Qifan Qi Micro Class
"Reading for Life" is a masterpiece created by American Will Schwalbe. The first thing that comes to mind is the sentence on the cover: "Can't read" Those who know how to read only live once, but those who can read live a thousand times." Without reading, just reading these words forces people to swear to be a "person who loves to read."
Opening the title page of the book, a line of conspicuous words jumped into view again: "A person who studies has lived a thousand lives before he dies, and a person who does not study only lives once." It seems that Another reminder to myself to read more.
Entering the main text and reading this book, I feel that each chapter is a daily narration, all leisurely and brisk. Sometimes it feels like telling the trivial matters of life, and sometimes I can’t tell what kind of style it is. But after repeated readings, I seem to find the flavor of philosophy between the lines.
The second feature of this book is that it is composed of 26 books plus themes. The title of each article adopts the form of "book title + theme". After reading this book, I have the urge to buy every book mentioned in the book and read it carefully.
The third feature is that Lin Yutang's "The Art of Living" is always used throughout the book, advocating that people should slow down, enjoy life, and the importance of books and reading. But ultimately, it’s a call to reason and passion.
01. "The Art of Living" - Slow Down
The author puts Lin Yutang's "The Art of Living" in the first article. He regards this book as his mentor, and throughout the book. Of course, when I saw Lin Yutang’s name, I was proud and excited about it. Because he is Chinese, a book written by an American can put a Chinese book at the top, which shows the value of this book and its influence on the author.
"The Art of Living" - slow down, justify simple life and eating and drinking, and discourage the struggle for more material desires. Lin Yutang wanted to find an antidote to the brutal competition and crazy behavior that surrounded him in the 1930s, not only in China, where he was born and raised, but also in his job. France, Germany, and the United States where he lived when he was studying and writing this book in his youth. Lin Yutang is eager to tell people how to enjoy life. In the book, in addition to general common sense, he also uses ancient Chinese culture to illustrate the importance of enjoying life.
"The Art of Living" quickly achieved great success in the 1930s. This book was later translated into many languages, and almost everyone in the world has a copy. He also became one of the best-selling authors of prime numbers in that era.
Lin Yutang described his book this way: "This is my personal portrayal, a portrayal of my personal life and thoughts."
He claimed to state the Chinese outlook on China. The point, which is a kind of leisure philosophy he expressed, is produced in a leisure life that is different from the current era. This is the wisdom gathered by Chinese scholars, poets and artists over thousands of years. He strives to inspire readers to live a leisurely life, value contemplation and friendship, enjoy drinking tea and wine, love reading and get close to nature.
Can I realize these "antidotes"?
You can also do it by thinking carefully, such as lying in bed and meditating after get off work - cleaning up your spiritual world; getting up in the morning and meditating with your eyes closed - planning, thinking, and reviewing what you want to do; You can listen to music even while walking - relax your walking feet.
"The Art of Living" taught me that life should be relaxed and relaxed, and that we should improve the efficiency of doing things. In your spare time, living a leisurely life is the best enjoyment of life!
02. "The Odyssey" - Accepting Mediocrity
In this article, the author explains mediocrity like this: "Mediocrity does not mean stupid, shoddy or vulgar. It just means There is nothing wrong or bad with being ordinary. When you accept mediocrity, you become humble. You learn to accept that no matter how good you are at something, there is probably someone else in the world. You are more talented. You can try to learn from people who do it better, or at least appreciate them - even if you don't want to be them."
The author writes about Odyssey, a heroic figure who is resourceful and resourceful. He is perseverant and strong; at the same time, Odyssey is also a mediocre person, a person with greed, pride and poor judgment, and he has made many inappropriate choices for this reason.
In fact, everyone has such duality. We should accept it bravely. Especially be brave enough to accept mediocrity. But the reality is that we are afraid of mediocrity, of being unknown while we are alive and soon forgotten after we die.
The author advises us and himself to live calmly and diligently in mediocrity. Accepting mediocrity is an attitude towards life, and it is also a kind of wisdom.
03. "Miracle" - Choose Kindness
"Miracle" written by R.J. Palacio tells the story of a little boy who is about to enter the fifth grade of elementary school. This book makes the author want to be a better person.
This book helps us think about how we might behave when we face the same situation but think from different perspectives.
Most of the wisdom in the book comes from Auggie's teacher, Mr. Brownie. He had a habit of sharing aphorisms with his class to help them learn how to deal with life's challenges and dilemmas. However, the most important lesson of the school year was delivered by the principal, Mr. Tashman, during the opening speech of the middle school. His teachings to his students were simple yet difficult: Choose kindness.
As a social being, we not only have kindness, but we also have the choice to be kind!
The popularity of "Wonder" spread in the most amazing of ways: word of mouth. Readers, booksellers, and library staff began recommending the book to others. Schools began to introduce it into the curriculum and the book became a book that the whole community read together. In other words, it envisioned a possibility so strongly that it made people reflect on themselves and apply it to their lives and social relationships, and today it is becoming one of the most popular children's books of all time.
The challenge of "Miracle", after reading this book, is actually to think about whether we are choosing kindness and try to challenge ourselves to live more kindly.
04. "The Gift of the Sea" - Be kind to yourself
"The Gift of the Sea" is a classic novel by Anne Moreau Lindbergh. It is a book about thinking and meditation. Meditations were written while the author was living on the coast of Florida, and for some time thereafter.
Each chapter of this book is inspired by different shells that the author picked up at the beach. The book contains Lindbergh's broader thoughts on women, the environment, motherhood, marriage, work, love, independence, as well as how we should manage our time and our lives. Her words are written for other women, but much of the advice applies to anyone struggling to find balance in their lives.
The first gift from the sea is a grooved conch shell. She was struck by the simplicity, nakedness and beauty of the shell. Her "shell" is completely different. So her solution is to choose the unknown rather than the familiar, because "it is the unknown, and all the disappointments and surprises it carries, that are the most valuable."
The author in the book finally said It's hard to let go of all the possessions that no longer bring you joy, and it's even harder to let go of emotional and spiritual clutter.
So this book ends with: When we realize this problem, we can be kind to ourselves.
05. "Butterfly Dream" - Betrayal
The author writes the story of himself and his friend Terry, which leads to "Butterfly Dream" and writes about the betrayal of human nature.
The novel "Butterfly Dream" mainly uses jealousy as its source and is full of dangerous romance full of resentment and deception.
The most profound character in the book is Mrs. Danvers, the housekeeper who acts as a saboteur to the work. She spared no effort to destroy the second Mrs. de Winter and devoted herself to the memories of the first Mrs. de Winter and the protagonist Rebecca. Mrs. Danforth is a malevolent presence who preys on the protagonist's insecurities. An important scene involves the dress Mrs. Danforth suggests to the naive and trusting second Mrs. de Winter to wear to a masquerade ball, a dress the butler knows will anger Maxime de Winter. Because these dresses reminded him of his first wife, who had died just a year ago.
No doubt the author's friend Terry would have loved a book in which a skirt is instantly transformed into a costume and a weapon. This book writes about loneliness and also affects Terry - his favorite book, helping him polish his more angular character and giving him a longing for the days in his life that he misses so much.
The author thought of Terry and couldn't think of anything he could read to Terry. He just wished he had been kinder to him. But Terry has passed away.
All the contents in "Reading for Life" are "little things" that once accompanied the author, Will Schwalbe.
The author said: "The best gift you can give others is a book. But I won't say that anymore. I think books are the second best gift. I believe that the best gift you give others is It’s about spending time talking to them about a great book you’ve shared. A book is a great gift, but giving someone else your interest and attention is even better! ”
That’s it, reading makes people! To take a breather in the indifferent technology, reading is a way to reset and recharge, a way to escape, and a way to participate, because reading can stimulate a greater sense of participation.
Books play an important role in the world's great civilizations and human rights actions, so reading brings responsibility.
Reading breaks down narrow-mindedness, thought control and dominance, and is one of the happiest things in the world.
Reading reminds us of progress, reflection and life. We must read for life and read for life!
That’s why there is such a wise saying: “Those who read live a thousand times, and those who don’t read only live once”!
I would like to live in the present and be a scholar who has lived a thousand times!
Qi Fanqi 28-day Writing Growth Camp Part 5, 3092 words