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Abstract: Essence of the event is extracted by only thousands of words as silk spanned from cocoons—complication of morals and manners is discovered after sharp description of the controversial issue. The writer guides us from the seemingly dry-as-dusk, tediously discussed social issue to an enriching philosophical level with a brand new viewpoint, creating an effect of “A sudden glimpse of hope in the dark mist of bewilderment.”
Book Reviewer/ Yingyan Lai
During the Second World War, an advertising slogan appeared on a newspaper: “Only be cracked into familiar pieces of everyday life can words like freedom unite us together.” As what this book, You can never wake up someone who shams sleeping, suggests, the highbrow philosophical thoughts and terms could educate people only when they are instilled into moments of everyday life. Lian Zhou achieved this in his book.
The book carefully selects essays published by the new promising writer within the last ten years, including his commentary on current issues, book reviews, film reviews and some academic articles. Short as these articles, they cover rich topics with innovative writing patterns. Scholar Weiping Cui comments, “Lian Zhou writes as he flies—from the summit of abstract concepts to the ground of rough reality, meanwhile, from the ditch of the real world to the sky of idealism.” Indeed, Lian Zhou integrates thoughts of happiness, justice, life of virtue, democracy, freedom, and morality with live stories and actual experiences. Zhou’s talented analysis and sharp insights of “penetrate into the clew and unweave the mess” eloquently convince and arouse readers' sympathy.
When talking about the controversial kneeling greetings topics—Wenzhong Qian’s kneeling down to Xianlin Ji on Ji’s birthday, and apprentices’ kneeling down to Benshan Zhao for admission of apprenticeship, Zhou holds a different opinion from the “restoration of out-dated ancient habits ” of odds. Zhou points out that people need to take into consideration time, place and occasion to distinguish outmoded conventions of servility from sincere poignant effluence of inner feelings. Furthermore, Zhou quotes Aristotle’s, “Man is not condemned for being feared or angry, nor for the feelings fear or anger themselves, but for any abreaction of fear or anger.” Zhou thinks that kneeling is one of the expressions of human beings natural feelings, and people could get a more objective and moderate view towards theses events when they break the mindset of “kneeling equals servility.” Essence of the event is extracted by only thousands of words as silk spanned from cocoons—complication of morals and manners is discovered after sharp description of the controversial issue. The writer guides us from the seemingly dry-as-dusk, tediously discussed social issue to an enriching philosophical level with a brand new viewpoint, creating an effect of “A sudden glimpse of hope in the dark mist of bewilderment.”
Articles in this book are all short and sharp, while are also “long and wide”—with knife-keen analysis and ample storage of knowledge and information, providing insightful delights for readers. Opinions towards the controversial film, Nanjing!Nanjing!, ideas on the cliché of “philosophy and art,” and contemplation about “pornography literature” and feminism... all display an attitude of unconformity and courage, with mature and nurtured skills as foundation to freely wonder through philosophy and the “rough ground.” When commenting sensitive social topics, the writer smartly uses vague metaphor to criticize. In the problem of the effect of ideology on society, the writer quote the example from the western scholar Slavoj Zizek—in Europe, old and young people all pretend to believe the existence of Santa Clause. “Pretend” means that everyone knows he does not exist, but Santa Clause still impose effects on society, so that everyone has reasons to offer and receive Christmas gifts. The writer thinks that ideology functions as the Santa Clause—even though you do not believe in it, it still functions in an invisible way.
Similar reasoning could be easily seen everywhere in the book. Zhou’s articles represent proper critiques with an effect of appeasing the anger public and reserving creative debates. Such debates are like an introspective liquidation. As the writer himself says, “Life is like a thorough liquidation—a battle against the instinct of oneself, a non-stop questioning of ‘who you are’.” Such liquidation demonstrates great significance at modern time when many people choose to sham sleeping to escape from reality. “You could never wake up someone who shams sleeping” unless the person decide to wake up himself. The purpose of the writer to write is to wake up these persons and guide them to think, at a time of moral corruption domination, whether they should live like a dog, or to pursue a life of virtue.
But of course, although with strong criticizing style, Zhou’s writing foundation is positive. He reminds us of the light veil covered on various issues, but never reaches out to tear the veil. It is enough—to willingly liquidate one’s life thoroughly is already a precious virtue for social existence.
Book Reviewer/ Yingyan Lai
During the Second World War, an advertising slogan appeared on a newspaper: “Only be cracked into familiar pieces of everyday life can words like freedom unite us together.” As what this book, You can never wake up someone who shams sleeping, suggests, the highbrow philosophical thoughts and terms could educate people only when they are instilled into moments of everyday life. Lian Zhou achieved this in his book.
The book carefully selects essays published by the new promising writer within the last ten years, including his commentary on current issues, book reviews, film reviews and some academic articles. Short as these articles, they cover rich topics with innovative writing patterns. Scholar Weiping Cui comments, “Lian Zhou writes as he flies—from the summit of abstract concepts to the ground of rough reality, meanwhile, from the ditch of the real world to the sky of idealism.” Indeed, Lian Zhou integrates thoughts of happiness, justice, life of virtue, democracy, freedom, and morality with live stories and actual experiences. Zhou’s talented analysis and sharp insights of “penetrate into the clew and unweave the mess” eloquently convince and arouse readers' sympathy.
When talking about the controversial kneeling greetings topics—Wenzhong Qian’s kneeling down to Xianlin Ji on Ji’s birthday, and apprentices’ kneeling down to Benshan Zhao for admission of apprenticeship, Zhou holds a different opinion from the “restoration of out-dated ancient habits ” of odds. Zhou points out that people need to take into consideration time, place and occasion to distinguish outmoded conventions of servility from sincere poignant effluence of inner feelings. Furthermore, Zhou quotes Aristotle’s, “Man is not condemned for being feared or angry, nor for the feelings fear or anger themselves, but for any abreaction of fear or anger.” Zhou thinks that kneeling is one of the expressions of human beings natural feelings, and people could get a more objective and moderate view towards theses events when they break the mindset of “kneeling equals servility.” Essence of the event is extracted by only thousands of words as silk spanned from cocoons—complication of morals and manners is discovered after sharp description of the controversial issue. The writer guides us from the seemingly dry-as-dusk, tediously discussed social issue to an enriching philosophical level with a brand new viewpoint, creating an effect of “A sudden glimpse of hope in the dark mist of bewilderment.”
Articles in this book are all short and sharp, while are also “long and wide”—with knife-keen analysis and ample storage of knowledge and information, providing insightful delights for readers. Opinions towards the controversial film, Nanjing!Nanjing!, ideas on the cliché of “philosophy and art,” and contemplation about “pornography literature” and feminism... all display an attitude of unconformity and courage, with mature and nurtured skills as foundation to freely wonder through philosophy and the “rough ground.” When commenting sensitive social topics, the writer smartly uses vague metaphor to criticize. In the problem of the effect of ideology on society, the writer quote the example from the western scholar Slavoj Zizek—in Europe, old and young people all pretend to believe the existence of Santa Clause. “Pretend” means that everyone knows he does not exist, but Santa Clause still impose effects on society, so that everyone has reasons to offer and receive Christmas gifts. The writer thinks that ideology functions as the Santa Clause—even though you do not believe in it, it still functions in an invisible way.
Similar reasoning could be easily seen everywhere in the book. Zhou’s articles represent proper critiques with an effect of appeasing the anger public and reserving creative debates. Such debates are like an introspective liquidation. As the writer himself says, “Life is like a thorough liquidation—a battle against the instinct of oneself, a non-stop questioning of ‘who you are’.” Such liquidation demonstrates great significance at modern time when many people choose to sham sleeping to escape from reality. “You could never wake up someone who shams sleeping” unless the person decide to wake up himself. The purpose of the writer to write is to wake up these persons and guide them to think, at a time of moral corruption domination, whether they should live like a dog, or to pursue a life of virtue.
But of course, although with strong criticizing style, Zhou’s writing foundation is positive. He reminds us of the light veil covered on various issues, but never reaches out to tear the veil. It is enough—to willingly liquidate one’s life thoroughly is already a precious virtue for social existence.