Humanities Reader for High School Volume 4

Author: Peng Changzheng, Editor-in-Chief
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2004-10-01
Features: Several years ago, a graduate student from a renowned university in Beijing, before going abroad for studies, sent a postcard to the Reader magazine. It read: "The school has taught me the knowledge to survive, and Reader has taught me the principles of being a person. Thank you, editors!" Such letters are received by the magazine daily, especially around the Spring Festival and graduation seasons. These touching words moved the editors, prompting the launch of a Voices column where readers could express their hearts freely, seeking "resonance with kindred spirits." At the same time, they strongly conveyed a message—the advent of the information age and the rapid changes in social life had brought confusion and disorientation, making 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, who shared the same sentiment. He proposed compiling a series of humanities readers suitable for middle and high school students. Upon returning to Lanzhou and discussing with colleagues at the magazine, everyone agreed it was a worthwhile endeavor. Thus, the editorial work for the Reader Humanities Reader series, Middle School Edition, was launched simultaneously in Lanzhou and Guangzhou in August 2002. Over the past two years, the editorial process has undergone multiple revisions.
Initially, the challenge lay in structuring the Reader Reader's format. Later, the difficulty shifted to selecting appropriate articles. After several editorial meetings, it was finally decided to center the content around the growth of middle school students, with a focus on humanistic enlightenment. Each topic would address specific issues the target audience faces or will face, with one topic per unit. The Reader Reader is divided into two volumes—middle school and high school—each containing six books, totaling 220 units. Each unit includes 3–7 articles, carefully selected from hundreds or even thousands of submissions. Among them are works by renowned authors, as well as those by ordinary writers and many contributions from middle school students. These articles 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 Volume 4 of the High School Edition: "There Will Always Be a Window Open for You," "Seeing Language Through a Third Eye," and "The Voice of History." They are filled with poetic imagery and rational reflection. As the ancients said, "Through countless sifting and washing, though arduous, the gold will emerge when the sand is blown away." The editorial process was both a challenge to discern true gems and a passionate pursuit, yet also a frustrating journey of missing out on brilliance. 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 Reader. Among them are Hu Yaquan and Zheng Yuanxi, founders of the Reader magazine; Chen Shaoquan, who served as editor-in-chief of Reader for eight years, dedicating his heart and soul to its growth; Sha Yexin, Bi Shumin, Cheng Damei, and Liu Yanmin, as well as scholar Zhou Guoping, editor-in-chief of The Phoenix Weekly, and Zhang Lijun, a national-level teaching expert. The essayist Su Zhongjie is deeply concerned with the nation, driven by a strong sense of justice. Deng Liangping embodies both a businessman and a thinker of the people. Each chief editor brings profound insights into the growth of human minds and societal development, with unique perspectives on the compilation and refinement of the Reader 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 richness 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 impactful, like darts piercing the deepest souls or rain nourishing parched hearts. They accompany students in their breaths, joys, sorrows, and tears, adding depth and resonance to the Reader Reader. These philosophical texts,, serve as another highlight of the series.
The Reader Humanities Reader, a fusion of collective efforts, is about to be published. While some articles may not meet everyone's expectations, it is still an attempt by the Reader magazine to step beyond editing Reader and into publishing. 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 Reader will enhance students' ability to discern right from wrong, beauty from ugliness, and good from evil, encouraging them to pursue noble moral values. We sincerely dedicate this work 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!
Children who love Reader will not go astray! Literature alone is not enough in language education; humanistic thought is equally essential! A feast for the soul, compiled from 23 years of Reader's brilliance, presented to middle school students! The most readable middle school language reader.