Be a Bookworm's Best Vacation Reads: Go anywhere, anytime with Keystone' s book recommendations for the summer

A mysterious group of travelers once rode along the dusty roads of ancient Greece.

These were the “hunters”, dispatched by the Egyptian pharaoh during the construction of the Library of Alexandria. Setting out from the banks of the Nile, they crossed borders and endured countless hardships. Yet, their prey was not gold or jewels—it was books.

Spanish writer Irene Vallejo calls this a fascinating story. Its true charm lies in humanity’s timeless thirst for knowledge, progress, and the relentless drive to move forward.

At Keystone Academy, encouraging reading and sharing book lists has become an integral tradition. In the “Be a Bookworm” section of the newsletter, In the Loop, librarians recommend a curated title to the Keystone community every week.

Some of these selections stem from ongoing student projects, extending their learning into broader fields. Others guide us to re-examine commonplace phenomena amid the tides of time, or encourage us to feel the solid ground beneath our feet as we venture into the vast universe. Some simply allow students to experience the overlooked beauty of life, art, and everyday existence through pure literature.

As summer vacation approaches, we have compiled the book lists recommended by our library staff over the past academic year to share them with a wider community of readers.

May everyone find their own window to the world and a unique way to discover meaning within these pages.

Deep in the Universe: How many secrets remain untouched?

Avoiding the Great Filter: Illuminating Pathways to Humanity’s Future in the Cosmos

By Jonathan H. Jiang & Philip E. Rosen

Many of us have wondered, “Do aliens exist?” or “Can we move to another planet?” Many science fiction stories have explored such possibilities. But there is one book that discusses these topics seriously yet with a touch of humor. It is not science fiction, yet it is even more captivating than sci-fi.

Grounded in the Great Filter theory, Avoiding the Great Filter: Illuminating Pathways to Humanity’s Future in the Cosmos thoughtfully explores profound questions, such as whether humanity is the only intelligent life in the universe and the survival challenges and potential breakthroughs facing human civilization.

The book not only covers interdisciplinary knowledge such as astrophysics and artificial intelligence but also proposes three pillars for the continuity of civilization: protecting Earth, technological innovation, and interstellar expansion.

Cosmos

By Carl Sagan

Carl Sagan’s profound masterpiece, Cosmos, is an essential work for anyone exploring the mysteries of the universe and the future of humanity. With eloquence and poetic insight, Sagan guides readers across vast scales of space and time: from the Big Bang to the formation of stars and planets, and even to the concept of multiverses.

Throughout the book, he pays tribute to scientific giants such as Kepler, Newton, and Einstein, while also weaving in the wisdom of ancient civilizations, including China, Egypt, and India. Blending scientific anecdotes, groundbreaking discoveries, and philosophical inquiry, Sagan interlaces genetics, sociology, religion, and psychology to illuminate humanity’s place in the cosmos.

High Energy Ahead! A Scientist’s Reflection on Science and the Humanities (Tentative translation)

by Shuang-Nan Zhang

Professor Shuang-Nan Zhang’s High Energy Ahead! is adapted from his “Master Class” lectures on Ximalaya and is divided into two parts. The first explores black holes, wormholes, and the evolution of the universe, raising questions about the origins of both the cosmos and humanity. The second turns to broader reflections on the nature of science, the spirit of scientists, and the relationship between science, philosophy, and aesthetics.

As a result, the book reads less like a demanding physics course and more like an invitation from a scientist to think alongside him: What exactly is science? How do science and the humanities intersect? And how should we understand the world we live in?

A renowned astrophysicist currently serving as Director of the Astrophysics Center at the Chinese Academy of Science’s Institute of High Energy Physics, Professor Zhang was a guest speaker for the June 17 session of the Keystone Education Salon titled “Scientific Discoveries in Nobel Prizes: Black Holes and Extraterrestrial Life”.

Widely celebrated as a scientist with an extraordinary gift for storytelling, Professor Zhang brought the complex world of astrophysics to life through a vivid, engaging, and thoroughly entertaining talk. Perhaps in the not-too-distant future, the children whose curiosity and spirit of inquiry were sparked by Professor Zhang that day will set out on their own journeys to explore the vast universe.

The Journey of Science for Young Readers (Tentative translation)

By Wu Guosheng

Wu Guosheng, Chair of the Department of History of Science at Tsinghua University, is one of China’s leading historians and communicators of science. His The Journey of Science for Young Readers introduces young readers to more than two thousand years of scientific history through engaging illustrations and accessible storytelling.

Beyond discoveries and inventions, the book explores the people behind science: how great ideas were born, why some were misunderstood, and how scientists faced failure, doubt, and the unknown. It reminds us that science is not simply a collection of right answers, but a spirit of questioning, revising, and seeking truth.

Age of Automation: Where should we go with AI in tow?

Feeding the Machine: The Hidden Human Labor Powering A.I.

By Callum Cant, James Muldoon, and Mark Graham

Over the past two years, we have grown accustomed to handing everyday questions and tasks to artificial intelligence. Yet we often forget a basic truth: artificial intelligence does not simply provide “intelligence”. It is, first and foremost, artificial—it does not emerge out of nothing, but is built upon very real, material foundations.

Feeding the Machine compels us to ask fundamental questions: Who truly produces knowledge? What sacrifices lie beneath technological progress? And in the age of AI, how can we uphold human dignity and fairness?

In this book, the three scholars travel across six continents to investigate the hidden corners of the knowledge production chain. Through interviews with more than 200 workers—data annotators, content moderators, engineers, technicians, professional creative workers, warehouse employees, and investors—they expose the harsh realities behind the noise and celebration of Silicon Valley illusion.

The Sciences of the Artificial (Third Edition)

By Herbert A. Simon

The appearance of humanoid robots on the 2026 Spring Festival Gala in China sparked widespread public discussion about artificial intelligence and the future of manufacturing. At this point, returning to the field’s intellectual origins is especially important.

The Sciences of the Artificial, published in 1996 by Herbert A. Simon—recipient of both the Turing Award and the Nobel Prize in Economics—does not introduce the latest technological advances. Instead, it lays the foundational framework for understanding AI.

Simon had a deep fascination with complexity and recognized that the tools humans use to analyze complex systems vary greatly. To clarify the significance of artificiality and hierarchy in complex systems, he explores a wide range of themes in this book, including understanding the natural and the artificial, economic rationality, the psychology of thinking, memory and learning, the science of design, and social planning.

Reading this classic not only helps us grasp the intellectual foundations behind today’s technological wave, but also introduces a mode of thinking—still highly relevant today—that invites educators in particular to rethink the nature of intelligence and learning.

Everything You Need to Ace Computer Science and Coding in One Big Fat Notebook

By Workman Publishing

Everything You Need to Ace Computer Science and Coding in One Big Fat Notebook is a friendly, engaging introduction to computer science for curious young learners. Written with middle/primary school students in mind, the book explains topics such as coding, algorithms, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and digital literacy in clear, accessible language. Helpful diagrams, illustrations, and real-world examples make complex ideas easy to understand, while review questions and activities encourage readers to put their learning into practice.

What makes this book especially appealing is its balance of knowledge and creativity. It not only introduces key concepts in computer science but also develops problem-solving, logical thinking, and digital citizenship—skills that are increasingly important in today’s world.

Reinventing “Change”: What kind of education do we need?

 Privilege: The Making of an Adolescent Elite at St. Paul’s School

By Shamus Khan

Columbia University sociologist Shamus Khan joined the Keystone community for a conversation about school education. Using his book Privilege: The Making of an Adolescent Elite at St. Paul’s School as a starting point, the discussion revolved around education, values, and the growth of young people.

In the book, Khan employs an ethnographic approach, returning to his alma mater—St. Paul’s School, one of the most prestigious boarding schools in the United States—to closely observe and document everyday campus life. He seeks to answer a central question: how do the dispositions and behaviors of a new generation of American elites take shape through daily interactions, particularly during the formative years of an elite school education?

Khan’s observations invite us to reflect: What kind of students do we hope Keystone graduates will become? How do we cultivate those qualities? What kinds of “privileges” do we hold - and more importantly: what responsibilities should come with them?

The Dangerous AI Gamble in Education: When AI Teaches, Students Will Have Nothing Meaningful to Say

By Dr. Finn Majlergaard

Today, many parents and educators find themselves caught in a new dilemma: without AI, students may fall behind; with it, they may gradually lose the ability to think independently.

Dr. Finn Majlergaard previously held executive positions at technology companies, including IBM, before spending more than two decades teaching in business schools. He understands both how tech corporations operate and what is truly valuable in education. In The Dangerous AI Gamble in Education, he begins by questioning what kind of “revolution” AI is actually bringing to education. He then examines AI’s growing role in schools and universities, including lesson planning, grading and assessments, learning analytics, and even “AI teachers,” while also exploring the ethical concerns behind them — such as privacy, accountability, and technological misuse.

Rather than rejecting AI altogether, Dr. Majlergaard repeatedly reminds us that if students begin outsourcing the most human parts of learning — expressing ideas, asking questions, thinking critically, and exploring independently — they may lose what matters most in education. At the same time, the book offers practical principles and guidance for navigating AI responsibly. It is a thought-provoking read for educators, parents, and anyone concerned about the future of learning.

VALUE(S) - Building a Better World for All

By Mark Carney

At the World Economic Forum 2025 in Davos, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney delivered a widely praised speech that drew global attention. For readers familiar with his 2021 book, Value(s): Building a Better World for All, this moment felt like a continuation of ideas he had been developing for years.

Drawing on his twelve-year experience as Governor of the central banks of Canada and the United Kingdom, Carney reflects on questions that go beyond crisis management: What do we truly value? What lies at the foundation of our economic systems? And what do we overlook when our vision is shaped only by markets and short-term gains? In Value(s), he traces the history of value theory and examines how monetary systems, social values, and global governance have evolved together. More importantly, Carney challenges readers to rethink values in an era marked by climate change, economic inequality, and fragile globalization.

While some critics find his vision idealistic, the book’s broad perspective and moral urgency earned it the 2021 Canadian National Business Book Award. For educators, students, and parents interested in global affairs, economics, and ethical leadership, Values offers a thought-provoking lens through which to understand our world - and to imagine how it might be rebuilt.

An Illustrated Guide to Life in the Future

by Yushi Okajima

An Illustrated Guide to Life in the Future, written by Hiroshi Okajima, a professor at Chuo University in Japan, introduces readers to some of the most important concepts of the digital age through an engaging and accessible comic-book format. Topics include binary code, the Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence, the metaverse, programming, and information security.

Rather than simply explaining what these technologies are and why they were developed, the book also explores the questions and challenges they raise. For example, how does AI respond to unfamiliar situations? Can smart devices always make the right decisions in unexpected circumstances? Through relatable examples and clear explanations, the author invites readers to think more deeply about the role of technology in our lives.

Richly illustrated and highly accessible, this book is especially well-suited for family reading. The questions children ask, and the new perspectives adults discover, can become wonderful starting points for meaningful conversations and shared exploration.

Powering Up Children

By Guy Claxton and Becky Carlzon

Head of Primary School Marcelle van Leenen shared Powering Up Children with the Keystone parent community in January 2026. This thoughtful and practical book explores how educators can help children develop the habits of mind they need to thrive in an unpredictable world. Rather than focusing solely on academic outcomes, its authors, Guy Claxton and Becky Carlzon, emphasize qualities such as curiosity, resilience, reflection, collaboration, and confidence in learning.

Through clear explanations and examples, the book invites adults to reconsider how everyday language, expectations, and environments shape children’s attitudes toward learning. For Keystone families, Powering Up Children offers a shared vocabulary and a reassuring message: by nurturing learning power at home and at school, we help children grow not just into successful students, but into capable, self-aware, and lifelong learners.

Overloaded and Underprepared: Strategies for Stronger Schools and Healthy, Successful Kids

By Denise Pope

Executive Head of School Dr. Emily McCarren shares about Overloaded and Underprepared: “This book describes the research of Dr. Denise Pope, the founder of Challenge Success, a research program based at the Stanford University Graduate School of Education. I found my intensive work with Denise and Challenge Success to be some of the most transformative learning in my career as a school leader.”

“Our increasingly fast-paced world is interfering with sound educational practices and harming kids both physically and mentally. Overloaded and Underprepared gives teachers, administrators, and parents the information, tools, and strategies needed to begin making immediate changes at school, in the community, and at home to benefit all students. Based on the Challenge Success program, a research-based project founded at Stanford University’s Graduate School of Education, this vital resource shows how to create a more balanced and academically fulfilling life for kids.”

Let There Be Light

By Liang Hong

As awareness of adolescent mental health continues to grow, Liang Hong—professor, writer, and mother—engages the subject with both intellectual clarity and emotional urgency. In Let There Be Light, she turns from the rural world of her “Liangzhuang Trilogy” to young people who feel, in different ways, constrained or unheard.

Over three years, she traveled across three cities, each shaped by different levels of educational resources, family expectations, and social pressure. Listening closely to these lives, she searches for what she calls “nodes”—not to assign blame to families, schools, or society, but to locate those moments when a life might shift course. This book helps us walk alongside children as they grow.

It was also the featured title for the eighth session of the Keystone Community Book Club session on May 15, shared by Amelie Wan, Director of Marketing and Communications. The book drove the club’s discussion of a kind of light that is real, grounded, and quietly illuminating.

New Kid

By Jerry Craft

New Kid became the first graphic novel ever to win the prestigious Newbery Medal in 2019. It tells the story of Jordan Banks, a seventh grader who dreams of going to art school but instead finds himself at a private academy. Suddenly, he must face harder classes, unfamiliar teachers, and the difficult questions of identity and belonging. Through humor, sharp insights, and vibrant illustrations, Jerry Craft captures the complicated emotions that come with being “the new kid.”

At the same time, New Kid reminds us that the challenges of a new environment can also open doors—to understanding others, building friendships, and discovering more about ourselves.

The Wild Robot

By Peter Brown

In The Wild Robot, acclaimed children’s author and illustrator Peter Brown explores themes of belonging, empathy, and what it means to be alive through simple yet poetic language. The story, about a female robot who befriends animals and unexpectedly becomes the adoptive mother of a young gosling, invites readers to reflect on the relationship between technology and nature, as well as power and kindness.

With the release of the film The Wild Robot in 2024, this beloved story has found new life on the big screen and has been warmly embraced by young audiences.

Excellent Sheep

By William Deresiewicz

Head of High School Nick Daniel shared Excellent Sheep during a Keystone Community Book Club session in March. The book sparked wide discussion when it first appeared, and a decade later, it still feels strikingly relevant.

After years of teaching at an Ivy League institution, William Deresiewicz chose to leave his tenured post, driven by deep doubts about the system he was part of. He observes that many students who excel their way into top universities, skilled at tests and meticulous in planning, often lose the courage and direction for true self-discovery in their pursuit of “success.” He calls them “excellent sheep”: confident, yet afraid to fail; intelligent, yet lacking in common sense; hardworking, yet without clear purpose or curiosity.

The book is not a rejection of elite education, but a thoughtful reflection. When education becomes a race with prestigious universities as the finish line, what might we be losing along the way? How can we help students—and ourselves—step beyond external expectations and seek a life that is genuinely worth living?

Reading this book invites us back to the heart of education. In an age driven by scores, rankings, and fixed ideas of success, it reminds us to protect our respect for thought, for individuality, and for meaning.

Humanity and Nature: Influencing life with life

50 Years at Gombe

By Jane Goodall with the Jane Goodall Institute

The Keystone Libraries team commemorated the legendary primatologist, Dr. Jane Goodall, who passed away peacefully on October 1, 2025. Jane Goodall: 50 Years at Gombe is a tribute to Dr. Goodall’s extraordinary legacy and life, which was a testament to the power of patient and passionate inquiry.

Her groundbreaking discoveries at Gombe—which revealed that chimpanzees make tools, have emotions, and possess unique personalities—forever changed how we define ourselves, as human beings, and how we see the animal kingdom. This book encapsulates five decades of that revolutionary wildlife research, education, and conservation.

Dr. Goodall came to Keystone on November 12, 2019, as part of her trip to China to commemorate the 25th anniversary of her Roots & Shoots Program in the country. Her visit to our school was a living example of her mission: to inspire action. May this book continue her undying call, “Together we can, together we will”.

As Dr. Goodall famously believed, understanding leads to caring, and caring leads to action. May her story in 50 Years at Gombe ignite a deeper love for reading and nature and propel our community to continue and expand the vital work she began. Her message now rests in our hands.

Inner Mongolia: Colorful and Magnificent

Edited by Mo Jiuyu

For years, the Inner Mongolia Experiential Learning Program (ELP) trip has been a signature program for Keystone students entering the Diploma Programme (DP) phase. Every autumn semester, the Grade 11 cohort spends several days in Inner Mongolia with their advisors and classmates. They try wrestling and archery, pick up some Mongolian words and phrases, build a yurt, and experience Mongolian music and dance. Alongside this, the cohort treks through the Kubuqi Desert, uses sand-willow branches to lay sand barriers, and learns about China’s “Three-North” Shelterbelt Project and the ongoing environmental challenges. For the eleventh graders who have visited Inner Mongolia, five days weren’t enough to cover everything, but it was plenty to spark curiosity and a desire to explore further.

If you’d like to dig deeper into Inner Mongolia, check out Inner Mongolia: Colorful and Magnificent, a book created by more than 20 local writers, photographers, and journalists. With over 400 short essays and hundreds of stunning photos, this compact volume offers a vivid glimpse into the vast and authentic Inner Mongolia - perfect for readers in both Chinese and English.

We Have a Dream

Written by ‘Birdgirl’ (Dr. Mya-Rose Craig)
Illustrated by Sabrena Khadija

Written by renowned youth activist Mya-Rose Craig (also known as “Birdgirl”), We Have a Dream features 30 young environmental activists from around the world, including our Keystone alumna Ariel Chen (Keystone Class of 2023), who began birdwatching at age 12. While in Grade 8, Ariel founded the Keystone Birdwatching Club, inviting classmates and other students to observe birds both on and off campus. For her Grade 10 Personal Project product, she brought the North China forest ecosystem to the Keystone campus. In Grade 11, she launched “Wildlife Neighbors”, encouraging environmental protection starting with the plants and animals around us. Her story beautifully illustrates the book’s core message: you don’t have to wait to make a difference—passionate, local action is the first step toward global change.

We are incredibly proud to see a Keystone graduate, recognized for her love of nature and proactive efforts, featured alongside young people from different countries and backgrounds. We hope this book brings inspiration and strength to you and your children, reminding us that the opportunity and means to achieve a shared dream—a beautiful home for all—lie right in our hands.

Telling the Seasons - Stories, Celebrations and Folklore around the Year

Written by Martin Maudsley; Illustrated by Alison Legg

British author and storyteller Dr. Martin Maudsley offered Keystone students from Foundation to Grade 5 a different kind of learning experience in the Hutong Theater. Through the sounds and rhythms of English, body movement, drama, and the gentle music of the ukulele, he invited children to enter stories as worlds to hear, feel, and inhabit.

His book, Telling the Seasons, is a natural extension of this experience. Arranged month by month, it brings together stories and traditions that reflect the changing seasons in the United Kingdom. Its spirit resonates with China’s long-standing attention to seasonal change, embodied in the 24 solar terms.

Dr. Maudsley’s work often weaves together folklore, myth, poetry, and music. He performs in theaters, schools, festivals, and outdoor settings, and collaborates with cultural and environmental organizations, including the BBC and the National Trust.

Telling the Seasons invites readers to slow down, notice the world more closely, and reflect on the meaning of ‘locality’: how each landscape, through the turning of the seasons, gives rise to its own stories, and how each of us remains deeply connected to the rhythms of nature.

What is Life?

By Erwin Schrödinger

This book was the selected reading for The Keystone Community Book Club’s fifth session, hosted by Rae Yang, Assistant Head of School for School Affairs, featured Erwin Schrödinger’s classic, What is Life?

Written for the layman, this 20^th-century title proved to be one of the spurts in the birth of molecular biology and the subsequent discovery of DNA. What is Life? appears here alongside “Mind and Matter”, his essay investigating a relationship that has eluded and puzzled philosophers since the earliest times.

A Brief Chinese History of Grains

By Shi Jun

Grains have long been woven into the poems that students memorize. From the Book of Songs—“O great rat, eat not my millet”—to Li Shen’s “Sow one grain in spring, reap ten thousand in autumn,” and Du Fu’s “Freshly cooked millet with spring chives in the night rain”, these gentle lines are rooted in thousands of years of agrarian life in China.

Dr. Shi Jun, a botanist at the Chinese Academy of Sciences and acclaimed science writer, traces the origins, spread, and development of staple crops with clarity and rigor. From a single seed to crop rotation, from ancient agricultural texts to hybrid rice, he shows how food has shaped both history and everyday life.

Dr. Shi visited Keystone in March 2026 and shared the ideas behind his writing with the community members. This book was also a set text for the first Inter-school Chinese Reading Competition.

History and Literature: Like spring blossoms

The World Goes On

By László Krasznahorkai

The Nobel Prize in Literature in 2025 was awarded to Hungarian writer László Krasznahorkai for “his compelling and visionary oeuvre that, in the midst of apocalyptic terror, reaffirms the power of art.” It is worth noting that Krasznahorkai holds a deep appreciation for Chinese culture. Not only did he pay tribute to Confucius by adopting the Chinese name 好丘 (Hǎo Qiū), but he also traveled across China following the footsteps of the Tang poet Li Bai, incorporating these experiences into his creative work.

The World Goes On is the culmination of nearly thirty years of his creative refinement, featuring 21 imaginative and philosophically profound short stories. Set in global locations such as Shanghai, Turin, and Istanbul, the book is an experimental work that intentionally breaks all literary conventions and strives to challenge the limits of language. The author’s long, swirling sentences create a unique narrative rhythm, allowing readers to fully appreciate the charm of “pure literature”. Among the stories, Jiulong Column, set against the backdrop of the dragon pillars of Shanghai's Yan’an High Road, offers readers in China a sense of familiarity and delight.

RYŌMA!: The Life of Sakamoto Ryōma: Japanese Swordsman and Visionary Series

Volume III from the four-volume Set

By Shiba Ryōtarō

This book, the featured reading for the Keystone Community Book Club’s third session, focuses on Sakamoto Ryoma, a key figure of Japan’s Bakumatsu Restoration period. Head of Middle School Dr. Jiang Houming provides the following recommendation:

Japan often evokes complex feelings for most Chinese: on the surface, it appears culturally similar, yet the deeper we study it, the more we discover its profound differences. The Bakumatsu period—arguably one of the two most fascinating moments in Japanese history, alongside the Warring States era—holds particular significance because it directly led to the Meiji Restoration and provides insight into the “Needham Puzzle” of why China fell behind during the same historical arc.

Exploring this pivotal transformation in Japan not only deepens our comparative understanding of East Asian history but also allows us to reflect critically on what kind of youth we hope to cultivate: individuals who are rooted in Chinese identity yet equipped to engage meaningfully with global contexts, which directly connects to our third keystone, promoting Chinese culture and identity in a world context.

A Little History of the World

By Ernst Hans Josef Gombrich

“All stories begin with ‘Once upon a time.’ And that’s just what this story is all about: what happened, once upon a time.” This sentence is not the beginning of a fairy tale, but the opening line of a history book: E. H. Gombrich’s A Little History of the World. It has captivated readers of all ages since its publication in 1935.

Written in just six weeks when the art historian was only 26, the book was initially intended for young readers but has become a classic for its simple, elegant narrative. Gombrich masterfully transforms the vast and complex story of human history into an engaging and accessible tale.

The book’s publication history is as remarkable as its content. Due to its “strong pacifist viewpoint”, it was banned by the Nazi regime in Germany. Decades later, in 1985, Gombrich added a final chapter, offering a poignant reflection on the 20th century, including the two World Wars and the Cold War, and tempering the optimism of his youth with the wisdom of experience. He used this addition to deliver a powerful message to his readers: that we must learn from history how easily people can be incited to become “non-human” through incitement and intolerance.

Since its publication, the book has been translated into more than 40 languages and has had a global impact. It is recognized as a foundational text in world history education for its “inclusive worldview and opposition to nationalism”. Its success also inspired Yale University Press’s acclaimed Little Histories series, which covers topics including science, language, and poetry. Gombrich’s work remains a testament to the power of storytelling, proving that history need not be simplified to be clear and that its most important lessons are about humanity itself.

The Essential Rumi

By Jalal al-Din al- Rumi; English translation by Coleman Barks & John Moyne

Poetry often leads readers into the very soul of a people. The recent war in Iran has stirred concern across the world. Reading the poems of the 13th-century Persian poet Rumi may offer another way, beyond the turmoil and tragedy, to understand the land and its people.

Rumi lived in the turbulent 13th century, yet throughout his life, he maintained warm relationships with people from different social, cultural, and religious backgrounds. At his funeral, followers of many faiths came to mourn him. Eight hundred years later, Iran, Afghanistan, and Turkey all regard him as one of their own poets. In 2007, UNESCO issued a medal in honor of this great humanist, philosopher, and poet who belongs to all humanity.

The Essential Rumi is an English-translated collection that selects some of Rumi’s most celebrated poems. In these poems, Rumi repeatedly calls on people to lay down hatred and fear, and to rediscover the abundance of life and the bonds between human beings. His poetry reminds us again and again that true power does not come from authoritative positions or weapons, but from compassion, imagination, and an open heart.

The Emperor’s Four Treasuries: Scholars and the State in the Late Ch’ien-Lung Era (Harvard East Asian Monographs)

By R. Kent Guy

During April’s “Love of Reading Month”, the HS Library displayed two works from the original-size facsimile reprint of the Wenyuan Pavilion edition of the Complete Library of the Four Treasuries (Siku Quanshu), including The Collected Works of Tao Yuanming and The Complete Works of Su Dongpo.

As we encounter these beautifully crafted volumes, we might ask: how did this monumental collection—the largest anthology in premodern China—come into being? And why has its reputation remained so divided and debated for more than two centuries?

In The Emperor’s Four Treasuries: Scholars and the State in the Late Ch’ien-Lung Era, American scholar R. Kent Guy offers a perspective that moves beyond traditional assessments of merits and faults. Rather than focusing solely on the contents of the Siku Quanshu, he turns his attention to the people behind the project—Grand Councilors, compilers, collators, local officials, and book collectors. He highlights how the interplay between imperial power, scholars, and bureaucrats shaped contemporary understandings of “what counts as knowledge,” while also emphasizing that scholars were not entirely passive; instead, the process was marked by complex interactions and symbiosis.

The Complete Works of Su Dongpo

Facsimile Reprint of the Wenyuan Pavilion Edition of the Siku Quanshu (The Complete Library of the Four Treasuries)

During the April “Love of Reading Month”, the HS Library is featuring a special display of The Complete Works of Su Dongpo, a facsimile reprint of the Wenyuan Pavilion edition of the Complete Library of the Four Treasuries. We invite you to encounter this great master of literature and art through his poetry, ci, fu, and prose.

This edition faithfully reproduces the original Wenyuan Pavilion version in its entirety, preserving its original structure, layout, and binding style. Printed on handmade Xuan paper from Anhui, the text appears in a warm and refined ink tone. The covers are woven from natural silk and follow the traditional fourfold classification of jing, shi, zi, and ji, each marked by its designated color. They are bound using the traditional wrapped-back technique. More than 300 processes and the collaboration of hundreds of artisans and scholars have brought this work to life, making it not only a vessel of text but also a culmination of craftsmanship and cultural heritage.

Within the broader exhibition, Past · Present · Future: Reading the Classics through the Siku Quanshu: A Student Exhibition, this volume reminds us that the classics are not distant relics, but enduring sources that continue to shape our thinking and expression.

Yi Jing - The Illustrated Book of Changes

by C. C. Tsai, translated into English by Brian Bruya

The Yi Jing (Book of Changes) is one of the most influential classics in Chinese civilization—a timeless guide to understanding change and making wise decisions in an ever-changing world. At its heart lies a simple yet profound question: Given my situation, what should I do next to face changes? In this engaging graphic adaptation, renowned cartoonist C. C. Tsai brings the ancient text to life through expressive illustrations, humor, and storytelling. His approachable style transforms a work often considered difficult or mysterious into an accessible and enjoyable reading experience while preserving its philosophical depth. The volume is further enriched by Brian Bruya’s fluid and accurate modern translation, which makes the wisdom of the Yi Jing approachable for contemporary readers while remaining faithful to the original text. Combining visual creativity with enduring insight, Yi Jing - the Illustrated Book of Changes offers a fresh doorway into Chinese thought and culture. As summer break begins—a season often marked by new experiences, unexpected turns, and moments of reflection—this beautifully crafted book invites readers to pause, embrace change, and discover timeless wisdom for the journeys ahead.

——

If we cannot stop time from moving forward, let us at least expand the horizon of our lives.

“El libro es, sobre todo, un recipiente donde reposa el tiempo. Una prodigiosa trampa con la que la inteligencia y la sensibilidad humana vencieron esa condición efímera, fluyente, que llevaba la experiencia del vivir hacia la nada del olvido.”

It translates into English as “A book is, above all, a vessel in which time rests. A marvelous trap through which human intelligence and sensitivity overcame that ephemeral, fleeting condition that carried the experience of life toward the nothingness of oblivion.”

As Emilio Lledó reminds us, books are vessels for preserving time. Though life inevitably drifts toward forgetfulness, human wisdom and sensitivity allow us to transcend its fleeting nature.

We wish you a restorative summer vacation and a season of meaningful reading.