Thus Say the Proverbs
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Summary
"Yanyun" faithfully records the details, life experience, and reflections of an ordinary family, forming a modest "microhistory"—and therein lies the value of record-keeping. Writing is like spiritual practice. The appeal and vitality of a good essay come from the author's creativity and capacity for innovation; creativity and innovation come from the author's power of thought and expression; and at the core of thought and expression lie the author's expressive and aesthetic powers.
The essays on the "Yanyun" WeChat account are beautiful.
Editor's review
Who it's for
A good fit for
- Readers who enjoy family-life essays and warm narratives
- Ordinary families who wish to read together and exchange writing
- Beginners who want to learn writing methods from everyday records
- Readers interested in the life histories of ordinary people and micro-level records
Not a good fit for
- Readers who prefer strong plot and fast-paced genre fiction
- Readers expecting a systematic writing course or academic monograph
- Readers with little interest in everyday family themes
Reading tips
- Family members can each choose an essay and take turns reading aloud, then share their feelings.
- After reading, try writing a short family sketch to practice observation and expression.
- Copy out the writing insights mentioned in the book as reminders during writing practice.
- There is no need to read in order; browse freely by author or theme.
About the publisher
Writers Publishing House is a Chinese publisher focused mainly on literary publishing. Its output covers classical literature, foreign literature, folk literature and Eastern philosophy, with some extension into popular reading such as social fiction and parenting books. Its catalogue contains more than 900 titles, including representative works such as Dream of the Red Chamber and its edited editions, Shakespeare's Macbeth and A Midsummer Night's Dream, and foreign literary classics such as The Brothers Karamazov and Lost Illusions. In terms of authors, it includes classical writers such as Cao Xueqin and Gao E, foreign masters such as William Shakespeare, Dostoevsky and Balzac, and translations by translators such as Zhu Shenghao, Geng Jizhi and Fu Lei. Overall, its publishing profile balances Chinese and foreign literary classics, emphasizes quality translations, and serves both academic and general readers; publicly available information on its specific publishing plans is limited.
Contents
- 版权信息
- 序 我们为什么做“谚云”公众号？
- 父亲手记
- 写作有没有诀窍？
- 仇好——与女儿对话
- 放下，立地！——关于手机的对话
- 钱在走
- 爱麋说
- 敩学半
- 《诗》要“四读”
- 倒读
- 读名著，学谚语
- 阿Q的读法
- 节气：“天人合一”的伟大发明
- 织莎：民间笑话的文学范本意义
- 一个鼻孔出气
- “拉杂变”
- 考古、炒股与举烛
- 三个孟尝君
- 认屐
- 说焦大
- 也说“饺子就酒”
- 甑·甑糕·馏甑水
- 喝花茶
- 鸡尾茶——新年试笔
- 补日记
- 有意思与有意义
- “看不惯”与“放不下”
- “说不清”与“差不多”
- 汪伦是谁？——新年试笔
- 作家的“三把刷子”
- 文章论
- 论谦虚
- 说村庄
- 从阳泉出发
- 墨余札记
- 打着高铁看女儿
- 再打铁
- 走为上
- 表达
- 做最好的自己——新年试笔
- 赋得
- 有福读书
- 习书养气
- 熟后生——习书有感
- 从公文到文学
- 读两本书主义
- 张颂文的“文”
- 直不疑的“怪”
- 寒号虫
- “富硒虫草蛋”“与辉同行”及其他
- 苦豆豆
- 桂花晚香
- 观湖食蟹
- 山楂煮
- 鲥鱼与白鹇
- 椿树与柿树
- 我们和春天有个约会
- 姐姐家的院子
- 高耸云巅的布达拉宫
- 清凉西海子
- 雪落运河静无声
- 通州城，好大的船
- 牛津日记
- 新年的决心
- 实验室里过大年
- 卷耳与躺平
- “脑腐”能够治愈吗？
- 导师们
- 藤壶、巴赫与爸爸
- 读报二题：文与艺
- “隐形朋友”
- “植友”颂
- 榜样
- 别人家的孩子
- 爱情六种半
- 孔子的学生·莎翁的观众·伏尔泰的追随者
- 跨越阶级的梦想
- 论斤卖的书
- 一位邻居
- 烦恼不烦恼
- 直谅多闻
- 失家者（Homeless）
- 英国贵族为什么爱拽法语？
- 我们家的新年愿景（外二篇）
- 文章吾家事——新年试笔
- 后记
FAQ
This book is written by three people—will the style be inconsistent?
Are the writing methods discussed in the book helpful to ordinary people?
Is the so-called "microhistory" very academic?
Comments
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About the author
Li Jianyong: currently, public information is limited, and details of his life, such as his place of origin, year of birth, and educational background, are not clearly recorded. Judging from the library's holdings, only one work by this author, Yan Yun, is included and classified under prose and miscellaneous writings, suggesting that his writing leans toward the essay and informal sketch. The title Yan Yun hints that the work may relate to proverbs, folk sayings, or reflections inspired by them, though the specific content and background of the book await further documentation. On the available evidence, Li Jianyong is not a widely known public figure, and his style can only be glimpsed through this single work. Readers interested in him and his writing may begin with Yan Yun and, within the tradition of prose and miscellaneous writings, appreciate his choice of subjects and tone. Given the limited materials, this introduction avoids excessive speculation and sketches his authorial position solely on the facts in the library.
Dai Meidi is an author about whom little public information is available; the library currently holds only one work by this name, the prose collection Proverbs Say (Yan Yun). As details such as dates of birth and death, nationality, education, and personal experience cannot be verified, this introduction can only offer a brief note based on the work itself. Proverbs Say is classified as prose and miscellaneous writings. Judging from its title, it may take folk proverbs as a starting point for reflections on everyday observations and life experience, placing it in the essay genre. Writing of this kind usually avoids grand narratives and focuses instead on observing and revisiting the details of daily life, with plain language and short pieces suited to casual reading. Given the available material, it is difficult to judge whether Dai Meidi has developed a consistent style, and the author's creative trajectory and sphere of influence remain unknown. Readers interested in Proverbs Say may approach it as prose writing and consider the thoughts and feelings the author expresses through proverbs.
Li Yushu is an author about whom little public information is available. The existing catalog records only one work under this name, the prose collection Proverbs Say. Since the author's nationality, life experience, and writing background are not clearly documented, it is difficult at present to trace a complete writing trajectory or to identify the region or literary circle to which the author belongs. Judging from the title and classification of Proverbs Say, the book has the character of essays and miscellaneous reflections, and may revolve around proverbs, folk sayings, or everyday experience, recording observations and thoughts in prose form, perhaps in a plain and life-oriented style. In the absence of further material, readers may regard this work as an entry point for observing the author's verbal interests: though limited in scale, it can reflect the author's attention to folk speech and daily experience. A fuller assessment of Li Yushu's style and influence must await more works and public information.
