He Hui speaeks at the "Spring Reading" event hosted by the Global Times at Guangcheng Academy in Beijing on April 20. Photo: Chen Tao/GT

Not a single book defines a life, but a wide range of works can shape a person's worldview, He Hui, dean of the School of Chinese Language and Literature at Beijing Foreign Studies University, made the remarks at the "Spring Reading" event hosted by the Global Times at Guangcheng Academy in Beijing on April 20. 

Reflecting on his lifelong reading practices, He described himself as an extensive and undirected reader, moving freely across literary fiction, philosophy, science, politics, economics and history.

He said it would be difficult to identify a single book that fundamentally changed his life. Instead, he suggested that influence accumulates over time through many works and experiences.

Among the literary works he cited as influential to him are Victor Hugo's Les Misérables, Ernest Hemingway's The Old Man and the Sea, Fyodor Dostoevsky's The Brothers Karamazov, Mikhail Sholokhov's And Quiet Flows the Don, and Nikolai Ostrovsky's How the Steel Was Tempered. He also mentioned popular Chinese wuxia novelist Jin Yong's The Legend of the Condor Heroes, as well as science fiction, which he said played a formative role in his youth.

He recalled discovering the Soviet science fiction novel Andromeda Nebula by Ivan Yefremov as a middle school student. He described the book as a prized possession that he once hesitated to ask his parents to buy due to its cost at the time. The experience, he said, remains one of his earliest and most vivid memories connected to reading.

Many of the literary works he values share a common focus on human struggle, moral growth and resilience. He pointed to Les Misérables as an exploration of human transformation and redemption. It portrays human change, personal growth, and an internal struggle with the self. The book, he said, carries profound significance by offering the view that every individual, no matter how many flaws they have or mistakes they have made, still has the opportunity to grow and change.

Meanwhile, The Old Man and the Sea conveys the idea that "a man can be destroyed but not defeated."

He also referenced How the Steel Was Tempered, noting its emphasis on perseverance and dedication to a larger social purpose. The novel's well-known message about living a life without regret or shame, he said, left a deep impression on his generation and reflects ideals of commitment and endurance. Such literary works, he believes, will have a profound impact in any era.

Beyond literature, He described a strong interest in science and mathematics-related works, including Stephen Hawking's A Brief History of Time, Paul Davies' The Last Three Minutes, and Steven Weinberg's The First Three Minutes: A Modern View of the Origin of the Universe. He also cited Roger Penrose's The Road to Reality: A Complete Guide to the Laws of the Universe, which he said influenced his understanding of the universe.

 "These works broadened my perspective on humanity's place in the universe, emphasizing both human insignificance on a cosmic scale and the importance of intellectual curiosity," He said.

Reading scientific works in his early academic years even inspired him to write his first scholarly monograph during graduate school. The book, Inquiry Concerning: Creation and Creating, focused on creativity, was completed during his second year of graduate study and later published. While his academic advisor questioned its direct relevance to his field, it reflected his personal interest in exploring fundamental questions about human existence and thought.

Years of sustained reading have shaped him not only as a scholar but also as a writer. His body of work extends across multiple genres, including historical fiction set in the Song Dynasty (960-1279) as well as science fiction.

Reading does not operate through a single transformative moment. Instead, he said, the continuous engagement with diverse books gradually shapes how individuals think about themselves and their relationship to the world.

"I believe that every good book you read subtly shapes your life and personal growth over time," remarked He.