Learning to Read and Write from Mao Zedong

One important reason Mao Zedong became a great historical figure, a giant of his age, was that he loved to read and knew how to read. The saying "Knowledge is power" was most vividly embodied in him. Mao Zedong was an avid reader. He once said, "My greatest hobby throughout my life has been reading," and, "I can go a day without eating or sleeping, but I cannot go a day without reading." Whether in his flourishing student years, the tumult of wartime, or the demanding years of national development, he was always eager to seek new knowledge and tirelessly devoted to his books. Even when illness confined him to bed, he continued reading with astonishing perseverance. When he could no longer read for himself, he had others read to him, right up until his final breath. Books accompanied him throughout his great and extraordinary life. Mao Zedong read an enormous variety of books throughout his life. His reading ranged from Chinese works to foreign ones, from ancient to modern, and from the social sciences to the natural sciences. He explored Marxist-Leninist writings and Western classics, as well as philosophy, economics, politics, military studies, literature, history, science and technology, religion, and foreign languages, all of which interested him deeply. Exactly how many books he read cannot be calculated. His residence, Ju Xiang Shu Wu, in Zhongnanhai alone housed tens of thousands of books that he regularly read and browsed. Naturally, the books Mao Zedong read most were Marxist-Leninist works, Chinese and foreign philosophy, and historical and literary works from across the ages. He said he had read The Communist Manifesto, coauthored by Marx and Engels, no fewer than "a hundred times." Of Dream of the Red Chamber, he said, "You have to read it five times before you have the right to comment on it." The phrase "never tire of reading a book a hundred times" aptly describes Mao Zedong's reading life.