New Threads of Words

Name: New Threads of Words
ISBN: 9787807533979

Li YimingJan 2022

3.3

Word count: 184K words
Chapters: 33
ISBN: 9787807533979

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Summary

This work adopts a genre similar to "A New Account of the Tales of the World," gathering the words, deeds, and fragments of thought of various figures from this extraordinary period, revealing the true face of human nature through details and restoring truth to history. The book is divided into thirty-three chapters, including Virtue, Government Affairs, Magnanimity, Deep Love, Sorrow, Childhood Brilliance, Humor, and Integrity.

Editor's review

New Threads borrows the note-form framework of A New Account of Tales of the World, compiling the words, deeds, and fragments of thought of various figures in a particular extraordinary period into thirty-three pieces, grouped under categories such as virtue, government affairs, magnanimity, deep love, sorrow, precocious intelligence, humor, and integrity. Its value lies not in grand narrative but in details: a sentence, a gesture, a silence may all reflect a person's true choices under pressure. This format means reading need not start from the beginning; opening to any piece also works. Editorially, the classification itself carries the ethical interest of traditional notes; readers can treat it as character sketches or as slices of an era. One caveat: it builds the whole from fragments, so those expecting coherent plot or complete argument may find it jumpy. It is suitable for desk or bedside, reading a few entries at a time, noting how figures respond in specific situations, then looking back at the categories to better appreciate the editor's choices and intentions.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers who enjoy note-form, fragmented reading
Readers interested in details of human nature and slices of an era
Teachers who need short pieces for writing or classroom discussion
People who want to read a few short pieces during commutes or before bed

Not a good fit for

Readers expecting complete long-form narrative or rigorous argumentation
Readers who only accept plot-driven fiction
Readers lacking patience for the traditional note genre

Reading tips

Read the table of contents first and pick categories that interest you—virtue, government affairs, magnanimity—rather than reading in order.
Pause after every few entries and think about why the figures spoke or acted as they did, then compare with the category.
Keep a pen handy and note down fragments of words and deeds that move you, building your own observational material.

第一德行
第二人论
第三立言
第四政事
第五武运
第六革命
第七雅量
第八文苑
第九识鉴
第十专致
第十一骨气
第十二意志
第十三狂狷
第十四深爱
第十五性情
第十六人情
第十七反叛
第十八变异
第十九忠贞
第二十感伤
第二十一豪迈
第二十二幼敏
第二十三遗言
第二十四敬挽
第二十五诙谐
第二十六廉耻
第二十七爱憎
第二十八挚谊
第二十九风尚
第三十民声
第三十一时弊
第三十二灾难
第三十三舆论

FAQ

What is the relationship between this book and A New Account of Tales of the World?

It borrows the note-form format of A New Account of Tales of the World, compiling fragments of words, deeds, and thought of figures in an extraordinary period under categories such as virtue, government affairs, and magnanimity. It is not an annotation or continuation of that work but uses a similar genre to present details of human nature in another historical period.

Without coherent plot, how should one read it?

There is no need to read from beginning to end. You can pick by category and read a few entries at a time, noting how figures respond in specific situations; afterward, look back at the classification and consider why the editor placed a certain piece under virtue or humor—an overall impression will gradually form from the fragments.

Is it suitable as writing material?

Yes. The book consists mostly of short fragments of words and deeds with concrete human responses, suitable as examples in argumentative essays, classroom discussion material, or epigraphs for essays. When using them, be sure to state the specific context and avoid arbitrary extrapolation divorced from the original background.

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About the author

Li Yiming Author · China · 1977

Li Yiming, whose real name is Li Ming, was born in Xupu, Hunan in 1977. He is a contemporary Chinese freelance writer and book editor, currently living in Changsha. He graduated from Central South University in 2000 and once served as president of the university's Lusha Poetry Society. Public information about him is limited, and details of his personal life are not widely known. However, the fifty works in the collection suggest the general direction of his writing and editorial work: on the one hand, he takes part in making literary classics accessible and retelling them, touching on major works by modern writers such as Lu Xun, Lao She and Xiao Hong; on the other, he writes widely on parenting, inspirational growth, popular science and history, and compiles foreign literature. Besides writing books such as Fragments of the Three Kingdoms and Youth Dancing in a Mask, he has edited a large number of readings for young people. His writing emphasizes readability and the transmission of knowledge, balancing literary interest with educational growth, and has formed a fairly clear profile between popular reading and the promotion of classics.