On Cost
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Summary
Editor's review
In the editor's view, the book's core value lies in its "problem consciousness." Taking "cost" as his thread, Zheng Yefu reexamines many social rules and individual choices we take for granted—from the institution of marriage and attitudes toward childbearing to systems of honesty and the allocation of time. He guides readers to consider: behind every choice and every institution lies a corresponding cost; and whether something is "reasonable" often depends on whether we clearly see that hidden cost and are willing to bear it. This perspective breaks through simple black-and-white judgments and prompts us to think in more complex, multidimensional ways.
Especially noteworthy is the book's discussion of "rationality" and "irrationality." Zheng Yefu points out that many seemingly "irrational" collective behaviors or cultural traditions may, within a particular historical and social context, be precisely the adaptive outcome that paid the smallest "cost." This analysis transcends simple moral criticism and displays the depth of sociological understanding. Reading this book is like undertaking a rigorous and bold intellectual adventure: it may not provide definitive answers, but it will inevitably broaden the boundaries and dimensions of your thinking. For readers who wish to sharpen their social insight and are weary of superficial commentary, this is rare intellectual nourishment.
Who it's for
A good fit for
- Readers interested in exploring the logic of how society operates and the nature of human behavior
- Those who enjoy cross-disciplinary thinking and hope to analyze everyday phenomena through economic and sociological lenses
- Readers seeking to break out of conventional frames of thought and engage in deep reading and reflection
- Educated readers concerned with social change and cultural forms in China
Not a good fit for
- Readers expecting clear action guides or practical techniques
- Readers who prefer light storytelling and resist abstract speculation and theoretical discussion
Reading tips
- There is no need to finish it in one sitting; pick chapters according to interest, and after each piece consider making some notes on your own observations.
- While reading, try applying the book's "cost" analytical framework to specific events or decisions around you to deepen your understanding.
- When you doubt a view, treat it as a starting point for thought rather than an endpoint, and pursue further reading or discussion with others.
About the publisher
Founded in 1988 and affiliated with China CITIC Group, CITIC Press focuses on business and economics, social sciences, literature and children's books, with common categories covering social sciences, finance, literature, Eastern philosophy and literary appreciation. Its library holds 91 titles, including Yuval Noah Harari's Sapiens trilogy, Thomas Piketty's Capital in the Twenty-First Century, Wu Xiaobo's Thirty Years of Strife: Chinese Enterprises 1978–2008, Nelly Sachs's The Weight of Butterflies: Selected Poems of Nelly Sachs, as well as New Interpretations of the Analects and Chiang Hsun's lectures on Dream of the Red Chamber. Its authors and translators include Lin Junhong, Ba Shusong, Chen Li and Chang Fen-ling. Overall, the press introduces influential works in finance and social sciences while balancing classic translation and local appreciation in literature and Eastern philosophy, combining academic depth with accessible reading.
Contents
- 版权信息
- 1 社会行为中的代价
- 2 理性、非理性与代价
- 3 决定论批判
- 4 目的论批判
- 5 合作与团体生活
- 6 竞争与否认冲突
- 7 特殊主义与普遍主义
- 8 经济平等之妄想
- 9 男女平等之困惑
- 10 伦理的诸种得失
- 11 标准之缺憾
- 12 分工与专业化
- 13 完善与停滞
- 14 传统与反传统
- 15 歧异与一致
- 16 顺境与逆境
- 17 风险与保障
- 18 乌托邦——否定代价之代价
- 19 代价的界定与比较
- 20 中庸与极
- 后记
- 余波：观点的演变与批评之回应
- 1.导言
- 2. 腐败与社会生态学
- 3. 三种平等：终点、起点与游戏规则
- 4. 就男女平等问题答九学者批评
- 5. 经济学家可以垄断“代价”的概念吗
- 6. 答王小波
- 7. 城市：它的起源与功能
- 8. 物种的适应与文化的进步
- 9. 人类与一夫一妻制
- 参考书目
FAQ
How does this book differ from "cost-benefit analysis" in pure economics?
Can readers without a background in sociology or economics understand it?
Will the book's views become outdated?
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About the author
Zheng Yefu, born in Beijing in 1950, is a Chinese sociologist and a professor in the Department of Sociology at Peking University. He was among the first sociologists in China after reform and opening up to study intellectuals as a social group. His writing has long centered on education, trust, consumption, and social problems, often starting from everyday phenomena and probing the deeper logic of institutions and culture in a plain yet reflective style. The library holds three of his works, including On Scholarship and Academic Writing, Resembling Ancestors, and On Cost, which touch on research methods, comparisons between biological and social behavior, and the costs of social development, showing a scope that spans sociology and interdisciplinary discussion. His other books include On Trust, The Pathology of Chinese Education, Civilization as a By-product, and The Coming of the Post-Materialist Age, and he continues to influence Chinese-language readers of social science.
