Extraordinary Sayings
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Summary
Editor's review
For readers, the experience is highly fragmented and thought-provoking. It is not suited to systematically studying a historical period, but its value lies precisely in this "unsystematic" quality. It is like a box of智慧 candies of different flavors, each to be tasted at random. A seemingly casual exchange may reflect the predicaments of an era; a clever retort may expose some eternal truth of human nature. Li Yiming's compilation is like gathering shells on the beach of history, choosing the most lustrous and distinctive fragments to present to readers.
In terms of reading value, the book works as a daily mental snack, kept on a desk or by the pillow, to be dipped into in spare moments, often prompting a knowing smile or quiet reflection. It can also provide writers with abundant material and sparks of inspiration, for these condensed expressions are full of tension. Note that, as a compilation, some content comes from unofficial histories and notebooks, so its historical accuracy should be viewed critically; readers should focus more on the intellectual interest and linguistic artistry of the remarks themselves rather than treating them entirely as reliable history. Overall, this is a small book that lets one briefly step outside habitual thinking and appreciate the wisdom and delight of Chinese.
Who it's for
A good fit for
- Readers interested in anecdotes and witty sayings of Chinese historical figures
- Those who enjoy fragmented reading and seek inspiration and writing material
- Lovers of verbal wit and humor who appreciate clever dialogue
- Readers hoping to glimpse vivid aspects of history from unorthodox angles
Not a good fit for
- Readers seeking systematic, rigorous academic history
- Those with very high demands for source authenticity who reject notebook and unofficial history content
Reading tips
- Read casually rather than straight through; the pleasure lies in unexpected discoveries
- Prioritize entries by historical period or figure according to your interests
- Pause at striking passages to consider their background or compare them with the present, savoring the implications
About the publisher
Northern Literature and Art Publishing House focuses on contemporary and modern literary and artistic works, literary theory, and translations of foreign literature, while also covering categories such as history, popular science, Eastern philosophy, and world classics. Its collection includes 737 titles, with representative publications ranging from traditional Chinese classics such as Records of the Grand Historian, The Exploitation of the Works of Nature, and The Analects to foreign literary works including the complete classic plays of Shakespeare, Balzac's Old Goriot and Eugénie Grandet (in celebrated translations by Fu Lei), and The Complete Sherlock Holmes. Its author resources span classical figures such as Sima Qian, Song Yingxing, and Confucius, foreign writers such as Shakespeare and Balzac, and translators such as Zhu Shenghao and Fu Lei. The press combines the transmission of classics with an orientation toward general reading, developing a distinctive profile in both the editing of traditional texts and the translation of foreign literature. Public information is limited, so the above emphasizes the publishing profile reflected in the books held in the collection.
Contents
- 第一 史景
- 第二 国事
- 第三 武运
- 第四 军事
- 第五 革命
- 第六 将帅
- 第七 世道
- 第八 爱憎
- 第九 廉耻
- 第十 诙谐
- 第十一 文坛
- 第十二 学者
- 第十三 言论
- 第十四 敬挽
- 第十五 苦难
FAQ
Is this book an original work by author Li Yiming?
Are all the remarks in the book from official histories? How reliable are they?
What are the organizing features of this book?
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About the author
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.
