Liu Xiang. Books are like medicine and good reading can cure stupidity. These two sentences come from "Shuo Yuan" written by Liu Xiang in the Western Han Dynasty. They mean that storytelling is like medicine. Good reading can cure stupid diseases and has preventive effects. This metaphor is very appropriate.

This is an ancient inspirational saying. The key word in this sentence is "good reading", which is a step further than the commonly said "opening a book is beneficial". In fact, sometimes it is helpful to open a book, and sometimes it is not. For example, reading crappy books or reading sensational "clickbait" articles on the Internet or on mobile phones is not helpful. What the ancients said about "reading well" actually means reading selectively according to your own needs and thinking.

Character experience:

Liu Xiang is the fourth grandson of King Chu Yuan of the Western Han Dynasty. King Chu Yuan was Liu Bang's half-brother. Liu Xiang and Emperor Xuan of the Han Dynasty had not yet entered the fifth service, and their blood relationship was close, so they could be recommended as officials. When Liu Xiang was 12 years old, he became a chariot attendant, a member of the honor guard who guided the emperor's chariot. This was just an honor.

At the age of 20, he became an admonishing doctor. This position required knowledge, otherwise he would not be able to answer the emperor's questions or give him rational suggestions. It can be seen that Liu Xiang has read a lot of books. Once the emperor consulted the gods and alchemy, Liu Xiang presented a strange book that he could recite backwards and forwards. The book contained alchemy and could refine gold. The emperor asked people to follow the same pattern and spent a lot of money but it couldn't be verified, so he was dismissed from office.

The officials impeached him for committing fraud and deceiving the emperor, a crime worthy of death. However, losing money to the court can atone for one's sins. Liu Xiang's brother donated half of the family fiefdom he inherited to the court, and Liu Xiang was spared death. It can be seen that Liu Xiangshu is not completely "good at reading".

Reference for the above content: Baidu Encyclopedia-Books and Medicines