A Life of Composure
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Summary
This book is the fourth personal anthology of Yu Minhong, founder of New Oriental and chairman of New Oriental Education and Technology Group, focusing on his thoughts, actions, words, and insights in recent years. It collects his essays on life and career, and records in detail major events experienced by New Oriental and Yu himself since the company's IPO in September 2006, his speeches at forums and schools, and media reports on both. Through this book, readers can understand Yu's profound reflections on the essence of life, the way of conducting oneself and doing things, and the hopes and responsibilities carried by the younger generation—thoughts that prompt introspection and inspire effort. Meanwhile, the changes and constants after the IPO also invite readers to consider the social responsibilities of modern successful enterprises and the keys to their success. For ordinary readers, especially students, the book offers a window into how outstanding entrepreneurs and enterprises grow.
Editor's review
The value of this book lies not in repeating success narratives but in laying open an entrepreneur's everyday thinking: life, work, the responsibilities of the younger generation, and the changes and constants a company must face after going public. The selected-writings format places essays, speeches, and media records side by side, creating a cross-reference between personal confession and outside observation—readers encounter both self-reflection and public issues at the corporate level. It suits reading during career transitions, when team management stalls, or when one is uncertain about life's direction, treating any single piece as a starting point for thought rather than a standard answer. For student readers, it is more like a window into how an entrepreneur judges and expresses himself. There is no need to finish it in one sitting; essays and speeches have different rhythms, and entering in several sessions makes it easier to grasp the way judgments are formed.
Who it's for
A good fit for
- Young readers planning their career direction and hoping to build a long-term growth framework
- Business managers and entrepreneurs who want to understand the changes and constants in running a listed company
- Readers who care about personal cultivation and methods of work and enjoy entrepreneur essays
- Student readers hoping to understand social responsibility and organizational growth from an entrepreneur's perspective
Not a good fit for
- Readers expecting a systematic startup tutorial or operations manual
- Readers who only want light stories and prefer to avoid management and life topics
- Business historians requiring a strict academic research framework
Reading tips
- Start with the table of contents and read the pieces closest to your own situation, then return to the remaining essays.
- Read speeches alongside media reports and note the different angles on the same event.
- After each piece, write in three sentences what inspired you and one actionable change.
- If corporate issues interest you, make thematic excerpts around the changes and constants after going public.
Contents
- 版权信息
- 壹 心灵的脚步
- 从容一生
- 从自愿自觉到坚忍不拔
- 在时间的长河中收获
- 不同的选择，不同的生活
- 被爱和爱人
- 感恩的心
- 让现在的行动拥有未来的意义
- 存在的理由
- 走在路上
- 挣脱生命的束缚
- 心灵的富足
- 伟大的诞生
- 定目标，沉住气，悄悄干
- 面对灾难的选择
- 人为克服困难而生
- 奥林匹克精神
- 危机感
- 专注的好处
- 为了过好新的一年
- 追赶
- 学单板滑雪想到的
- 诗意的生活
- 花儿在不同的季节开放
- “被”字走红
- 克服内心深处的自卑
- 贰 行踪
- 哈佛一日
- 9月7日
- 无穷的梦想无穷的路
- 同一天生活的两种态度
- 灾区日记
- 岁月如歌
- 我的2008年
- 梦想之旅又一年
- 叁 观点
- 中国80后
- 十博士倡导抵制圣诞节
- 为我们的年轻一代欢呼
- 读应非儿
- 有人爱、有事做、有所期待
- 肆 演讲录
- 北京大学2008年开学典礼致辞
- 度过有意义的生命
- 中国教育质量的本质
- 创业的八大能力
- 新东方成立15周年讲话
- 伍 第三只眼
- 上市一年间的俞敏洪
- 培育年轻人的精神气质
FAQ
Is this book a biography of Yu Minhong?
No. It is Yu Minhong's fourth personal selected collection, gathering essays, speeches, and media reports, focusing on his thinking and experiences in recent years rather than a complete life story.
Can I understand it without entrepreneurial experience?
Yes. Many pieces discuss life, work, and the growth of the younger generation, and do not require an entrepreneurial background; sections on business operations can be understood in light of your own work.
What does the book mainly cover about New Oriental after going public?
It centers on the "changes" and "constants" in New Oriental and in Yu himself after going public, along with the resulting reflections on corporate social responsibility and operating experience; related speeches and media perspectives are also included.
Is it suitable for reading in one sitting?
Not necessarily. It consists of many essays, speeches, and reports, better read by theme or mood, one or two pieces at a time with room to digest.
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About the author
Yu Minhong
Author · Chinese · 1962
Yu Minhong was born in Jiangyin, Jiangsu, in 1962. He graduated from the Department of Western Languages at Peking University and is the founder and chairman of New Oriental Education & Technology Group. In 1993 he founded Beijing New Oriental School, and in 2006 he led New Oriental's listing on the New York Stock Exchange. He is a well-known English-teaching and management expert in China and an author of inspirational books. His writing centers on two areas: English exam preparation and personal growth. The former features a root-plus-association memory method and covers vocabulary study for postgraduate entrance exams, TOEFL, CET-4, and high school English, with editions such as portable, shuffled-order, and upgraded versions. The latter focuses on learning motivation and personal striving. His works combine language-learning methods with inspirational expression and have a broad influence among exam-preparation readers.
