A note from Steve
For nearly 30 years I have been visiting and traveling through mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, Japan, South Korea and other markets across Northeast Asia. Over the past 20 years I have crisscrossed central China, visiting many provinces, mostly to meet with the publishers of Chinese literature. For more than a decade, I have been hosted by national, regional and city libraries.
I come away from every trip with a sense of awe and wonder. I see firsthand how centuries of wisdom have shaped the culture and given it the framework for a more literate, engaged people, where the pursuit of learning is a lifelong practice.
From the hidden treasures of the Nanjing Library, in the city that was China's capital from 1368 until the Ming court moved to Beijing in 1421, to the newest work in Shenzhen, past and future feel connected. They share constants that matter more to a productive and wonderful life than many of the passing fascinations of today's fast-paced world. Du Shu Reading grew from those journeys, to share that spirit with readers here at home.
I have a condition I call plateauphobia: the fear of standing still. When I stop learning, I feel I am moving backwards. The pursuit of lifelong learning, and the best practices that make it stick, have been my path forward. So I lean in, proactively, to learn everything life offers for my education.
If you also feel stalled in your personal or professional development, Du Shu Reading is for you. Join our community of lifelong learners.
Steve Potash
