Everyone's Little Book -- Historical Materials and Historiography

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Features: This book is an important introductory work on history written by Elder Jian. It covers two major themes: "Historical Materials" and "Historical Studies." The "historical materials" he refers to are not the general term for historical data, but "historiography," which is the specific methodology and approach to studying historical materials. The "historical studies" primarily refer to the theory and methods of studying history, commonly known as "historiography." "The Great and the Small," is a playful title. The term "great" in this context has two meanings: 1) The author of the book is a great figure; 2) The book is written for everyone, serving as a read for the general public. The term "small" refers only to its length, as it is relatively brief. However, in terms of academic rigor, it is not light; some parts are quite substantial. In reality, the size of a book is also relative. A book with 100,000 words might be considered small in today's printing conditions, but in the era of Laozi and Confucius, would it still be considered small?
The purpose of compiling this series is to save readers' time, allowing them to gain more knowledge in a shorter period. In the age of information explosion, there is too much to learn. Supplementary reading has become a frequent necessity. If one is not skilled at supplementing, grabbing a little here and a little there, patching up this today and that tomorrow, the results may not be as effective. If reading is treated like taking medicine, one may also lose the () and joy that should come with reading. Each book in this series is concise, so even if readers read it carefully and savor it slowly, it won’t take much time, allowing them to fully enjoy the pleasure of reading. If they choose to treat it like medicine, it’s small in dosage, easy to take, and easy to digest.
We also have another purpose: to contribute to cultural accumulation. We gather works that have stood the test of time and are recognized by readers, publishing them to prevent them from being forgotten. Some books were once bestsellers but are now hard to find; others may not have attracted much attention at the time but have proven to be of great value over time. Both types of books need to be rediscovered and brought back into the light. Books on science and technology focus on practicality, and once outdated, they attract few readers, used primarily by those studying the history of science and technology. In contrast, the humanities are different—many books remain fresh and relevant no matter how often they are read.
However, this series is not entirely republished old books. We also want to invite renowned scholars to write new small books that combine academic rigor with accessibility to meet the growing demands of readers. The format of "The Great and the Small" is compact, and readers can easily slip it into their pockets and read a few pages anytime, anywhere. Waiting by the roadside, queuing for theater tickets, on the bus, or in the park—anywhere and anytime. With more readers engaging in such activities, society will be enriched with cultural vibrancy and a learning atmosphere. Isn’t that a good thing?