Good Persuasion

AnonymousThe Commercial Press · ChinaDec 2020

3.7

Word count: 7.3K words
Chapters: 6

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Summary

Virtuous Speech is a book about handling interpersonal matters.

Editor's review

Titled Virtuous Speech, the book points to the wisdom of expression and communication in interpersonal affairs. This edition is based on the original Republican-era Commercial Press printing, and its language carries the plain, down-to-earth style of popular reading matter of that period. It avoids empty talk and focuses on making clear the propriety of speech, whom one is addressing, and the occasion. Its value lies not in offering quick-fix scripts but in reminding readers to sense human feelings before speaking, to consider both sides while expressing themselves, and to restore "being good with words" to a kind of cultivation in dealing with people. For today's readers accustomed to fragmented communication, this rather traditional discussion can supply the missing layer of "why say it," not just "how to say it." The material is drawn mostly from everyday situations and reads effortlessly, making it suitable for keeping on one's desk for casual browsing and consulting when facing concrete occasions such as negotiation, persuasion, or refusal. Note that the original wording is somewhat distant from today's feel, and a few expressions need to be understood in context; readers may adopt the attitude of grasping the meaning without being bound by the wording.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Workplace newcomers who hope to improve everyday communication and tend to lose the proper measure when speaking
Practitioners in sales, customer service, mediation, and other fields requiring frequent dealings with people
General readers interested in popular Republican-era books on getting along in the world

Not a good fit for

Readers expecting systematic communication theory or an academic research framework
Those looking only for ready-made script templates and instant application

Reading tips

Read through once to grasp the overall thread, then select and read closely the chapters relevant to the communication situations you commonly encounter.
After each section, recall a recent occasion when you spoke poorly and try reorganizing your words using the book's approach.
Do not pause over unfamiliar Republican-era wording; grasp the general meaning first and compare it afterward.
Consider reading together with others and exchanging practical insights once a week; this is easier to put into practice than reading alone.

About the publisher

The Commercial Press China · Founded in 1897

"Republic-era Commercial Press Original Editions" refers to original books printed by The Commercial Press during the Republican period, not a separate publishing house. Judging from the 300 titles held in the collection, its publishing focus centers on classical poetry and lyrics, literary appreciation, classic works, military texts, prose and miscellaneous writings, and Eastern philosophy. Representative titles include Wang Guowei's Renjian Cihua, Zhong Rong's Shipin, the lyric collections of Xin Qiji and Liu Yong, Sun Wu's The Art of War, and Lü Buwei's Xianshi Lan. Its author resources are mainly classical writers, together with modern scholars such as Li Jingbang and Guo Huaruo, whose collations and annotations are also represented, giving the list a character centered on original texts while attending to annotation and appreciation. Public information on the precise Republican-era catalog and printings is limited; this overview is based only on the titles held in the collection.

版权信息
正文一
正文二
正文三
正文四
正文五

FAQ

Does this book teach conversational tactics or principles of conduct?

Both, but the emphasis leans toward the latter. It discusses how to sense one's audience and grasp propriety when speaking; techniques are subordinate to one's attitude in dealing with people, rather than listing fixed sentence patterns for copying.

Is the original Republican-era text difficult to read now?

Overall it is popular reading with plain language, and most passages are not hard to understand. A few words and sentence patterns bear the marks of the era but can be understood from context; there is no need to scrutinize every word.

Is it suitable for reading straight through in one sitting?

It can be read through, but it is better read slowly chapter by chapter. The book draws on many everyday situations; reading one section and reflecting on it is more effective for appreciating its sense of propriety than flipping through it all at once.

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About the author

Anonymous Author

Anonymous is not a real personal name but a general Chinese designation for authors whose names are unknown, lost, or unsigned. Neither nationality nor dates of birth and death can be verified, and available public information is limited, so the works attributed to this name are the only basis for description. The collection holds 2,078 works under Anonymous, spanning medicine, classics, historical readings, ancient poetry, classical literature, and philosophy. Representative works include The Yellow Emperor's Inner Canon: Lingshu, Mencius, The Book of Documents, Nineteen Old Poems, Complete Song Ci, and The Peacock Flies Southeast. Most of these works took shape through long transmission and editing, emerging either from collective folk creation or from authors whose names were lost over time. In ancient China, the Book of Songs, the Great Learning, and many popular storybooks and plays were signed Anonymous because their authors could not be traced. Anonymous works cross the classics, histories, philosophical writings, medical texts, and poetry; their subjects are broad, and their styles vary from archaic simplicity to clear naturalness, making them important and influential sources for understanding ancient Chinese thought, medicine, and literature.