I first came across this book on my boyfriend’s mom’s bookshelf. Yang Jiang was one of the most famous female writers in Chinese literary history, and I’ve wanted to read her works for so long. As someone who finds complicated concepts hard to grasp, I was surprised by how this book kept me focused and entertained throughout. It is deeply philosophical, exploring the meaning of life. I’m amazed by how Yang Jiang possessed such profound knowledge yet still managed to be so modest.
My favorite piece in this book is 《她的自述》, which vividly presents the struggles, pain, hope, and reality of people’s lives hundreds of years ago.
I like Mrs Yang's easy understanding language for all readers, for both Chinese "Barnes and Nobles". I also like her humble honest attitude about the questions she's, we all are, searching - the meaning of our existence. However the discoveries are fairly superficial and the references are a few scratches of theories of every kinds.
It's definitely not a serious study, just as the book's subtitle, it's a book of self Q & A. But nonetheless it's a nice bedside book when missing China, missing home...