Literature, Philosophy, History 📖 文学，哲学，历史，📖

1. 51 王 A Complete Reader of Wang Fuzhi's Yellow Book 王夫之黄书通读本 Coming Up with a Name Is Really So Hard启个名字真的好难啊37k WordsCompleted The Yellow Book is an important work by Wang Fuzhi, a thinker of the late Ming and early Qing dynasties, completed in 1656. With its distinctive perspective and profound ideas, the work presents Wang Fuzhi's deep insights into crucial issues such as the state, the nation, and politics. It reflects his thoughts on the crises of his era and his hopes for the future. On the subject of national identity, Wang Fuzhi strongly emphasized distinguishing between the Hua and the Yi. He believed that the H 3Reads—Score—Shelves
2. 52 水 Fickle as Water 水性杨花 Feng Yuqi冯玉奇Historical74k WordsCompleted In the chaotic years of the Republic of China, Xu Fangqing of Peach Blossom Village and Li Xiaoming, a fisherman, had known and loved each other since childhood. Their feelings were mutual, and with her uncle’s help, they became engaged, believing they would spend their lives together in peace. But fate had other plans: Fangqing’s uncle suddenly died, and her greedy mother-in-law secretly seized the family’s savings. For money, the mother-in-law joined forces with relatives and cruelly sold Fang 289Reads8.7Score—Shelves

   Reader note

   There are various types. If you don't have enough, you can go to my bookshelf to find them.

3. 53 十 Ten Socializing Techniques 十神社交术 Philosopher Cat哲学猫Urban130k WordsCompleted This is an unconventional guide to the art of social interaction, inspired by the author’s insights into “Daoist Eight Characters fortune-telling” and “Western pickup artistry.” It is completely different from the books on relationships you see in everyday life: not only is it easy to understand, it is also highly practical. Let’s look at the true nature of human beings in social interactions from a different perspective… 37Reads—Score—Shelves

   Reader note

   A great book on philosophy and social psychology!

4. 54 三 The Principles of Ternary Consciousness and Memory Mapping 三元意识与记忆映射原理 Philosopher Cat哲学猫Sci-Fi & Apocalypse102k WordsCompleted This book deciphers the secrets of human longevity through philosophical reasoning. Tomato's number one original philosophical masterpiece, The Threefold Consciousness and Memory Mapping Principle, explores ideology, human nature, the secrets of human longevity, the truth behind ancient history, the origin of the moon, the mystery of the Great Flood, reasoning about past-life memories, an analysis of homosexuality, depression, multidimensional worlds, the differences in how men and women are att 1.3kReads9.2Score422Shelves
5. 55 早 Waseda University History of Japan, Volumes 1–12 早稻田大学日本史(1-12卷) Kume Kunitake久米邦武Historical3.0M WordsCompleted Waseda University History of Japan, Volume One: The Yayoi and Kofun Periods covers Japanese history from prehistoric society through the reign of Emperor Tenmu. Drawing on a wealth of sources, including the Kojiki, the Nihon Shoki, Chinese historical records, relevant materials preserved at the Shosoin Repository, and research by Japanese and European historians of the Meiji period, Professor Kume Kunitake places Japanese history within the broader history of ancient Asia, centered on China. He 167Reads8.3Score—Shelves
6. 56 中 Five Thousand Years of Chinese Politics 中国政治五千年 Lü Simei吕思勉Historical123k WordsCompleted This book recounts the rise and fall of successive dynasties, what is commonly known as political history. Organized by era, it examines the successes and failures of political change from ancient times through the Republic of China. Ideas for reforming society emerged as early as the era of the pre-Qin philosophers, but progress ebbed and flowed, and reform remained limited until the end of the Western Han, when Wang Mang finally launched his reforms. Their failure led to the political maxim, “ 226Reads9.3Score114Shelves
7. 57 第 The Complete History of World War II (11-Book Set) 第二次世界大战全史（套装共11册） Arnold Toynbee阿诺德·汤因比Historical6.8M WordsCompleted This series covers international relations in the twentieth century. Its strengths include rich content, comprehensive source material, detailed notes, clear prose, and vivid storytelling. It cites a wealth of government documents, conference records, archival materials, and the private notes and memoirs of heads of state and other important figures. It offers a valuable reference on international relations in the nearly half-century since the end of World War I. The Survey of International Affa 597Reads9.4Score189Shelves
8. 58 拜 The Byzantine Empire: A Comprehensive History (Complete in Four Volumes) 拜占庭帝国大通史套书（全四册） Chen Zhiqiang陈志强Historical3.4M WordsCompleted This book examines all the major topics related to Byzantium. It develops original views and a series of studies, grounded in reliable evidence and shaped by a materialist view of history, on such subjects as the ecological environment that determined the course of the Byzantine Empire; resource development and material production; economic trends and basic structures; the political system centered on imperial autocracy; the centralized bureaucracy; social classes and people's lives; Byzantine c 212Reads9.1Score—Shelves
9. 59 全 The Complete Translation of The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire (Six Volumes) 全译罗马帝国衰亡史（全六册） Edward Gibbon爱德华·吉本Historical2.4M WordsCompleted In the 18th century, Edward Gibbon, a leading figure of the Enlightenment and a master historian, devoted his life to writing The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, an immortal work celebrated around the world for more than two hundred years. Since its publication, The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire has been passionately praised by countless luminaries, including the philosophical giant Hume, the “father of economics” Adam Smith, world history scholar Willi 410Reads9.3Score145Shelves
10. 60 顾 Gu Cheng's Complete History of the Ming and Qing Dynasties (Six-Volume Set) 顾诚明清史大全集（全六册） Gu Cheng顾诚Historical1.7M WordsCompleted A History of the Peasant Wars at the End of the Ming Dynasty: In March 1644, Li Zicheng captured Beijing and the Ming dynasty fell. By then, he had been fighting for sixteen years. In April of the same year, Li Zicheng was defeated at Shanhai Pass and the Qing army entered the pass. The following May, Li Zicheng died in battle at Jiugong Mountain in Huguang, just four hundred days after the fall of the Ming dynasty. Losing the battle for public opinion, making strategic blunders, and choosing th 317Reads9.4Score104Shelves
11. 61 历 Complete Collection of Imperial Examination Papers by Top Scholars Through the Ages 历代状元殿试卷全集 Lin Guohua林国华Historical401k WordsCompleted This book brings together the palace examination papers of top jinshi graduates from the Tang through the Qing dynasties, spanning a thousand years and covering the entire history of the imperial examination system, from its beginnings to its maturity and eventual abolition. Each paper has been carefully selected and collated to preserve its historical character and showcase the candidates’ talent and wisdom. The Complete Collection of Palace Examination Papers by Top Graduates Throughout the Dy 2.2kReads9.3Score657Shelves
12. 62 西 Random Notes from the Western Capital 西京杂记 Liu Xin刘歆Historical17k WordsCompleted The Miscellaneous Records of the Western Capital is an ancient collection of anecdotes about Chang'an, the capital of the Western Han dynasty. It was traditionally attributed to Liu Xin of the Western Han, though later accounts generally credited Ge Hong of the Jin dynasty with compiling it. In six volumes, it gathers court lore, stories about famous figures, local customs and traditions, ingenious crafts, and folk legends from the Han dynasty. Its contents are wide-ranging, and its prose is sim 32Reads7.9Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    The last one belongs to the category of philosophy books. If you don't understand it, you can check it out and fill in the gaps.

13. 63 饥 The Hungry Flourishing Age: The Gains and Losses of the Qianlong Era 饥饿的盛世：乾隆时代的得与失 Zhang Hongjie张宏杰Historical267k WordsCompleted This book explores the gains and losses of the Qianlong era. By taking the era apart and examining it from different angles, the author paints a vivid picture of a “golden age” while revealing the deeper reasons behind China's modern decline. Compared with the thousands of years of Chinese history that came before it, China under Qianlong had its largest population and greatest national strength. Compared with other countries at the time, it was the world's most powerful and prosperous nation. C 1.4kReads9.4Score418Shelves

    Reader note

    Not to mention, they are all classics

14. 64 这 This Is War: The Art of Command 这才是战争：将略 Wang Zhengxing王正兴Historical158k WordsCompleted Was “feinting along the plank road while secretly marching through Chencang” actually unrelated to Han Xin? Was the true reason for Guan Yu's downfall connected to Zhuge Liang's Longzhong Plan? How did Liu Bang defeat Xiang Yu at the Battle of Gaixia? Why did Dong Zhuo emerge victorious from the August Coup? Approaching the subject from a tactical perspective, this book revisits famous battles in ancient Chinese history, including the battles of Hanzhong, Yiling, Wuzhang Plains, and Xingshi. Usi 181Reads8.4Score—Shelves
15. 65 B BBC World History BBC世界史 Andrew Marr安德鲁·玛尔Historical473k WordsCompleted Our understanding of world history is constantly changing. New discoveries are made all the time across the globe, challenging our long-held assumptions. In this book, the author takes us back to familiar major events, from ancient Greece and Rome to Napoleon's coronation, and on to the environmental and population crises of the twenty-first century. But the stories he tells are the little-known ones surrounding those events, spanning regions from Peru and Ukraine to the Caribbean. The book exam 79Reads8.4Score—Shelves
16. 66 兴 Rise and Fall: Two Thousand Years of Chinese Governance 兴亡：中国两千年治理得失 Shen Gang沈刚Historical313k WordsCompleted Why did Confucian thought become the core set of values in the development and evolution of ancient China's system of governance? Which eight emperors played decisive roles? Which institutions shaped the control and mobilization of social resources? This fresh take on the political history of ancient China reveals how the imperial power system operated after the Qin unification. It seeks to identify patterns of change, explain the dynastic cycle, and draw lessons from history. Combining the stor 48Reads8.5Score—Shelves
17. 67 货 A Grand History of Money 货币大历史 Shaw William Arthur肖·威廉·阿瑟Historical190k WordsCompleted A History of Money mainly traces the changes in metal currencies and monetary standards in Europe and the Americas from 1252 to 1896. Drawing on a wealth of official records, diaries, letters, and classical texts, it explains the major effects these changes had on commerce and the development of nations, and uncovers the nature of metal currency and the deeper reasons why bimetallism gave way to the monometallic standard. The book details the evolution of monetary policies in Florence, Venice, F 22Reads8.1Score—Shelves
18. 68 王 Wang Yangming (Complete in Three Volumes) 王阳明（全三册） Wang Shouren王守仁Historical821k WordsCompleted Fate has never once shown Wang Yangming any favor. When he first entered government, his forthright memorials offended powerful, treacherous officials, and he was banished to the remote wilderness of Longchang. Later, suppressing the Prince of Ning’s rebellion should have earned him immense merit, but the schemes of petty men forced him to withdraw at the height of his success. In his later years, the popularity of his School of the Mind also brought him criticism. Wang Yangming’s life held more 321Reads9.5Score100Shelves

    Reader note

    Literature, History and Philosophy Famous Works, The First Four Histories, Zhouyi, Tao Te Ching, Huang Di Nei Jing

19. 69 人 Clear-Eyed in the World: Wisdom from Zizhi Tongjian 人间清醒：资治通鉴智慧 Fragrance in a Heavenly Dream天梦飘香Historical3.5M WordsOngoing Synopsis of "Clear-Eyed in a Confusing World: The Wisdom of Zizhi Tongjian" In the long river of history, the "Zizhi Tongjian" stands like a brilliant lighthouse, illuminating a thousand years of civilization. Based on this monumental work, "Clear-Eyed in a Confusing World: The Wisdom of Zizhi Tongjian" breaks through the barriers of obscure and difficult history, turning 1,362 years of upheaval into gripping stories that reveal the mysteries of political intrigue and the wisdom of life. The boo 12.7kReads8.2Score246Shelves

    Reader note

    5000 Years of China, the most essential learning case! The highest wisdom is condensed. Emperors and generals will teach you personally, and you will benefit from it for a lifetime! A must-read for those who want to read! See all the prosperity of the world in one night! Dig out the wisdom of life from "Zi Zhi Tong Jian", with more than one million words of historical experience, which is priceless! Still worried about not being able to read "Zi Zhi Tong Jian"? This book "The Awakening of the World: The Wisdom of Zizhi Tongjian" directly helps you to open up the two channels of history, Ren and Du! It is said that "Zi Zhi Tong Jian" is a treasure house of wisdom for thousands of years, but the complicated dynasty changes and confusing character relationships always make people give up after reading it halfway? This book is specifically designed to help you avoid the maze of history - it doesn't worry about the year of the war or the deployment of troops, but only picks out the most practical core wisdom to explain it thoroughly! Want to know how to lead a team? Watching Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty use talented people to create a prosperous world, favoring treacherous ministers and causing turmoil, you can instantly learn how to employ people; want to avoid pitfalls in the workplace? Zhao Kuo, who "talks on paper", tells you a painful lesson: how dangerous it is for theory to be divorced from practice. The book selects allusions such as working hard to endure hardships and working hard to govern, turning boring history into vivid cases. Whether it is governing the country or family or work and life, you can find reusable wisdom. New readers can easily get started, while old readers can dig out in-depth information, so that you no longer have to read history superficially, and truly turn thousands of years of wisdom into life confidence - you can see the emperors and generals at a glance!

20. 70 雍 The Yongzheng Dynasty, Volumes One and Two 雍正王朝（上下册） Liu Heping刘和平Historical525k WordsCompleted For more than two thousand years, a vast, irreconcilable conflict has existed between the highly centralized system of commanderies and counties and the system of independent farmers. Faced with this contradiction, reform was inevitable. Wang Anshi and Zhang Juzheng both attempted it throughout history, but only the Yongzheng Emperor succeeded. His forceful reforms, pursued for thirteen years, resolved this conflict. Yet Qianlong, the heir he personally chose, gradually dismantled his new polici 969Reads9.5Score227Shelves
21. 71 五 Legends of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms 五代十国传奇 Hong Liuhua洪刘华Historical756k WordsCompleted [The Five Dynasties in Conflict + The Decline of the Tang Court + Warlords Dividing the Realm + Surviving in a Chaotic Age] From the late Tang to the early Song, dozens of military regimes rose and fell across China. Five dynasties successively ruled the central plains: Later Liang, Later Tang, Later Jin, Later Han, and Later Zhou. Alongside them were the Ten Kingdoms, states that vied for control of the central plains, proclaimed kings or emperors, and alternately allied with or broke away from 1.1kReads9.1Score107Shelves
22. 72 野 Unofficial History Isn't Necessarily False 野史未必假 Wang Lei王磊Historical151k WordsCompleted [The full-cast audio edition is now available. Give it a listen!] From the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors to the Ming and Qing dynasties, discover the truth behind popular unofficial histories! This book examines 22 popular historical tales from China’s earliest dynasties through the Ming and Qing, using vivid reconstructions, close study of historical sources, and logical analysis to uncover the truth behind them. Was Qin Shi Huang’s biological father Lü Buwei? Did Emperor Taizong of Song m 32.4kReads9.6Score5.5kShelves
23. 73 沧 Ten Years of Vicissitudes 沧桑十年 Ma Shitu马识途Historical278k WordsCompleted This book is a memoir of the author’s experiences and observations during the ten years of the Cultural Revolution. From the start of the Cultural Revolution, the author was inexplicably branded a “counterrevolutionary” and a “capitalist roader,” then denounced and imprisoned, plunging into the misery of a shattered family and ruined life. As rebel factions rose across the country, the author even fell into the hands of a faction of Red Guards in Chengdu. Fortunately, drawing on experience worki 8.4kReads9.5Score1.3kShelves
24. 74 宦 Tides of the Political Sea 宦海浮沉 Liang Zhoumu梁州牧Urban4.7M WordsCompleted No cheating spouse At the end of the day, every rule follows one fundamental principle: the strongest force gets to decide. This is the “meta-rule,” the rule that determines all other rules. The martial world isn’t all about fighting and killing; it’s about human relationships and social conventions. The same goes even more so for politics. Chen Bo is drawn into an unwinnable game of chess because of a debt he has no choice but to repay. He thinks he’ll spend the rest of his life in prison, but 271kReads9.5Score30.9kShelves
25. 75 李 Li Zicheng (5-Book Set) 李自成（全5册） Yao Xueyin姚雪垠Historical2.9M WordsCompleted The novel follows the peasant rebel army led by Li Zicheng in the late Ming, tracing its rise from weakness to strength, its turn from defeat to victory, its overthrow of the Ming dynasty, and its resistance to the Qing armies advancing south. From multiple angles and at many levels, it recreates the turbulent history of the late Ming and early Qing, as well as the tragic defeat of the peasant rebels after their victories. It reveals the patterns behind peasant wars and the development of histor 1.2kReads9.6Score193Shelves
26. 76 百 The Forum on Chinese Culture 百家讲坛 Longyuan龙源Historical260k WordsCompleted The Hundred Schools Forum is a cultural magazine overseen and published by the Henan Provincial Department of Culture and published by Legendary Stories Magazine. Focused on interpreting history, it combines knowledge, refinement, and entertainment. 4.4kReads9.2Score385Shelves
27. 77 少 The Three Kingdoms for Young Readers 少年读三国 Liu Bo刘勃Historical163k WordsCompleted Drawing on works such as the Book of the Later Han, Records of the Three Kingdoms, and Zizhi Tongjian, this book explores whether Cao Cao may not have been a traitor: In Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Cao Cao appears from the outset as a great villain who bullies the young emperor. In reality, their relationship was far more complicated. For a long time, many people genuinely regarded Cao Cao as a loyal servant of the Han dynasty. Dong Zhuo was not actually stupid: Romance of the Three Kingdoms 135Reads9.4Score—Shelves
28. 78 我 I Was Common as Dirt, Yet I Became an Immortal 我本庸俗却成仙 Shan Sheng善生Urban105k WordsCompleted [Want to learn immortal cultivation and the Dao? Give it a look!] I yearn to become an immortal. Cultivating the truth and comprehending the Dao have been my lifelong dream, and I practice immortal cultivation in the real world. This is an unknown story, yet one brimming with wonder... Birth, aging, sickness, and death go on without end; cultivate the truth and comprehend the Dao to transcend them. I was once ordinary, yet became an immortal, neither suffering nor indulging in pleasure. I yearn 652Reads—Score170Shelves

    Reader note

    [Short Story] [I Want to Become an Immortal] [Single Female Protagonist] [Counterattack] [Metaphysics] [Enlightenment] [Philosophy] There is no end to birth, old age, illness, and death, and you can achieve transcendence through cultivation and enlightenment. I am a vulgar person, but I have become an immortal. If I don't suffer, I won't enjoy it.

29. 79 修 Cultivation Is a Philosophy 修仙是门哲学 Shan Sheng善生Urban96k WordsCompleted This is my story of cultivating immortality, an unknown story, a story full of mystery... [Short Story Collection] [At the End of Science Lies the Supernatural] [Understand the stories in this book, and you can cultivate immortality] I am a real cultivator living in the modern world... I seek to become an immortal, free and joyful as the heavens. Cultivate immortality through science, ascend through physics. 423Reads—Score129Shelves
30. 80 妖 Monster Codes: Journey to the West 妖怪密码：西游记 Bai Ze白泽Eastern Fantasy333k WordsCompleted How many demons are there in Journey to the West? The White Bone Spirit, Tiger Vanguard, the Red-Rumped Macaque, Red Boy... Only after enduring the Eighty-One Tribulations can one look upon the world's fortunes with a smile. What are their true forms? What becomes of them? Is there a connection between demons and natural phenomena? Here, I'll reveal the answers to all these questions, one by one. 145Reads9.3Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    Self-cultivation is not in the cloud, but in daily moments. Let classics be your life compass🧭

31. 81 趣 The Song Dynasty, Told with a Twist 趣说大宋王朝 Historical and Military Archives历史军事档案室Historical696k WordsCompleted The emperor's art of statecraft in a single cup of wine, the fateful legend of the “fragrant boy's birth,” a prophetic monk who foretold that “the inspector would become emperor,” and the schemes and ambitions behind a yellow imperial robe... The founding of the Song dynasty was far more fascinating than the history books suggest! Discover Zhao Kuangyin's rise from street urchin to founding emperor: his “forced” ascension at Chenqiao Station, the mysterious prophecy at Xiangyang Temple, the lig 7.3kReads9.5Score330Shelves
32. 82 海 The Classic of the Sea Way 海道经 Anonymous佚名Historical5k WordsCompleted The Haidao Jing is a practical navigation manual compiled by an anonymous author during the Yuan dynasty. It was likely written around the height of both north-south grain transport and maritime shipping. The book focuses on routes departing from Jiangnan and traveling north by sea to Zhigu. It carefully marks the islands, shoals, hidden reefs, water depths, tides, and other conditions along the way, making it an important guide for sailors and officials overseeing grain transport at the time. T 2Reads8.0Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    Adyaya/

33. 83 有 A History Series So Fascinating It Will Keep You Up at Night (Seven-Volume Set) 有趣得让人睡不着的历史系列（全七册） History Guy历史君Historical1.5M WordsCompleted This boxed set includes seven books, among them A Chinese History So Fascinating You Won’t Be Able to Sleep, A History of the Three Kingdoms So Fascinating You Won’t Be Able to Sleep, and A Tang Dynasty History So Fascinating You Won’t Be Able to Sleep. A Chinese History So Fascinating You Won’t Be Able to Sleep selects historical figures from China’s past who are sure to spark readers’ curiosity. Breaking free from a strict chronology, it recounts each story in detail, uncovers the patterns of —Reads8.6Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    History is interesting, come on!

34. 84 清 A True Record of Life in the Qing Dynasty (Highly Recommended by Ma Boyong!) 清朝生活实录（马伯庸力荐！） Ju Xuanya橘玄雅Historical155k WordsCompleted Palace dramas tell you that the imperial consorts never stop fighting for power, that the emperor can take no more than three bites of any dish, and that members of the Bordered Yellow Banner can throw their weight around as the true imperial lineage… Do you really believe these tropes? In fact, we’ve been fooled by television all along. The real Qing dynasty was far beyond anything we could imagine! When imperial consorts attended the emperor at night, they didn’t strip naked and get wrapped in 1.2kReads9.3Score308Shelves
35. 85 大 Li Shizi of the Tang Dynasty: My Six Tycoon Darlings! 大唐兕子：我的六个神豪小囊君！ Lush Pine and Bamboo松筠葱葱Ancient Romance2.1M WordsOngoing A woman who transmigrates into another world finds her way to a higher-dimensional acceptance of her own strength and weakness, maturity and immaturity, dignity and disarray amid the height of the Tang dynasty. In the first five volumes, she is intensely drawn to strength and despises foolishness, ashamed of her own imperfections. When her energy is high, she is the model of a refined, high-born lady: restrained, sensible, and keenly observant. When her energy is low, she becomes anxious, avoida 56Reads9.2Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    "Miss Shen said, you have to take this thing back." Lao Zhou handed her a piece of moraine rock the size of a pebble, with a cross-section of mica. "She just dug out the 78th hilltop." The nail on the back of the stone was engraved in English: "The star in the mammoth was always you." It was signed on July 28, 1999, and the ink was not dry yet - it was still warm. On the way back to the village, she asked the mule cart to stop by the Heilongjiang River. The March wind blew out fine folds from the ice, like a star map that had been stretched and rubbed. She walked to the old elm tree where the "Time Box" was buried in 1999. The soil was newly turned. The iron box is still there, but there are two more treasures inside: 1. Forecast map of the return of Halley's Comet in 2061,

36. 86 宋 The Splendor of Bianjing in the Song Dynasty: Provoke Her, and the Storm Will Pass! 宋韵京华：惹她，山雨歇！ Lush Pine and Bamboo松筠葱葱Historical184k WordsCompleted 1. (Transmigration to Song history) (Ancient-style romance, infinite worlds) (Literary foundations and imaginative ideas) (One female lead, occasionally a full cast of men) (Funny and never long-winded). Best savored slowly, one little bite at a time. 2. The two male leads are really just a pair of grown-up brats whose delayed adolescence is still dragging on. Once their rebellious phases end and they stop making everything about themselves, their worldviews will emerge. 3. Each incident is ordi 25Reads8.2Score—Shelves
37. 87 二 The Husky and His White Cat Shizun 二哈和他的白猫师尊 Meat Bun Won't Eat Meat肉包不吃肉Two Male Leads1.4M WordsCompleted [The audiobook adaptation of the same name, starring Gu Jiangshan and Sanshi, is complete. Tune in and give it a listen!] Mo Ran thought becoming Chu Wanning's disciple had been a mistake. His master was far too much like a cat, while he was like a silly dog wagging its tail and fawning over him. Dogs and cats can't reproduce together, and the silly dog hadn't wanted to reach out his fluffy paws toward that cat in the first place. He'd always thought dogs should be with dogs, like his senior bro 103.4kReads9.7Score20.6kShelves
38. 88 中 Unsolved Mysteries in Chinese History 中国历史未解迷案 Kuding Tea 2024苦丁茶2024Historical2.7M WordsCompleted Chinese history stretches back a long way and is full of fascinating things. Some aspects, however, remain baffling. Scholars have offered their own theories about a few of these mysteries, but most remain mere speculation. This book takes a look at history's great unsolved mysteries. 107Reads6.6Score—Shelves
39. 89 龙 A Crooked History of the Dragon Throne: The Emperors Who Went Off Course 龙椅歪史：那些跑偏的九五之尊 Kuding Tea 2024苦丁茶2024Historical1.2M WordsCompleted Across the brilliant five-thousand-year history of China, more than four hundred emperors appeared between Qin Shi Huang, Ying Zheng, who first took the title of emperor, and Puyi, who abdicated at the end of the Qing dynasty. Some were brilliant rulers who expanded their territories, while others were mediocre caretakers who merely maintained the status quo. And then there were the eccentric sovereigns, whose behavior was bizarre and whose actions were absurd. These unconventional rulers added —Reads—Score—Shelves
40. 90 一 The Northern Qi Dynasty of Beastly Emperors 一群禽兽皇帝的王朝北齐 Kuding Tea 2024苦丁茶2024Historical1.3M WordsCompleted Amid the chaos and flames of China's Northern and Southern Dynasties, Northern Qi was a land of contradictions. Its battle-hardened Xianbei soldiers from the Six Garrisons swept across the north, yet in just twenty-eight years, it went through six emperors and became history's most grotesque “Beastly Dynasty.” Gao Yang drank heavily and murdered his own kin; Gao Zhan indulged in debauchery and incest; Gao Wei lived extravagantly and slaughtered his subjects. The imperial clan's cruelty crossed e 1kReads6.3Score101Shelves
41. 91 大 The Great Ming Emperor Yingzong, Zhu Qizhen 大明英宗朱祁镇 Kuding Tea 2024苦丁茶2024Historical487k WordsCompleted Some call him an incompetent ruler, while others regard him as a wise emperor of his age. Some say he surrounded himself with treacherous officials, while others say he had the mettle of a true emperor. He was also one of the few emperors in history to ascend the throne twice. 33Reads—Score—Shelves
42. 92 中 Stories of Famous Generals in Ancient China 中国古代名将故事集 Kuding Tea 2024苦丁茶2024Historical1.1M WordsCompleted The celebrated generals of ancient China shine like a galaxy of stars. Sun Wu wrote The Art of War, laying the foundations of military science, and led thirty thousand troops into Ying in a feat that seemed miraculous. Bai Qi fought more than seventy battles without a single defeat and buried 450,000 Zhao soldiers alive at the Battle of Changping. Han Xin famously said, “The more troops, the better,” and helped Liu Bang lay the foundation for the Western Han dynasty. Wei Qing won seven battles i 11Reads—Score—Shelves
43. 93 百 A Century of Rise and Fall: The History of the Late Qing Dynasty 百年兴亡清末史 Cai Dongfan蔡东藩Historical365k WordsCompleted The Rise and Fall of Society in the Late Qing A Century of Rise and Fall: The Late Qing Dynasty is a profound historical account of how the Qing dynasty went from prosperity to decline. From the glory of the Kangxi and Qianlong era to the humiliation of the Opium Wars, then the upheaval of the Taiping Rebellion and the disastrous defeat in the First Sino-Japanese War, this book offers a panoramic view of the Qing dynasty's journey from its peak to its demise. With meticulous attention to detail, 20Reads9.2Score—Shelves
44. 94 蚁 The Ant Clan Awakens 蚁族觉醒 Mousey Loves Digging Pits鼠鼠爱挖坑154k WordsCompleted Anthropomorphism... Seeing the meaning of life from the perspective of an ant. The worker ants slack off... the male ants abstain... refusing to take part in one-time, sacrificial mating; The queen ants refuse to become breeding machines? Is that right? What impact will this have on the ant kingdom? Aduo: "I... don't think work has any meaning," Aduo ventured. After a long while, Xiaomo replied, "Meaning? What is that? Instinct tells us everything." "Is instinct always right? Look at those male 5Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    It is written about ants, alluding to thousands of ordinary people who are bound by rules and controlled by genetic instincts. What would happen if we stopped following our genetic instincts... And stopped following the rules of our race?

45. 95 三 The Three Kingdoms Is Fascinating 三国很有趣 Wen Yanshi文砚师Historical190k WordsCompleted The Three Kingdoms era was marked by constant warfare and rival warlords, and it is widely known thanks to Romance of the Three Kingdoms. But Romance of the Three Kingdoms is not history, and some of the famous stories we all know are not true! Did Zhuge Liang really borrow arrows with straw boats? Why was Zhang He called the “Three Kingdoms’ ultimate strength tester”? How did Fei Yi live a life worthy of the title “Master of Pacing”? Was Cao Zhi really in love with his sister-in-law? Why is it 12Reads9.2Score—Shelves
46. 96 雪 Spring Burns Through the Ashes of Snow 雪烬春灼 The Remarkable Wang Shiyi了不起的王十一Ancient Romance189k WordsOngoing A historical tale of destruction and renewal, hatred and redemption, political intrigue and true devotion. Watch as yesterday's blazing sun is tempered in the deepest darkness, and at last becomes a bright moon shining over the land. Wang Chunxue went from being the prized jewel of the Langya Wang clan to the daughter of a condemned traitor. The imperial decree accusing her family of treason crushed everything she had: her father and brothers, her glory, and her betrothal to the Crown Prince. Af 72Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    A lover of literature, history and philosophy, he wrote an ancient legend that combines Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism.

47. 97 历 History 历史 Herodotus希罗多德Historical494k WordsCompleted The History, also known as The History of the Greco-Persian Wars, is the first major work of Western historiography, written by Herodotus, the “father of history” in the West. The Age-Reading Classics Library edition of The History is published in two volumes. The book recounts not only political, military, and diplomatic affairs, but also the geography, economic life, customs, and religious beliefs of various countries and regions. This encyclopedic masterpiece laid the foundations of Western h 162Reads8.5Score—Shelves
48. 98 跟 Learning History Through Textbooks (Six-Volume Set) 跟着课本学历史（全6册） Peng Yong彭勇Historical482k WordsCompleted Learn History Through Textbooks is a six-volume history series for young readers: The Light of Civilization, The Qin and Han Dynasties, Turmoil Between North and South, The Great Song of the Sui and Tang, The Rise and Fall of the Song and Yuan, and The Vicissitudes of the Ming and Qing. The series begins with early humans in China during prehistoric times and continues through the fall of the Qing dynasty. Arranged chronologically by dynasty, it offers a comprehensive overview of Chinese history 93Reads9.2Score—Shelves
49. 99 隋 The Romance of the Sui and Tang Dynasties: Complete, Edited Edition 隋唐演义-精编完整版 Chu Renhuo褚人获Historical617k WordsCompleted An epic tale of heroes rising amid chaos. Qin Qiong sells his horse, revealing a hero at the end of his rope; Cheng Yaojin robs the imperial tribute convoy, showing off his street smarts; and Li Shimin's Xuanwu Gate Incident reshapes the course of history. Blending the official historical record with folk storytelling, it weaves a legendary tale steeped in history and the spirit of the jianghu. 821Reads9.6Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    Real and interesting history

50. 100 红 Secret Records Behind the Red Walls: A Complete History of China's Unofficial Past, Unabridged 红墙秘录：中国野史大全（无删节完整版） Xu Xiaotian许啸天Historical2.7M WordsCompleted This complete collection is like a secret key unlocking the hidden chambers of China's imperial past, guiding readers into shadowy corners that official histories leave shrouded in secrecy. From the ancient legends of Unofficial History of the Xia and Shang to the imperial passions and court intrigues of The History of the Imperial Harem in the Song Dynasty, The History of the Imperial Harem in the Ming Dynasty, and Unofficial History of the Yuan Dynasty; from the extravagant excesses of The Ero 1.7kReads9.3Score316Shelves

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