21

Crane, Frank, 1861-1928Project Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

2.8

Word count: 27K words
Chapters: 3

Summary

Project Gutenberg was the first provider of free electronic books, or eBooks. Michael Hart, founder of Project Gutenberg, invented eBooks in 1971 and his memory continues to inspire the creation of eBooks and related technologies today.21 by Frank CraneAuthor: Crane, Frank, 1861-1928,Language: English, Class: BJ: Philosophy, Psychology, Religion: Ethics, Social usages, Etiquette, Religion, Release Date: Nov 29, 2007

Editor's review

This book is a collection of short essays by Frank Crane, a free e-book from Project Gutenberg. Classified under ethics, social customs, and etiquette, it consists mostly of short, everyday philosophical pieces for general readers on attitudes toward life, habits, and human relationships—brief in length and plain in language, suited to casual dipping. Its value lies in grounding abstract ethical topics in the details of daily life, gently reminding readers to reflect on themselves and treat others kindly in a plain tone that still resonates today. Note that this is an original English e-book and a work from a century ago; some ideas carry the limitations of their time and are best read with a critical eye. It works well as extensive English reading material, for reading one or two pieces at bedtime or on the commute, or as a model for writing short English essays.

Who it's for

A good fit for

English learners who want to practice extensive reading with short English essays
General readers who enjoy short pieces on the philosophy of living in spare moments
Readers interested in the social ethics and everyday values of the West a century ago
People who need brief English material for practicing writing and expression

Not a good fit for

Professional readers seeking a systematic study of ethical theory
Readers who only read Chinese translations and are not used to English originals
Readers expecting long, continuous narrative or plot-driven fiction

Reading tips

Read only one or two pieces at a time, then write a sentence or two about your understanding
Guess unfamiliar words from context first, and look them up together after finishing the whole piece
Mark passages that clearly differ from contemporary views and think about them in comparison
Pick favorite pieces and try translating them into Chinese to test your comprehension

About the publisher

Project Gutenberg United States · Founded in 1971

Project Gutenberg is a digital publishing project focused on public-domain ebooks. Its publishing direction centers on classic literary works whose copyright has expired, covering genres such as poetry, drama, fiction, and epic. Representative books include Lyrical Ballads by Wordsworth and Coleridge, Proust's Du côté de chez Swann, Shakespeare's Macbeth and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Homer's The Iliad, Dante's La Divina Comèdia: Purgatòri, Cervantes's The History of Don Quixote, Volume 2, and Grahame's The Wind in the Willows. Its author resources consist mainly of classic Western writers such as Wordsworth, Proust, Shakespeare, Homer, Dante, Cervantes, Grahame, and Tolstoy. Its publishing feature is the provision of freely accessible ebooks in EPUB and Kindle formats; it is not a traditional publisher, and publicly available information is limited.

FAQ

Is this book in Chinese or English?

According to Project Gutenberg, the book is in English—an original English e-book with no Chinese translation included—so reading it requires some English reading ability.

What type of content is it?

According to the classification, the book falls under philosophy, psychology, and religion, specifically ethics, social customs, and etiquette. In practice it is a collection of short essays, each standing on its own, discussing everyday conduct and how to live rather than systematic theory.

Do I need to read it from beginning to end in order?

No. The pieces are relatively independent, so you can skip around by interest or read one or two at a fixed time each day. For English learning, reading a little at a time and retelling afterward is more effective than reading it all at once.

Comments

Find this book

This site is an index: you start “Search all sources” in your browser, and the entries it lists all point to third-party sites; please judge their availability yourself.

About the author

Crane, Frank, 1861-1928 Author · American · 1861–1928

Frank Crane (1861–1928) was an American writer and lecturer. Public information about his early life and education is limited; only one of his works is currently held in the collection, with his representative work listed as "21." Judging from his known writing direction, he mainly wrote inspirational and life-philosophy pieces for general readers, known for short, concise essays close to everyday concerns, centering on attitudes toward life, moral cultivation, and practical wisdom. Such writing was popular in the early twentieth century in the United States, often circulated as newspaper columns or short pieces, with a friendly tone and plain reasoning, carrying a spirit of encouragement and self-improvement. His works are therefore often classed as inspirational literature and life-guidance reading; they had a readership in his day and exerted a continuing influence on later popular inspirational writing.