今日关注--英语学习系列
今日关注10
Books
that
Changed
America
There are books that are revered because of their effect on art, and there are books that
are remarkable because they literally change the very society from which they came. Here
is a list of ten books that radically changed or shaped American society. I’ve excluded all
religious texts because those are just too obvious. So without further delay, here’s the list!
10
Leaves of Grass
Walt Whitman, 1855
This 1855 book of poetry ushered in the American equivalent of the Romantic Era of
literature. Whitman’s brilliant work changed art, and changed what could be discussed in
art with his bold and bawdy epic poem. This work was both subversive and celebratory,
that opened the door for discussion of many issues, and also was the work that opened the
beat movement that followed nearly a century later.
9
The Clansman
Thomas Dixon Jr, 1905
Unfortunately, not every book has a good influence on society. This 1905 book made the
KKK out to be heroes, and lead to a disgraceful anti-black film (the Birth of a Nation) that
was quoted by then President Woodrow Wilson as being, “Sad because it’s true.” This was
the racist answer to “Uncle Tom’s Cabin,” and this book was a best seller that eventually
led to support for the Jim Crow laws. Sad and sick, but influential all the same.
8
The Grapes of Wrath
John Steinbeck, 1939
This novel, which won the 1939 Pulitzer Prize for fiction, was a stunning and powerful
novel. This fictional book was based on the real life plight of the poor Midwestern farmers
who went into California looking for work, and ended up in slave conditions and tragedy.
This book was extremely controversial, and hated in California, but invoked such an
outrage that Congress actually passed legislation to help the migrants and their families.
This never would have happened without this book, which remains a classic to this day.
7
The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass
Frederick Douglass, 1845
The full title of this book is “The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American
Slave”. This autobiography of Frederick Douglass was printed in 1845 and really opened
people’s eyes not only because of the intriguing title, but because Douglass’s exceptional
prose, poetic fables, and great writing skill showed what a former slave could aspire to.
With this beautiful writing, others realized that the point of view Douglass has was valid,
and the fable referring to slavery was too hard to miss.
6
Silent Spring
Rachel Carson, 1962
This simple yet powerful book caught the attention of millions and was the cry against the
loss of our environmental treasures that finally forced Congress to listen and spawned the
modern environmental movement. This book caused DDT to be made illegal, and helped
save the Bald Eagle, among hundreds and hundreds of other animals.
Buy this book at Amazon
有些书因其对艺术的影响而受人推崇，有些书因其确实改变社会而备受瞩目。这里有张书单，上面的10
本书彻底改变、塑造了美国社会。因宗教文章过于直白，我已将其排除在外。还等什么，赶快来看看这张
书单！
10
《草叶集》
瓦尔特•惠特曼，1855
这本1855 年出版的诗集代表了美国浪漫主义文学的高峰。惠特曼的这部显赫
的史诗著作以其大胆的写作方式改变了艺术和艺术中可被讨论的话题。它为许多
问题的讨论打开大门，也为之后一个世纪的避世运动开了先河，其颠覆性值得纪
念。
9
《同族人》
小托马斯•狄克逊，1905
可惜的是，不是每本书都会对社会产生好的影响。这本1905 年出版的书让3K
党成了英雄，还被拍成一部反黑人电影《一个国家的诞生》，美国总统伍德鲁． 威
尔逊说：“虽悲惨凄凉却反映真实。”这本书以种族主义者的角度回应了《汤姆
叔叔的小屋》，它畅销一时，最终得以使人们支持种族歧视法。此书虽令人悲伤、
丧失信心，但影响力却丝毫不减。
8
《愤怒的葡萄》
约翰•斯坦贝克，1939
这部小说精彩而充满力量，于1939 年赢得普利策奖。这部小说讲的是一个中西
部农民的真实生活中的困境，他到加利福尼亚找工作，却沦落至做苦工的悲剧之
中。这本书极具争论性， 在加利福尼亚引起反感，却引起了国会通过立法来帮
助移民和他们的家庭的创举。没有这本书，这一切从未发生，直至今天，仍堪称
佳作。
7
《弗雷德里克道格拉斯的生活》
弗得瑞克•道格拉斯，1845
这本书的全名为《一个美国黑奴的自传——弗雷德里克道格拉斯的生活》，于
1845 年印刷出版，是作者本人的自传。它打开了人们的视野，不仅因其有趣的
题目，更因为作者用非凡的散文、诗一般的寓言和卓越的写作技巧展示了一个农
奴的企盼。优美的文字，让读者意识到作者的观点确有根据。与农奴制相关的故
事，不能错过。
6
《寂静的春天》
R.卡逊，1962
这本简单却充满力量的书吸引了百万人的眼光，它高调反对生态环境的破坏，最
终迫使国会听取书中观点还引发了现代环境运动；它使DDT 非法化，在数百万的
各类动物中，挽救了白头鹰——美国国徽的标志。
10
Books
that
Changed
America
5
Native Son
Richard Wright, 1940
This novel by Richard Wright was incredible, and shocked the entire nation by making a
seemingly vicious black man (and a murderer) a hero, or at least an anti-hero. Bigger
Thomas was the epitome of an angry black man, pushed too far not only by a society that
hated him because of the color of the skin, but by the self-loathing he felt as a result and
by even the white Socialists who thought they understood, but did not. This violent and
startling story brought to attention the savage inequalities and racism in America, and
helped lay part of the foundation for the Civil Rights Movement.
4
A Vindication of the Rights of Women
Mary Wollstonecraft, 1792
This 1792 work was a passionate manifesto, and this work’s effect caused Wollstonecraft
to be considered the mother of modern feminism. This was the first major literary
assertion of women’s rights, and started the ball rolling on every major breakthrough to
follow.
3
The Jungle
Upton Sinclair, 1906
Hot dog, anyone? This novel was meant to be about not only the meat packing plant, but
also about the terrible conditions of poverty that immigrants and low wage workers dealt
with in the cities. This novel shocked the nation, and the understanding that humans who
fell in the vat simply ended up in hot dogs . . . well apparently that’s more important than
poverty. Nonetheless, this caused several acts to be passed by congress in dealing with
both employment laws and with meat packing and food and safety standards. Many of
these laws are still in effect even today.
2
Uncle Tom’s Cabin
Harriet Beecher Stowe, 1852
This was almost number one, but even at 2, no one can argue that this was one of the
most influential books in American history. Not only was this the first book to sell a million
copies, and inflamed the issue of slavery to the point where there was no way to ignore it
any longer. When author Harriet Beecher Stowe met President Abraham Lincoln, Lincoln
was quoted as saying: “So you’re the little woman who started this great war.” Whether
the quote is true or not, it shows the effect she had on society.
1
Common Sense
Thomas Paine, 1776
It’s almost impossible to argue with this one at the top. The fiery yet intelligent public
indictment of monarchy and demanding freedom may have been the single biggest fuse
that lead to wide spread support of the Revolutionary War. Many historians think of Paine’s
book as the ember that sparked the blaze. Over 100,000 copies were sold in the first few
months, and before “Common Sense” became widely read, most colonists didn’t give a
crap about breaking away from Great Britain, so the book that helped create America is
the one that gets the number one spot.
5
《土生子》
理查德•赖特，1940
这本由理查德•赖特写的小说不可思议，震撼国家，其主角是一个看似品行不端的黑人（一个谋杀者）
——或至少这是一个平凡的主角。男主角别格•托马斯是一个缩影，代表了愤怒的黑人，不仅因他的肤色被
社会憎恨而远远抛弃，结果还自暴自弃，甚至是遭到那些白人社会主义者的抛弃，他们自以为理解黑人可
事实却相反。这个暴力而令人吃惊的故事引起了人们对美国野蛮的不平等和种族歧视问题的关注，也为民
权运动奠定部分基础。
4
《为女权辩护》
玛丽•沃斯通克拉夫特，1792
这部1792 年出版的著作是热情洋溢的宣言，它的作者沃斯通克拉夫特因这部作品成了现代女权的先
驱。这是第一部以维护女权为主线的文学作品，且随至而来的突破如同滚雪球般越来越多。
3
《屠场》
厄普顿•辛克莱尔，1906
热狗，每个人都能享用得到？这部小说讲的不仅仅是肉类加工厂，还有移民和在城市中勉强度日的低收
入工人的穷困窘境。这部小说震撼全国，让人们明白只要跌入那个大木桶就会难逃被制成热狗任人宰割的
结局……显然这比贫穷更值得人关注。然而，这本书还引起国会通过几项法案，其中涉及就业法规，肉类包
装和食品安全标准。其中的一些法律至今依然有效。
2
《汤姆叔叔的小屋》
斯托，H.B，1852
这本书在这张榜单上的位置数一数二，无人质疑它是美国历史上最具影响力的书籍。不仅仅因为它的销
量达一百万本，前所未有，还将奴隶制问题推到了不再被忽视的风口浪尖上。当这本说的作者与美国总统
林肯会面时，林肯说：“你就是那个引发那场伟大战争的小妇人啊。” 无论这个引用是真是假，可她确实在
这个社会上引起了轰动。
1
《常识》
托马斯•潘恩，1776
质疑它排在这张榜单第一的位置，这几乎是不可能的。对君主制激烈而高明的公开控诉和对自由的需求也
许已经成为引发人们广泛支持美国革命战争唯一的最明显的导火线。许多历史学家认为潘恩的书是点燃熊
熊烈火的余烬。在发行开始的几个月，销量突破10 万本。当《常识》被广泛阅读之前，大多数的殖民者
仍没有放弃逃脱出大不列颠控制的最后一搏，这本书为创建美国助推了一把，所以它占据了这张榜单的第
一位置。
Be
well-prepared
准备充分
正如许多成功的商业人士早已知道的，作好准备工作常常是使各种努力获得成功的关键所在。你可能在
工作中有很强的社交能力和讨人喜欢的性格，但如果你能准备好事实依据，那么你说服他人接受你的方案
的可能性就更大。做好准备工作意味着准备好面临任何挑战：进行陈述，参加会议，向老板提出新的想法，
全面修订公司的运作和程序，等等。做准备工作也意味着为支持你的观点进行必要的基本调查。其中一个
特别关键的因素是考虑你所在企业的文化。每个企业都有一套自己的价值观和行为准则——即管理阶层所
推崇的、用以指导雇员行为的理念。为确保你的举措成功，你需要对你的做法作相应的调整。这儿有几点
建议：
1.与你的同仁(同事和经理们)交谈，了解什么样的行为准则、价值观和信念对你们公司以及公司的人员最
为重要，从而调查出你所在公司的文化。
2.弄清公司中制定决策的渠道并花些时间去认识这些渠道中你想影响的每个人。
3.找出并开通影响公司中其他人的非正式渠道，但要与公司的文化相吻合。
4.将能够辅助你并代表你影响其他人的同事组成网络。
5.在你准备影响公司的其他人员时，你所采取的方式一定要与公司的文化相吻合。
As many prosperous businesspeople already know,preparation is often the key to success
in any endeavor. You may be socially adept at work and have a pleasant enough
personality, but you'll be more likely to convince others that your solution is the right one
if you have the facts on your side. Doing your homework means taking the initiative to be
prepared for any challenge: making a presentation,participating in a meeting, advancing a
new idea to your boss, overhauling company processes and procedures. And doing your
homework also means doing the basic research necessary to back up whatever claims you
are making. One especially critical factor to consider is the culture of the organization you
work for: each organization has its own set of values and norms--the ideals that are held
in high esteem by management and used as models for good employee behavior. For your
initiatives to be successful, you have to tailor your approach accordingly.Here are some
suggestions:
1.Research your organization's culture by talking with your colleagues--both workers and
managers--about what norms, values,and beliefs are most important to your organization
and to the individuals who work within it.
2.Map out your organization's decision-making channels and take time to get to know each
person in the channels you wish to influence.
3.Seek out and develop informal channels for influencing others in your organization, in a
way consistent with the organization's culture.
4. Cultivate networks of coworkers who can support you in your efforts and influence
others on your behalf.
5.As you prepare to influence others in your organization, be sure that your anticipated
approach is consistent with the organization's culture.
Why
Loneliness
Is
Bad
for
You
为什么孤独有害于你的健康？
Feeling lonely can make you sick. Doctors have long known that loneliness is associated
with cardiovascular problems, viral infections, and higher mortality. What they didn’t know
is how this feeling begets illness. A study in the September issue of the online journal
Genome Biology suggests that loneliness actually affects the very core of our bodies—our
genes.
In a small population of patients, researchers surveyed more than 20,000 genes using
DNA microarrays to compare how the genes of lonely and nonlonely individuals express
themselves in molecular processes and, ultimately, in personal health. They found that
gene expression is different at 209 sites in chronically lonely people and that many of
those changes fit a pattern of elevated immune activation, inflammation, and depressed
response to infection. “We now have a molecular framework for understanding the
relationship between social experience and physical health,” explains the study’s lead
author, Steve Cole of UCLA.
The study found that loneliness desensitizes the glucocorticoid receptors, cutting off the
immune control and anti-inflammatory effects of cortisol, a stress-related hormone that
also helps regulate the conversion of carbohydrates to energy. The depressed cortisol
response concurs with the known effects of loneliness and provides a potential target for
treatment.
This study—the first to link feelings with genomewide changes—is “in some sense
groundbreaking,” says Emma Adam, an associate professor of human development and
social policy at Northwestern University. “It fills in the black box.”
According to John Cacioppo, an author of the study and a psychologist from the University
of Chicago, the work suggests that loneliness is a warning sign, much like physical pain.
“This very process of feeling bad because of disconnection contributes to what it means to
be human,” he says. “It makes us care for other people and want to reconnect when we’re
disconnected.”
孤独感会让人得病。孤独可能让人患上心血管疾病和病毒感染，并且可能导致更高的死亡率。以上这些
对于医生们早已不是什么新鲜事了。但是关于孤独感是怎么样慢慢吞噬人类健康的，他们也毫无头绪。
如今，在网上杂志《Genome Biology》9 月月刊中的一篇文章中，我们终于找到了答案。孤独感之所
以会使我们生病是因为它影响了人体的核心——我们的基因。
在针对一小群病人的实验中，研究者检验了两万多个不同的人类基因，通过研究病人的DNA 来比较孤独
的人和不孤独的人的基因在分子运动中的区别以及这种区别最终对他们健康的影响。研究者们发现，在长
期患有孤独感的病人的基因序列中，有209 处和普通人有明显不同，而且在这209 处基因变异中，大多
数变异符合某些疾病的表现，如免疫过度活跃，炎症和迟钝的对抗感染机能。这篇研究报告的主编，美国
加利福尼亚大学洛杉矶分校的Steve Cole 说，“我们现在已经从分子的层面上来研究社会体验和人类健康
之间的关系了。”
研究发现，孤独感会让肾上腺素的感受细胞变的迟钝，破坏具有消炎作用的皮质(甾)醇和人体免疫系统
正常的控制功能。皮质(甾)醇是一种由压力而产生的荷尔蒙，它参与帮助人体内部糖向能量的转化。皮质
(甾)醇反应力低下会导致我们所熟知的孤独症的一系列不良反应，那些皮质(甾)醇反应力低下的人们，如
果病情进一步恶化，应该及时接受治疗。
美国西北大学人类发展与社会政策学院的负教授Emma Adam 说：“从某种意义上说，这项研究——人
类将染色体变化与人类感官联系起来的首次尝试——具有里程碑式的意义，它是打开谜团的钥匙。”
同样作为这篇文章的作者，美国芝加哥大学的心理学家John Cacioppo 认为，这项研究结果表明，孤独
感是一种人体自身做出的警告和暗示，就像是身体疼痛暗示着某种疾病一样。他说，“正是由于孤独而感到
难过不舒服的这个过程让人类有别于其他动物，它让我们关心身边的人，并在自己孤独的时候产生与他人
交流的愿望。”
China
will
not
face
recession
after
Olympic
Games
经济学家：奥运之后中国不会出现经济萧条
经济学家们在参加年度最高立法和政协机构全会中说，有着庞大的经济规
模和巨大的投资前景的中国，在8 月份奥运会过后，不会出现经济萧条。。。。。
最高立法机关、中国第11 届全国人民代表大会代表林毅夫说：“在我刚刚
结束的欧洲之旅中，我常常在问自己，中国在奥运之后是否会出现由于投资减少
而引起的经济萧条；我的答案一直是‘不会’。”
林毅夫还是世界银行的首席经济学家兼新任命的高级副行长。他还说主要
原因是相比起那些举办奥运以后出现过经济萧条的国家，中国的经济规模要大得
多。
林毅夫说，当消费增长和外商投资会保持在较高水平的时候，在基础设施
和产业提升领域也会有巨大的投资前景。
林毅夫还说，除此之外，举办奥运会之后，中国还将举办2010 年的世界
博览会和亚运会，以及其它一些国际上的重大盛事。
政协委员、著名经济学家厉以宁说，一些奥运东道国在奥运之后面临经济
萧条时因为投资下降，许多为奥运工作的人不得不去找新的工作，而且奥运的影
响，没有一些产业的后补，逐渐的消褪。
然而，根据中国政协常委厉以宁说，这样的问题不会在中国再次发生，因
为中国正处在工业化的进程中。
全国人民代表大会和全国政治协商会议将分别在3 月5 日和3 月3 日召
开他们的年度全会。
China, with a large economic size and plenty of investment prospects, will not
face recession after the Olympic Games in August, said economists to attend
the annual full sessions of the top legislative and political advisory bodies.
"I was frequently asked during my just-ended trip to Europe if China would
face recession caused by investment declines after the Games, and 'no' was
always my answer," said Justin Yifu Lin, a deputy to the 11th National
People's Congress (NPC), the top legislature.
It is mainly because that the volume of Chinese economy is much larger than
some Olympic hosts that experienced post-Olympic recession, said Lin, who
is also the World Bank's new chief economist and newly appointed senior vice
president.
There will be plenty of investment prospects in the fields of infrastructure and
industrial upgrading, while the consumption growth and foreign investment will
remain at high level, said Lin.
Besides, China will host the World Expo and the Asian Games in 2010, and a
few other important international events after the Olympic Games, the
economist added.
Prof. Li Yining, a noted economist and political advisor, said some Olympic
hosts faced recession after the Games because investment dropped, many
people working for the Games had to seek new jobs and the influence of the
Games, without the backup of certain industries, faded.
However, such problems would not reoccur in China as it is in the process of
industrialization, according to Li, a member of the 11th Chinese People's
Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee.
The NPC and the CPPCC will open their annual full sessions on March 5 and
March 3, respectively.
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