancients said, "Through countless sifting and washing, though laborious, only gold will remain at the end." The selection process was both a challenge to discern true gems and a passionate pursuit, yet also a frustrating experience of missing out on some exceptional works. To address this, we invited 12 cultural figures from diverse backgrounds to serve as chief editors for each volume, hoping to gather wisdom to guide the Reader. Among them, Hu Yaquan and Zheng Yuanxi are the founders of Reader magazine; Chen Shaoquan served as its editor-in-chief for eight years, dedicating his heart and soul to its growth; Sha Yexin, Bi Shumin, Cheng Damei, and Liu Yanmin are Reader's contracted writers whose works have had a far-reaching impact; Su Zhongjie, a prose writer, is deeply concerned with the nation and possesses a strong sense of justice; Deng Liangping holds dual identities as a businessman and a thinker. These chief editors bring deep insights into the growth of human minds and societal development, offering unique perspectives on the compilation and refinement of the Reader.
To help middle school students find the best reading path, the chief editors added their own touches, writing prefaces and chapter introductions for each volume. The prefaces vary in style—some use stories to guide readers through the rich tapestry of life; others summarize life experiences with rationality; still others share personal reflections on life's meaning and insights. The concise introductions are even more profound, like darts piercing the deepest secrets of the soul, or rain nourishing dry hearts. They accompany students in their joys and sorrows, breathing with them, feeling with them, and sharing their emotions. These richly philosophical words add depth and memorability to the Reader.
The Reader Humanistic Reader, a product of collective effort, is about to be published. While some articles may not meet everyone's expectations, it is still a pioneering attempt by the Reader magazine to publish outside of its regular editorial work. In line with the recent call by the Party Central Committee and the State Council to strengthen and improve the moral education of minors, we hope the Reader can enhance students' ability to discern right from wrong, beauty from ugliness, and good from evil, encouraging them to pursue noble moral standards. In this spirit, we dedicate the Reader Humanistic Reader to the future pillars of the nation, to this era where humanistic care is indispensable, and to all those who are confused yet yearn for healthy growth!