An Open Life cover

An Open Life

Rating 4.3
Word count
42K words
Chapters
109
ISBN
9787108050076

Tags

Summary

How should one live? That is a "big" question. This book answers it with "small" things: like gentle spring rain, through brilliant short pieces varying in angle, arrangement, and style, it probes life's perplexities and, with meticulous observation and wise reflection, offers an open, positive, and calm attitude toward life.

Editor's review

*The Open Life* is a book of wisdom that transcends age and cultural background, showcasing Mr. Wang Dingjun's rich life experience and clear philosophical insight. This is no ordinary success manual or inspirational tract; the author forges his own wandering, hardship-filled experience into timeless chapters on choice, responsibility, suffering, and transcendence. His prose is refined and elegant, like fireside conversation, weaving grand questions of life into everyday observation and reflection—reading it conveys both historical weight and luminous modern wisdom. For young readers, the book is a beacon: it offers no simple answers but inspires readers to stay open in a complex world and build inner order. For older readers, it is an affectionate look back and a confirmation, offering comfort and resonance. Its value lies in not pandering to any era's trends but addressing humanity's eternal puzzles and pursuits, so it remains ever fresh. As a master essayist, Wang Dingjun's "openness" is above all a breadth and resilience of the mind; reading this book is like having a profound, tranquil conversation with a wise elder.

Who it's for

A good fit for

  • Readers who think deeply about life's meaning and value and wish to explore their inner world
  • Young people at key growth stages (such as college or early career) seeking spiritual guidance and independent judgment
  • Readers who appreciate plain, profound, and literary Chinese prose and value both ideas and aesthetics
  • People facing life changes or confusion who long for comfort and inspiration from a wise person's life experience

Not a good fit for

  • Practical readers urgently seeking concrete methods, action steps, or quick solutions
  • Readers drawn only to light entertainment and plot-driven stories who are impatient with philosophical reflection and introspection

Reading tips

  1. Read one or two short pieces at a time in a quiet setting, allowing time to savor and reflect rather than rushing
  2. Relate the book's views to your own experience and try writing down your thoughts or questions
  3. If unfamiliar with the historical or cultural background touched on, do some further reading to deepen understanding

About the publisher

SDX Joint Publishing Company China · Founded in 1932

SDX Joint Publishing Company is a publisher known for its humanities and social science titles, covering classics, culture, history, social fiction and politics. Its catalogue of 826 books includes Chinese and foreign literary classics such as The Scholars, Camel Xiangzi and Selected Short Stories of Chekhov, scholarly works such as Studies of Chinese Cave Temples, A Study of the Tuoba History (Revised Edition) and The Nine-Rank System: A Prehistory of the Imperial Examination, and translations such as Red Star Over China and Notes from the House of the Dead. Its authors include renowned Chinese and foreign writers such as Wu Jingzi, Lao She, Su Bai and Chekhov, as well as scholars and translators such as Chen Xiaoming, Wang Benhua, Guo Changbao and Zhu Xiansheng. Its publishing character lies in balancing the popularisation of classics with academic depth, with attention to textual quality and the transmission of knowledge.

Contents

  1. 版权信息
  2. 序 光,请靠近光 ——为北京三联出版“人生四书”简体字版而写
  3. 开放
  4. 三种成长
  5. 睡眠之前
  6. 一日之计
  7. 完人
  8. 团队接力
  9. 鸡口?牛后?
  10. 过程
  11. 君子之争
  12. 合作
  13. 人才
  14. 遗珠
  15. 取予
  16. 邪正
  17. 苦
  18. 考证
  19. 运动员精神
  20. 企图心
  21. 老人与海
  22. 六字箴言
  23. 炎凉
  24. 社会责任
  25. 人比人
  26. 别人田里的庄稼好
  27. 延年有术
  28. 看鱼
  29. 求职记
  30. 万鸟之灵
  31. 小吃店
  32. 自知之明
  33. 天才
  34. 师旷的眼睛
  35. 人生如戏
  36. 伤肝伤胃
  37. 贵庚几何
  38. 迎接挑战
  39. 才命
  40. 寒音
  41. 奇遇
  42. 信心的力量
  43. 心魔
  44. 行为的前奏
  45. 自然领袖
  46. 与人为善
  47. 非洲人的鞋子
  48. 歌与歌手
  49. 恕道
  50. 石匠的智慧
  51. 大鱼·小鱼
  52. 认识谣言
  53. 甜芋泥
  54. 两则传说
  55. 秋茂园
  56. 车上
  57. 三人行
  58. 后果
  59. 父与子
  60. 团结
  61. 求才广告
  62. 友谊银行
  63. 代差
  64. 因果
  65. 黑耶稣
  66. 下毒与撒种
  67. 找知识
  68. 以大为贵
  69. 蛾来了
  70. 现在几点钟
  71. 划地自限
  72. 路
  73. 取法乎上
  74. 人兽之间
  75. 奇货
  76. 思而后行
  77. 手套
  78. 洗手
  79. 康老子
  80. 回馈
  81. 劳者多能
  82. 出乎自然
  83. 对话录
  84. 债
  85. 慎言
  86. 学笑记
  87. 心声
  88. 其言也善
  89. 共同经验
  90. 好话多说
  91. 利器深藏
  92. 好不好?
  93. 兴趣与钱
  94. 职业
  95. 创意
  96. 武训·洛克菲勒
  97. 一块钱
  98. 第一次
  99. 为谁辛苦
  100. 捉海鸥
  101. 迟到竞赛
  102. 爱的迷惑
  103. 现代恋爱
  104. 如果有爱
  105. 改造
  106. 死点
  107. 求新
  108. 转捩点
  109. 王鼎钧作品系列 (第二辑)

FAQ

How is this book different from common inspirational books?
The key difference is its literary quality and depth of thought. It offers no standard answers or rousing slogans; instead, through highly aesthetic prose it calmly examines fundamental life questions such as freedom, suffering, faith, and inheritance, guiding readers toward self-construction. Its power comes from quiet wisdom rather than simple encouragement.
Will young people find this book from an elder generation outdated?
No. It explores timeless themes such as self-knowledge, choice, responsibility, and the capacity to love. Wang Dingjun writes with an open attitude; his experience is the vehicle and wisdom the core, resonating across generations. Precisely because of his rich experience and broad perspective, it can offer young people in the information age valuable steadiness and historical depth.
Do I need to know the author's background before reading?
It helps but is not required. Knowing that Mr. Wang Dingjun crossed the strait and lived through war and exile deepens appreciation of the vicissitudes and equanimity in his writing. Even without that, readers can directly feel the sincere emotion and universal life wisdom in his clear, powerful prose—the author has already elevated personal experience into common human feeling and thought.

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About the author

Wang Dingjun Author · Taiwan, China · 1925

Wang Dingjun, born in 1925 in Lanling, Linyi, Shandong, is a contemporary Taiwanese essayist who also writes under the pen name Fang Yizhi. He joined the military in the final years of the War of Resistance, moved to Taiwan in 1949, and later served as a review chief at the Broadcasting Corporation of China and as editor of the literary supplement of China Times before settling in the United States in 1978. Twenty-two of his works are included in this collection. He is best known for his four-volume memoir, comprising Yesterday's Clouds, The Angry Youth, Seizing the Pass, and Literary Jianghu, as well as the "Three Books on Life." He has also written widely used guides to composition, including Six Keys to Writing, Nineteen Questions on Writing, Seven Clever Techniques for Writing, Four Books on Writing, and Talks on Primary School Composition. His essays span documentary writing and inspirational growth, marked by plain, polished prose that draws life lessons from everyday experience, while his writing guides are clearly organized and richly exemplified, exerting wide influence in language education and literary appreciation. He has received the Golden Tripod Award and the Wu Luqin Essay Award.

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