Ordinary Mind

刘少辉China International Culture Press Limited · Hong Kong SAR, ChinaJun 2021

Rating 2.4
Word count
165K words
Chapters
32
ISBN
9789888734849

Tags

Social Fiction Social ObservationFate and FortuneFamily BondsSmall FiguresLove EntanglementsFamily PlanningComplex HumanityPsychological Insight

Summary

This is a long-form work centered on the lives and work of city dwellers. Ordinary people, ordinary minds—no earth-shattering events, yet within ordinary affairs lie extraordinary lives and experiences. Mr. Hong served as a soldier and a worker. At thirty he married and had a child; because of his good performance and love of learning, he later entered the cadre establishment. After much effort he finally reached a salary grade increase, but since his wife—who had converted from rural to urban residency—was set on having another child, a daughter, the unplanned birth cost him the raise he had just obtained. Had this happened to someone else, it would surely have caused serious resentment. Mr. Hong not only did not let it weigh on him; he reasoned: of the tens of thousands in the factory, there must be several hundred if not a thousand couples of childbearing age. If the factory made an exception for me, how would the leadership carry out ideological work with others? Policy is policy—it is a major national principle concerning the economy and people's livelihood, not aimed at any one person; not the slightest carelessness is permitted. He took it with his usual calm. After retirement, to make up for the regrets of his youth, he spent three years self-studying for a college diploma, then gained admission to a regular institution and spent four more years, receiving his university graduation certificate at the age of seventy.

Editor's review

Common Mind is Liu Shaohui's meditation on life distilled over many years. In an age of widespread anxiety and the relentless pursuit of efficiency and success, this book is like a clear spring, guiding readers to reconsider the value of the word "ordinary." Rather than piling up abstruse theory or a complex philosophical system, the author shares, in plain and sincere prose, his observations and reflections on life, work, relationships, and inner balance. At its core, the book explores how to maintain inner calm and stability amid distraction, and how to treat "common mind" as practicable wisdom rather than a distant ideal.

In content, the book is clearly structured, with cases drawn from everyday life and language that is plain yet affecting. It offers no quick-fix "chicken soup for the soul" or universal cure, but encourages ongoing self-awareness and adjustment of attitude. For modern readers buffeted by the flood of information and often feeling exhausted and lost, the book's value lies in the "anchor" it provides—a reminder to attend to the present, accept imperfection, and find meaning and strength in ordinary daily life. Reading it feels like a quiet conversation with a wise person; readers need to slow down and savor it.

Overall, Common Mind is a collection of essays with real-world concern and a healing effect. It may not bring immediate change, but its gentle yet firm ideas, if put into practice, may help readers build greater psychological resilience and face life's ups and downs with more composure.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Not a good fit for

Reading tips

  1. Read in a relatively quiet, undisturbed setting to allow for immersion and reflection
  2. Don't rush to finish; read a chapter or two a day and relate the ideas to your own experience
  3. As you read, note down ideas or moments that resonate with you as reference points for personal growth

About the publisher

China International Culture Press Limited Hong Kong, China · Founded in 2000

China International Culture Press Limited, headquartered in Hong Kong, is a comprehensive publisher serving Chinese-reading communities worldwide. Its publishing covers classics, art, literary appreciation, modern poetry, documentary literature and cultural studies. Representative titles include Gleaning Delights in the Sea of Art, Notes on Reading Zhuangzi, Studies in Rubbings and Appreciation of Fine Rubbings, Research on Mahler's Symphonies: Genre, Symbol and Intertextuality, An Appreciation of Mao Zedong's Couplet Collection, A Cool Stroll through a Mountain Village, A Cultural History of the Imperial Examination in the Late Imperial Period, and Moving Beyond Intergenerational Trauma from the Family of Origin, with authors such as Xu Jiaqiang, Lin Zhengong, Sun Honglin, Wu Ning, Liu Chunyong, Niu Qiushi and Jin Shang. The books in its catalogue show a balance between art appreciation and cultural scholarship, serving both general readers and specialized research. As public information is limited, other publishing features are not detailed here.

Contents

  1. 版权信息
  2. 内容简介
  3. 第一章
  4. 第二章
  5. 第三章
  6. 第四章
  7. 第五章
  8. 第六章
  9. 第七章
  10. 第八章
  11. 第九章
  12. 第十章
  13. 第十一章
  14. 第十二章
  15. 第十三章
  16. 第十四章
  17. 第十五章
  18. 第十六章
  19. 第十七章
  20. 第十八章
  21. 第十九章
  22. 第二十章
  23. 第二十一章
  24. 第二十二章
  25. 第二十三章
  26. 第二十四章
  27. 第二十五章
  28. 第二十六章
  29. 第二十七章
  30. 第二十八章
  31. 第二十九章
  32. 第三十章

FAQ

What are the main differences between this book and other inspirational self-help books? This book emphasizes "realization" rather than "instruction." Its tone is plainer and more inward-looking. It does not promote success theory or positive-psychology techniques, but returns to observing and accepting life as it is, stressing that truth is found in the ordinary.
Is the content too abstract or hard to connect to real life? No. The author draws extensively on concrete situations from daily life, work, and personal relationships, in plain, accessible language. Readers will easily find points that resonate with their own experience.
Is this book suitable as a gift? It is very suitable for friends or family members going through a stressful period, in need of spiritual comfort, or feeling lost in life. It conveys gentle yet powerful care—a thoughtful gift choice that does not feel heavy.

This site is an index: you start “Search all sources” in your browser, and the entries it lists all point to third-party sites; please judge their availability yourself.

About the author

刘少辉 Author

Liu Shaohui is a Chinese book author about whom limited public information is available. Three of his works are currently known: The Secret of Efficient Learning: Output-Based Learning, Ordinary Mind, and Love and Hate Fall in the Ninth Heaven. His writing spans two areas, education and social fiction. The Secret of Efficient Learning: Output-Based Learning belongs to the field of education and discusses learning methods and efficiency, while Ordinary Mind and Love and Hate Fall in the Ninth Heaven lean toward social fiction and focus on the emotions and life circumstances of ordinary people. Beyond the author's name, details such as nationality, dates of birth and death, and professional experience cannot be confirmed from public sources and are therefore not speculated upon here. Judging from the works available, Liu Shaohui's writing combines practical guidance with storytelling, addressing both the study of learning methods and the observation of social life, and these two strands together form a recognizable profile of the author.