How books can open your mind | Lisa Bu

Summary

The speaker recounts their childhood dream of becoming a Chinese opera singer, thwarted by parental expectations and societal norms. They found solace and guidance in books, which led them to the U.S. and a new perspective on life. They discovered the power of comparative reading across cultures and languages, which enriched their understanding and helped them redefine their relationship with their parents. Books provided a 'magic portal' to connect with people across time, transforming their life with renewed purpose and happiness.

Takeaways

• 🏆 The speaker's early life involved a gymnastics opportunity in Hunan, China, but was discouraged by her 'tiger mother' who wanted her to become an engineer.
• 🎭 Despite her parents' wishes, the speaker's dream was to become a Chinese opera singer, showcasing her passion for the arts.
• 📚 The speaker's pursuit of her dream was met with resistance from adults, highlighting the challenges of following one's aspirations in a traditional society.
• 🌏 A pivotal moment in the speaker's life was moving to the U.S. in 1995, where she was exposed to literature banned in China, broadening her worldview.
• 📖 The speaker discovered the power of comparative reading, which provided insights into different cultures and perspectives.
• 🔑 The fifth commandment from the Bible, 'You shall honor your father and mother,' became a tool for the speaker to redefine her relationship with her parents.
• 🌐 The speaker's experience with maps and literature challenged her preconceived notions, showing that perspectives can be shaped by the media we consume.
• 📚 Books provided a 'magic portal' for the speaker to connect with people across time and cultures, alleviating feelings of loneliness and powerlessness.
• 💡 The speaker's journey with books led her to understand that the purpose of dreams is not only to be achieved but also to connect us with our passions and sources of happiness.
• 🌟 The speaker concludes that even shattered dreams can serve a purpose, and books have been instrumental in her finding happiness and a sense of purpose.

Q & A

What was the government's initial plan for the speaker during their childhood?

The government wanted to transfer the speaker to a school for athletes with all expenses paid.

Why did the speaker's mother reject the government's plan?

The speaker's 'tiger mother' said no because the speaker's parents wanted them to become an engineer like them, believing a safe and well-paid job is the only sure way to happiness.

What was the speaker's dream that was not supported by adults?

The speaker's dream was to become a Chinese opera singer.

How did the speaker try to pursue their dream of becoming an opera singer?

The speaker tried everything they could, including writing to the school principal and the host of a radio show.

At what age did the speaker realize they were too old to be trained as an opera singer?

The speaker realized they were too old to be trained at age 15.

What did the speaker turn to when they found no one around to teach them?

The speaker turned to books to satisfy their hunger for parental advice and knowledge.

Which book helped the speaker find their role model of an independent woman?

The book 'Jane Eyre' helped the speaker find their role model of an independent woman.

What commandment from the Bible gave the speaker an epiphany about their relationship with their parents?

The fifth commandment, 'You shall honor your father and mother,' gave the speaker an epiphany.

How did the speaker's perspective on maps change after encountering a new culture?

The speaker realized that a map carries somebody's view and that China doesn't have to be at the center of the world.

What is the significance of comparative reading for the speaker?

Comparative reading offers the speaker many insights and a more complete understanding of topics, which they apply to both academic research and daily life.

How does the speaker use translation to enhance their understanding of concepts?

The speaker uses translation to realize the literal meanings of words in Chinese, such as 'happiness' meaning 'fast joy' and 'bride' meaning 'new mother,' which provides a deeper understanding of the concepts.

What is the speaker's ultimate belief about the purpose of dreams?

The speaker believes that the most important purpose of a dream is to get us in touch with where dreams, passion, and happiness come from, even if the dream does not come true.

Outlines

00:00

📚 The Pursuit of Dreams and the Power of Books

The speaker, trained as a gymnast in Hunan, China, during the 1970s, recounts her journey of defying her parents' wishes to become an engineer and her own aspirations to become a Chinese opera singer. Despite her mother's opposition and the lack of adult support, she remained determined to follow her dream. At 15, realizing her dream was unattainable, she turned to books for guidance and inspiration. She found solace and role models in literature, such as 'Correspondence in the Family of Fou Lei,' 'Jane Eyre,' 'Cheaper by the Dozen,' and works by Sanmao and Nan Huaijin. These books influenced her decision to study abroad, leading her to the U.S. in 1995. There, she explored banned books in China and found a new perspective on life through comparative reading, which allowed her to see different viewpoints and understand the world beyond her own culture.

05:01

🌟 Books as a Portal to Connection and Understanding

The speaker emphasizes the transformative power of books, which helped her overcome feelings of loneliness and powerlessness. She reflects on the significance of dreams, suggesting that their purpose extends beyond mere realization to connecting us with our passions and sources of happiness. Even shattered dreams serve this purpose. Through her love for books, she has found a renewed sense of purpose and clarity in life. The speaker concludes by expressing gratitude for the enduring companionship of books and the knowledge they provide, encouraging the audience to cherish the wisdom and connection books offer.

Keywords

💡Gymnast

A gymnast is an athlete who participates in sports that involve physical agility and coordination. In the context of the video, the speaker was trained to become a gymnast in Hunan, China, during the 1970s. This keyword is significant as it sets the stage for the speaker's early life and the choices they faced, contrasting with their ultimate path towards self-discovery and education through books.

💡Cultural Revolution

The Cultural Revolution refers to a sociopolitical movement in China from 1966 to 1976, led by Mao Zedong, aimed at preserving Chinese Communism by re-making society. The speaker mentions surviving the Cultural Revolution, which underscores the historical backdrop of their upbringing and the influence it had on their family's values and beliefs.

💡Tiger Mother

A 'Tiger Mother' is a term used to describe a strict, demanding parent who pushes their children to achieve academically and excel in extracurricular activities. The speaker's mother is described as a 'Tiger Mother' who insisted on an engineering career for her child, reflecting the cultural emphasis on academic success and the pressure to conform to parental expectations.

💡Chinese Opera Singer

A Chinese opera singer is a performer in traditional Chinese opera, which requires a combination of singing, acting, and martial arts. The speaker's dream of becoming a Chinese opera singer represents their personal passion and the pursuit of a different path than what was expected of them, highlighting the theme of individual aspirations versus societal norms.

💡Acrobatics

Acrobatics involves skilled performances of agility, balance, and strength, often seen in circuses and traditional performances. The speaker mentions learning acrobatics as part of their opera singer training, illustrating the rigorous and diverse training required for such a career and the dedication needed to pursue it.

💡Confucian Tradition

Confucian tradition is a system of social and ethical values based on the teachings of Confucius, emphasizing respect for authority and social hierarchy. The speaker contrasts the Confucian requirement of obedience with the Western concept of 'honor', using this as a tool to redefine their relationship with their parents and escape the guilt associated with Confucian expectations.

💡Comparative Reading

Comparative reading is the practice of reading and analyzing multiple texts or versions of a text to compare and contrast their themes, styles, and messages. The speaker adopts this method to gain insights into different cultures and perspectives, as seen when they read books in pairs or in different languages, enriching their understanding and broadening their worldview.

💡Epiphany

An epiphany is a sudden, intuitive perception of or insight into the reality or essential meaning of something. The speaker experiences an epiphany upon reading the fifth commandment in the Bible, which leads to a reevaluation of their relationship with their parents and a shift in their cultural perspective.

💡Shattered Dream

A shattered dream refers to a dream or aspiration that has been broken or unrealized. The speaker reflects on their unfulfilled dream of becoming an opera singer, using it as a point of departure to explore the deeper purpose of dreams and the resilience they can inspire, even in the face of disappointment.

💡Honor

Honor, in the context of the video, is a concept that differs from blind obedience. It implies respect and esteem for one's parents, but allows for a more balanced and reciprocal relationship. The speaker uses the commandment 'You shall honor your father and mother' as a catalyst to redefine their relationship with their parents and escape the guilt associated with Confucian expectations.

💡Magic Portal

The term 'magic portal' is used metaphorically to describe the transformative power of books, which allowed the speaker to connect with different cultures, times, and perspectives. It symbolizes the limitless possibilities that reading and education can offer, enabling the speaker to overcome feelings of loneliness and powerlessness.

Highlights

Trained as a gymnast in Hunan, China in the 1970s.

Government wanted to transfer to a school for athletes, but was declined by the 'tiger mother'.

Parents as engineers, believed in a safe and well-paid job for happiness.

Dreamed of becoming a Chinese opera singer and attempted to join opera school.

Wrote to the school principal and a radio show host to pursue opera dreams.

Lack of adult support for the dream of becoming an opera singer.

Friends supported the dream but were as powerless as the speaker.

Realized at 15 that it was too late to be trained as an opera singer.

Felt destined for a second-class happiness due to a shattered dream.

Determined to find another calling despite no one to teach.

Turned to books for parental advice and found role models in literature.

Read 'Correspondence in the Family of Fou Lei' for parental advice.

Found inspiration in 'Jane Eyre' for an independent woman's role model.

Learned efficiency from 'Cheaper by the Dozen'.

Inspired to study abroad by 'Complete Works of Sanmao' and 'Lessons From History'.

Moved to the U.S. in 1995 and read books banned in China.

Found 'The Good Earth' and The Bible interesting but strange.

The fifth commandment 'Honor your father and mother' as a tool to escape Confucian guilt.

Started the habit of comparative reading in a new culture.

Comparative reading offers insights, such as different perspectives on maps.

Read books in pairs for comparative insights.

Compared stories across genres and cultures for deeper understanding.

Reading in two languages revealed nuances in translation.

Books provide a magic portal to connect with people across time.

A shattered dream can still lead to self-discovery and happiness.

Dreams serve to connect us with our passions and sources of happiness.

Books have given purpose and clarity to the speaker's life.

Ends with a heartfelt thank you and applause from the audience.

Transcripts

Transcriber: Joseph Geni Reviewer: Morton Bast

So I was trained to become a gymnast

for two years in Hunan, China in the 1970s.

When I was in the first grade, the government

wanted to transfer me to a school for athletes,

all expenses paid.

But my tiger mother said, "No."

My parents wanted me to become

an engineer like them.

After surviving the Cultural Revolution,

they firmly believed there's only one sure way to happiness:

a safe and well-paid job.

It is not important if I like the job or not.

But my dream was to become a Chinese opera singer.

That is me playing my imaginary piano.

An opera singer must start training young

to learn acrobatics,

so I tried everything I could to go to opera school.

I even wrote to the school principal

and the host of a radio show.

But no adults liked the idea.

No adults believed I was serious.

Only my friends supported me, but they were kids,

just as powerless as I was.

So at age 15, I knew I was too old to be trained.

My dream would never come true.

I was afraid that for the rest of my life

some second-class happiness

would be the best I could hope for.

But that's so unfair.

So I was determined to find another calling.

Nobody around to teach me? Fine.

I turned to books.

I satisfied my hunger for parental advice

from this book by a family of writers and musicians.["Correspondence in the Family of Fou Lei"]

I found my role model of an independent woman

when Confucian tradition requires obedience.["Jane Eyre"]

And I learned to be efficient from this book.["Cheaper by the Dozen"]

And I was inspired to study abroad after reading these.

["Complete Works of Sanmao" (aka Echo Chan)] ["Lessons From History" by Nan Huaijin]

I came to the U.S. in 1995,

so which books did I read here first?

Books banned in China, of course.

"The Good Earth" is about Chinese peasant life.

That's just not convenient for propaganda. Got it.

The Bible is interesting, but strange.

(Laughter)

That's a topic for a different day.

But the fifth commandment gave me an epiphany:

"You shall honor your father and mother."

"Honor," I said. "That's so different,

and better, than obey."

So it becomes my tool to climb out

of this Confucian guilt trap

and to restart my relationship with my parents.

Encountering a new culture also started my habit

of comparative reading.

It offers many insights.

For example, I found this map out of place at first

because this is what Chinese students grew up with.

It had never occurred to me,

China doesn't have to be at the center of the world.

A map actually carries somebody's view.

Comparative reading actually is nothing new.

It's a standard practice in the academic world.

There are even research fields

such as comparative religion and comparative literature.

Compare and contrast gives scholars

a more complete understanding of a topic.

So I thought, well, if comparative reading

works for research, why not do it in daily life too?

So I started reading books in pairs.

So they can be about people --

["Benjamin Franklin" by Walter Isaacson]["John Adams" by David McCullough] --

who are involved in the same event,

or friends with shared experiences.

["Personal History" by Katharine Graham]["The Snowball: Warren Buffett and the Business of Life," by Alice Schroeder]

I also compare the same stories in different genres -- (Laughter)

[Holy Bible: King James Version]["Lamb" by Chrisopher Moore] --

or similar stories from different cultures,

as Joseph Campbell did in his wonderful book.["The Power of Myth" by Joseph Campbell]

For example, both the Christ and the Buddha

went through three temptations.

For the Christ, the temptations

are economic, political and spiritual.

For the Buddha, they are all psychological:

lust, fear and social duty -- interesting.

So if you know a foreign language, it's also fun

to read your favorite books in two languages.

["The Way of Chuang Tzu" Thomas Merton]["Tao: The Watercourse Way" Alan Watts]

Instead of lost in translation, I found there is much to gain.

For example, it's through translation that I realized

"happiness" in Chinese literally means "fast joy." Huh!

"Bride" in Chinese literally means "new mother." Uh-oh.

(Laughter)

Books have given me a magic portal to connect with people

of the past and the present.

I know I shall never feel lonely or powerless again.

Having a dream shattered really is nothing

compared to what many others have suffered.

I have come to believe that coming true

is not the only purpose of a dream.

Its most important purpose is to get us in touch

with where dreams come from,

where passion comes from, where happiness comes from.

Even a shattered dream can do that for you.

So because of books, I'm here today,

happy, living again with a purpose and a clarity,

most of the time.

So may books be always with you.

Thank you.

(Applause)

Thank you. (Applause)

Thank you. (Applause)