The novel "The Heart of the World" takes the perspective of the transformation of Elm City, a small northern town, and uses numerous clues and clever connections to show the survival dilemmas of all levels of contemporary people and the complex and multifaceted nature of human nature. Through the political entanglements in Elm City, private excavation, real estate development turmoil, corruption and other worldly scenes, it reflects social life and all kinds of social beings, showing the survival of the bottom class of society and the various aspects of human nature.