Experience
Tags
Summary
Editor's review
What moves readers most in The Life of Zou Taofen is the author's plain and sincere style. He does not deliberately dramatize hardships or boast of achievements; instead, he describes in unadorned language the straits of his student years, the confusion of his early career, the trials of founding Life Weekly, and his reflections in prison. This restrained narrative gives the text a stronger sense of truth and power. Particularly valuable is the book's detailed account of Life Weekly's editorial philosophy, business methods, and reader services, which provides first-hand material for the study of modern Chinese periodical history.
From a contemporary perspective, the value of The Life of Zou Taofen lies not only in its historical record. The principle of 'wholeheartedly serving readers' that Zou Taofen upheld, his pursuit of freedom of expression, and his perseverance in ideals amid adversity still offer profound inspiration to today's media professionals and content creators. His discussions of professional ethics, personal cultivation, and social responsibility also transcend the limits of their time. Readers are advised to consider the significance of this spiritual legacy today while attending to the historical details.
Who it's for
A good fit for
- Researchers and enthusiasts interested in modern Chinese journalism and publishing history
- Media and publishing professionals seeking career inspiration from a predecessor's life
- Readers who appreciate plain, sincere autobiography and value the historical significance of texts
- Readers curious about the intellectual and emotional journeys of twentieth-century Chinese intellectuals
Not a good fit for
- Readers seeking light entertainment or a novel-like narrative experience
- Readers expecting systematic theoretical exposition or academic analysis
Reading tips
- Read alongside historical materials related to Life Weekly, which Zou Taofen edited, to understand how his editorial ideas were put into practice
- Pay attention to how the author's account of personal experience reflects social change, and note the connections to historical context
- For the sections on career choices and perseverance, slow down and consider how they resonate with today's workplace
About the publisher
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
- 版权信息
- 出版说明
- 开头的话
- 二十年来的经历
- 一 永不能忘的先生
- 二 工程师的幻想
- 三 大声疾呼的国文课
- 四 课外阅读
- 五 写作的尝试
- 六 新闻记者的作品
- 七 英文的学习
- 八 修身科的试卷
- 九 幻想的消失
- 一〇 青年“老学究”
- 一一 踏进了约翰
- 一二 深挚的友谊
- 一三 苦学时代的教书生涯
- 一四 初出茅庐
- 一五 三星期的练习
- 一六 新饭碗问题
- 一七 编译的教训
- 一八 英文教员
- 一九 外国文和外国教师
- 二〇 一个基本原则
- 二一 进一步的研究
- 二二 写作中的“积蓄”
- 二三 一种有趣味的工作
- 二四 现实的教训
- 二五 一幕悲喜剧
- 二六 一年的练习
- 二七 聚精会神的工作
- 二八 一个小小的过街楼
- 二九 转变
- 三〇 几个原则
- 三一 社会的信用
- 三二 立场和主张
- 三三 深夜被捕
- 三四 到捕房
- 三五 铁格子后面
- 三六 高三分院
- 三七 再被羁押
- 三八 同情和厚意
- 三九 地方法院
- 四〇 押在公安局
- 四一 高等法院
- 四二 看守所
- 四三 临时的组织
- 四四 我们的“家长”
- 四五 “难兄难弟”的一个
- 四六 “难兄难弟”的又一个（之一）
- 四七 “难兄难弟”的又一个（之二）
- 四八 “难兄难弟”的又一个（之三）
- 四九 一个“难妹”
- 五〇 “六个人是一个人”
- 五一 前途
- 在香港的经历
- 五二 波动
- 五三 贫民窟里的报馆
- 五四 惨淡经营之后
- 五五 一个难关
- 五六 新闻检查
- 五七 一个有利的特点
- 五八 种种尴尬
- 五九 一只大笨牛
- 六〇 一封诚恳慰问的信
- 附录 我的母亲
FAQ
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About the author
Zou Taofen, originally named Zou Enrun, was a native of Yujiang, Jiangxi, and was born in Yong'an, Fujian. He was a renowned modern Chinese journalist, political commentator, and publisher. In 1926 he edited the weekly Life, and in 1932 he founded the Life Bookstore, actively promoting resistance against Japan and national salvation; he was one of the "Seven Gentlemen" of the National Salvation Association and died in Shanghai in 1944. His works span essays, miscellanies, and translations in the social sciences. Representative titles include Pingzong Jiyu, Jingli, Huannan Yusheng Ji, Pingzong Yiyu, Minben Zhuyi yu Jiaoyu, Geming Wenhao Gaoerji, and his translated and annotated love stories. His plain, lively prose stays close to reality and to readers, combining a journalist's observation with a commentator's concern, and has had a lasting influence on public reading and cultural dissemination.
