Looking back on his later life, Zeng Guofan felt that he was most proud of "not studying every day" and that he had made a floor. Even when the war was extremely dangerous, Zeng Guofan still read books every day. In his later years, he was even blind in one eye, and he still struggled to read with the remaining eye. It is no exaggeration to say that he is a bookworm.
Zeng Guofan's love of reading has a lot to do with his family education. Although his grandfather Zeng Yuping was a small landowner, he attached great importance to family education and took "farming and reading to pass on the family" as a family motto. Father Zeng Linshu lived up to expectations and was admitted to the scholar in his forties. My grandfather pinned his hopes on Zeng Guofan and focused on cultivating him. Although Zeng Guofan was gifted as a child, he was better than his father. Besides, he is very diligent. In my twenties, I won a scholar, and then I won a promotion. However, I failed in the examination for the Jinshi in Beijing twice, and I was discouraged and cash-strapped. On my way home, I borrowed 100 from my father and my old friends in Suining county, which was not a small sum at that time. But before the money was covered, Zeng Guofan turned around and bought a hardcover "Twenty-three History" with this 100, and spent every penny. I thought I would be scolded when I went home, but my father said, "It's a good thing to borrow money to buy books. I'm happy to pay for it for you, but don't forget the original intention of buying books. " . Zeng Guofan was deeply moved and vowed never to be a man until he finished learning the twenty-third history. Since then, he has developed the habit of "not reading every day".
On the question of "why study", feudal society paid attention to "being an official if you study hard". Many scholars studied the imperial examination to be an official, but Zeng Guofan didn't think so. He said: "There are only two things we have to study. One is to enter Germany in order to have no worries; " A person studies to protect himself. (Note: If you are born lawless, you will be ashamed of your parents. In other words, reading has two main functions. On the one hand, reading can shape a person's values and world outlook; On the other hand, reading can "learn" and cultivate one's professional expertise, so as to defend oneself and gain a firm foothold in this society. In addition to these two points, Zeng Guofan also famously said: "People's temperament is difficult to change because of life. Only reading can change their temperament. The ancients were familiar with each other and said that reading can change bones. "Reading can also change a person's temperament, which is the same as what we often say:" My mind is full of poems and books ". "
Regarding how to read, Zeng Guofan gave the following suggestions in his family letter.
1. Read classics and books that stand the test of time. Knowledge will be constantly updated with the renovation of the times, but the more thoughts are precipitated, the more wisdom there will be. Now many people on the subway seem to be "reading" with their mobile phones. Most of them read online novels or brush official account articles on WeChat, which is meaningless.
2. "You can't finish reading a book without reading a new book." If you haven't finished reading a book or read a new book, it's actually "intensive reading". Wang Guowei also said that learning should first be "from the inside out". The so-called "endless books, endless new books" is actually an immersive reading method that requires immersion. Many people love to buy books in life, but most people often shout to buy a bunch of books and then turn them over one by one. To put it mildly, I have read many books. The problem is that I haven't seen it all, and I haven't seen it all. Ask him what a book said and what he learned, and he can't tell you why. This kind of reading is only superficial and does not do much good.
In order to absorb the essence of the book and internalize it into his own things, Zeng Guofan advocated that the most important habit of reading is to take notes, which is what we are talking about now. The brain is forgetful and unreliable, but paper and pencil can randomly record the feelings and thoughts when reading, or the doubts encountered, which is of great benefit to combing knowledge and reviewing and summarizing. This is also respected by future generations, and we can also learn from it.
Zeng Guofan praised intensive reading, but it doesn't mean that extensive reading is worthless. Although extensive reading requires fast reading, it does not mean that extensive reading can only be superficial and half-hearted. Extensive reading should also keep one's own consciousness and gain one's own harvest.
3. According to your own situation, cultivate personal reading interest and direction. This is represented by Zeng Guofan's sons. Ceng Jize, the eldest son, didn't like imperial examinations, but liked western learning and English. Zeng Guofan was very supportive. Finally, Ceng Jize became the most famous diplomat in the late Qing Dynasty, and once negotiated with Ili in Russian hands alone. Ji Hong, the youngest son, disliked literature and history, but liked mathematics and science. Zeng Guofan also supported him. Finally, he became a famous mathematician in the late Qing Dynasty, and independently deduced pi to more than 100 after the decimal point by his own creative method, which was relatively leading in the world at that time. It can be seen that books suitable for others may not be suitable for themselves. Finding the direction you really like and are good at is the key.