Prominent voices YANG Lan and Zijinchen share insights on reading at ZJU

During the inaugural Reading Activity Week in April, Zhejiang University hosted veteran media personality YANG Lan and alumnus suspense novelist Zijinchen for campus talks. Engaging with students and faculty, the two speakers explored the multifaceted value of reading through the lenses of self-understanding and social observation.

During her session themed on happiness and self-awareness, YANG Lan proposed that happiness is not an innate gift but a skill acquired through long-term reflection. Recalling her own university years, she emphasized that extensive reading provides more than just a foundation for professional success; it offers a profound, non-utilitarian spiritual fulfillment. This intrinsic drive has been the cornerstone of her career in in-depth interviewing and public communication.

YANG Lan further encouraged individuals to embrace their internal complexities. Drawing on Jungian psychology, she suggested that perceived weaknesses often contain latent potential, provided one can transform them through reflection. She urged students to remain patient in their exploration of the self and the world, using reading as a vital tool throughout that journey.

In a complementary session, Zijinchen focused on the power of observing the real world. He argued that the core of impactful writing lies in a keen perception of social details rooted in lived experience. By observing diverse social groups over time, he creates characters and scenarios with realistic tension that resonate with contemporary social issues.

Discussing his creative process, Zijinchen noted that reading extends beyond text to include the understanding of people and social structures. He pointed out that realist writing requires a constant focus on social change to reflect a broader historical context through individual stories. Regarding the rise of artificial intelligence, he remarked that while AI can assist in information processing, the essence of original creation remains rooted in human experience and emotion.

These events showcased the diverse roles reading plays in personal growth and cognitive development. Through these direct exchanges between authors and the university community, the campus cultural atmosphere was further enriched.
Adapted and translated from the article written by LIU Jingchun, CHEN Qilisha and WU Wenbo
Translator: WU Jingying ('27,Communication)
Editor: JIANG Chenqi ('27, Structural Engineering), HAN Xiao