"in books you will never be powerless or lonely again"

“A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies. The man who never reads lives only one.” ~ George R.R. Martin.

May the books be with you.

If you read one book you are more inclined toward dogma; if you read many books you are more inclined to ask questions and think for yourself.

"Second class happiness." I love that

Knowledge is the strongest foundation of someone's success. Books are the best way to communicate knowledge. Therefore, books help someone achieve their goals and reduce chance of failure probably better than any other thing

And she quote "Coming true is not only the purpose of dream, It's most important purpose is to get us in touch with where dreams come from, where passion comes from, where happiness comes from. Even a shattered dream can do that for you."

This talk is a league of its own and cannot be compared with the other TED talks that I've watched. She deserves every minute of that standing ovation. So happy for this inspirational woman.

"Books have given me a magic portal to connect with people in the past and the present." Amazing!

Reading is so fun, the thought of yourself gaining some new and unknown knowledge is always fun but none of my friends like to read and that makes me feel odd 😶

Jim Rohn once said: "You are the average of the 5 people you hangout with most" and although this is pretty subjective, I think it is somewhat true. The cool thing is though, let's say your 5 friends you hangout with most are all drifters, they only care about getting drunk and partying and you actually want to make something out of your life, how fucking amazing is it, that you can do that with books. If you want the opinion of Warren Buffet, you can read his book. If you want to know how Elon Musk looks at everyday things, you can read his book. In my opinion, books are not only great to broaden your horizon, but they can be powerfull for the people who are searching for meaning in life, just like As Lisa Bu was when she started reading.

These are the books she mentioned 1.Correspondence in the Family of Four Lei 2. Jane Eyre 3. Cheaper by the dozen 4. Lessons from History 5. Complete works of Sanmao 6. The good Earth 7. Benjamin Franklin: An American Life 8. David McCullough 9.Personal History 10.The snowball 11. Lamb 12.Power of myths

As an English Literature student and lover of books, I really enjoyed this talk.

Reading gives me a motive and keeps my mind thinking , away from the robotic routine daily life we have to live

I loved her word, “in books you never be powerless or lonely again”.

Books allow me to dive into the minds of some of histories greatest teachers and dream makers. When you think about it, books are truly one of mankind's greatest achievements. From taking us on adventures to far away worlds to helping us fundamentally understand ourselves in a deeper way and everything in between, truly brilliant.

it's amazing to see how tolerant the audience is, she made a little bit of fun of the Holy Bible, but people out there took it so sportingly, This is the kind of people we need all around the world.

Having a dream shattered really is nothing compared to what many others have suffered - Lisa Bu

Short and sweet, lovely

i love how genuine she was during her speech, especially around 1:30 when she talked about her fears of being stuck with some "second class happiness". broke my heart a little when her voice stuttered.

So I was trained to become a gymnast for two years in Hunan, China in the 1970s. When I was in the first grade, the government wanted to transfer me to a school for athletes, all expenses paid. But my tiger mother said, "No." My parents wanted me to become an engineer like them. After surviving the Cultural Revolution, they firmly believed there's only one sure way to happiness: a safe and well-paid job. It is not important if I like the job or not. 00:32 But my dream was to become a Chinese opera singer. That is me playing my imaginary piano. An opera singer must start training young to learn acrobatics, so I tried everything I could to go to opera school. I even wrote to the school principal and the host of a radio show. But no adults liked the idea. No adults believed I was serious. Only my friends supported me, but they were kids, just as powerless as I was. So at age 15, I knew I was too old to be trained. My dream would never come true. I was afraid that for the rest of my life some second-class happiness would be the best I could hope for. 01:22 But that's so unfair. So I was determined to find another calling. Nobody around to teach me? Fine. I turned to books. 01:33 I satisfied my hunger for parental advice from this book by a family of writers and musicians.["Correspondence in the Family of Fou Lei"] 01:42 I found my role model of an independent woman when Confucian tradition requires obedience.["Jane Eyre"] 01:49 And I learned to be efficient from this book.["Cheaper by the Dozen"] 01:52 And I was inspired to study abroad after reading these. 01:56 ["Complete Works of Sanmao" (aka Echo Chan)] ["Lessons From History" by Nan Huaijin] 02:10 I came to the U.S. in 1995, so which books did I read here first? Books banned in China, of course. "The Good Earth" is about Chinese peasant life. That's just not convenient for propaganda. Got it. The Bible is interesting, but strange. (Laughter) That's a topic for a different day. But the fifth commandment gave me an epiphany: "You shall honor your father and mother." "Honor," I said. "That's so different, and better, than obey." So it becomes my tool to climb out of this Confucian guilt trap and to restart my relationship with my parents. 02:57 Encountering a new culture also started my habit of comparative reading. It offers many insights. For example, I found this map out of place at first because this is what Chinese students grew up with. It had never occurred to me, China doesn't have to be at the center of the world. A map actually carries somebody's view. Comparative reading actually is nothing new. It's a standard practice in the academic world. There are even research fields such as comparative religion and comparative literature. 03:34 Compare and contrast gives scholars a more complete understanding of a topic. So I thought, well, if comparative reading works for research, why not do it in daily life too? So I started reading books in pairs. So they can be about people -- ["Benjamin Franklin" by Walter Isaacson]["John Adams" by David McCullough] -- who are involved in the same event, or friends with shared experiences. ["Personal History" by Katharine Graham]["The Snowball: Warren Buffett and the Business of Life," by Alice Schroeder] I also compare the same stories in different genres -- (Laughter) [Holy Bible: King James Version]["Lamb" by Chrisopher Moore] -- or similar stories from different cultures, as Joseph Campbell did in his wonderful book.["The Power of Myth" by Joseph Campbell] For example, both the Christ and the Buddha went through three temptations. For the Christ, the temptations are economic, political and spiritual. For the Buddha, they are all psychological: lust, fear and social duty -- interesting. 04:32 So if you know a foreign language, it's also fun to read your favorite books in two languages. ["The Way of Chuang Tzu" Thomas Merton]["Tao: The Watercourse Way" Alan Watts] Instead of lost in translation, I found there is much to gain. For example, it's through translation that I realized "happiness" in Chinese literally means "fast joy." Huh! "Bride" in Chinese literally means "new mother." Uh-oh. (Laughter) 05:01 Books have given me a magic portal to connect with people of the past and the present. I know I shall never feel lonely or powerless again. Having a dream shattered really is nothing compared to what many others have suffered. I have come to believe that coming true is not the only purpose of a dream. Its most important purpose is to get us in touch with where dreams come from, where passion comes from, where happiness comes from. Even a shattered dream can do that for you. 05:38 So because of books, I'm here today, happy, living again with a purpose and a clarity, most of the time. So may books be always with you. 05:49 Thank you. Free transcription 😍

This was really interesting. I have begun reading more often. This was hard at first because I never really read as a child. However, as I began reading more, I realized that not only am I becoming more knowledgeable about the topics I read, but I am understanding the formats on books. I also realized that reading more and understanding how the book is synthesize has allowed me to have a new strategy that I can use to learn other things such as music or politics. Thank You, Lisa.

I am a middle school student who is poor at English. However, you inspired me to start reading books in two language: English, Korean!! THANK YOU SO MUCH~!!!

Book teaches you to accept yourself and be yourself; it's not about success or failure, but finding yourself. Great talk and so sincere and honest!

"Loneliness can often be cured when you open a book". I heard this somewhere and now it's quite satisfactory to see that this fact is actually proved by various people on this earth. Thank you TED channel for constantly making such amazing content! so inspiring....

That's why i'll never give up on books. I've loved them for my entire life and i'll always continue loving them. Because when you're sad you can identify yourself with your favorite character and when you're without anything good to do, you can also lose yourself inside a great story.

with books come knowledge and knowledge means power!

I was smiling the whole time. Her delivery is perfect!

"the book is strong with this one"

This is probably the shortest and the most meaningful TED TALK I've come across

Have read 4 books since this talk.

She's so adorable.

I’ve never seen such an interesting and such loud clap from the audience during a Ted before, she’s amazing

"The one who read books is always happy and successful in life " I am so touched by her thoughts... Really a big thanks for those precious words 👏🤗

Books are a love affair! Nice talk!

She is so sweet and bubbly! I loved listening to her! People who don't read are really missing out on a whole new world!

I love her. Next time I need to get my point across to someone about the power of books, I'm just going to show them this video because she's said it all.

Yeah, reading books is therapy ❤️

Its just so inspiring that I almost became teary at the end.

This speech gives me something to think about

It's just 7 am and I've started my day with this TED talk, I came to TED wondering how to get my " hum" as Shonda Rhimes calls it back, my hum, or my motivation is gone ,, I needed it back, and by this talk I discovered what I' m really missing to get my hum back: Books, I am a passionate book reader who didn't read for more than 5 months , thank you so much Lisa for those golden six minutes, yep , books can open your mind but also if you're a passionate book reader , they can save you, they can get your hum back , to study or to go to work , May Books be your Hum saver ^^

I wish I could like this more than once.

"I have come to believe that coming true is not the only purpose of a dream. It's most important purpose is to get us in touch with where dreams come from, where happiness comes from. Even a shattered dream can do that for you "

"So books may always be with you"favorite quote in the end

I just see this talk in 2019, books have giving me a magic to connect with people.; that's so true and amazing

The video is very interesting. Lisa Bu learned to read books and compared their readings into your daily life. The books help to better understand the past and the present; strengthen our view about importants thopics. A book should always be our company, guidance and motivation for to live in armony with myself and with others persons.

I watched this talk so many times I loved it.

I love this. From literature to objects like maps and artifacts, perspective can change everything. Narratives like those found in books can be immensely powerful and profound.

спасибо переводчикам! Благодаря вашей работы я пересмотрел 3 раза: на английском, на русском и на казахском :)

A pleasant lady with a friendly disposition.

She talked by all her heart. Thank you. Incredible presentation.

Maybe the shortest TED talk I have seen...but may be the most effective and appealing. Thank you, Lisa Bu. I will recommend this short video to many people.

I really love read books , with reading you will never feel alone , and you’ll learn a many things that will help you in your life and make you a special person ❤️

5:20 These are one of the words I keep in my mind. It is important to HAVE a dream and an aim.

I really enjoyed the talk and I agree with her. I loved her words, "In books, you will never be powerless and lonely again." She also reminded us that second class happiness is not our fate. In my opinion, reading a lot of books instead of making me know a lot of things, it makes me feel like I don't know anything. I think reading books should become our daily habit. May the books always be with us.

Her choices of words and how smoothly she showed her idea was 🔝

The video, entitled "How books can open your mind" by Lisa Bu, shares her views on the role books play in her life (including mine). Lisa Bu, who dreams of becoming a Chinese opera singer, is opposed by her parents. They wanted Lisa to be an Engineer, just like them. However, because Lisa Bu's book of thought can be more open about knowledge in the world, including her country of origin, China. The proverb which states that books are windows to the world is a very appropriate sentence, to describe the role and function of books. By reading books, we can know everything in this world. If asked by others about "what is your hobby?" Of course I answered "read". Because, I really enjoy reading, because with books I can be in this position as a third year nursing student. The hope is that the book can lead me to become a specialist nurse and lecturer (aamiin).

She's well read and so beautiful

I absolutely love the intelligence and positivity of this woman!. A truly inspirational piece.

I've snoozed this video for a couple of days - wrong decision. This talk is so good I thought to myself halfway watching this - I wish this never ended. Her thoughts echo so much with mine. Books are a paradise indeed. Gave me some new insights as well - definitely gonna venture out the realm of a single book and start doing comparative reading. So thankful that I encounter this video - may books be with all of you as well :')

To ppl who are bilingual and tried reading two books same time about same subject in different perspective. You probably will have a better understanding of a certain situation. Also it will change your perspective about the world in a sense that, nothing is really true, there is always a obscured truth, cause history is really written by the victors and survivors. I think for a full understanding one must always read like the good bad and ugly, from three perspective and mindset.

this is one of the best videos I've ever seen

Had to download the video to watch over and over again. It convinces me that shattered dreams are worthwhile too. What's more joyful that that?

I do read a book every month. Thank you for sharing

I don't agree with her opinion about the Bible, but I agree with her on importance of books. They are a fountain of knowledge in our world. They are key to success in life. If you wan't to be successful, read and do it lot more then your competitors do. Then you will have a good edge on them and will have a lot better life. That's why I wrote a book in which I argued that books can actually make you money in long run: ,,Investing in books: How reading can make you money". If you don't believe books can make a huge difference in your life, try reading and you will see the change.

Most inspiring TED video I've seen today. The top comment about the true purpose of dreams is clearly the most important takeaway of this talk.

most important purpose is to get us in touch with where dreams come from, where passion come from, where happiness come from...........this changed my aspect of thinking toward my shattered dreams.

Inspiring experience in beautiful words - "Coming true is not the only purpose of a dream." Pure wisdom!

I love her talk.. relatable!

she is so adorable ahh what an inspiration!!!

This is an incredible talk and literally comes at a time I believe the same. It’s very reassuring that someone believes this as well

A TED talk about books instantly captured my attention. Books are magical vehicles of transformation. Thanks for sharing this video.

"I have come to believe that coming true is not the only purpose of a dream. Its most important purpose is to get us in touch with where dreams come from, where passion comes from, where happiness comes from. Even a shattered dream can do that for you." Now that is wisdom.

Thanks for your presentation it was instructive and also stimulate.

I am just finding this now and I love what I just listened to. After a lot of debate and a change in life circumstances, I am confident that I want to major in comparative literature when I graduate from high school this year. Like she said, it’s so interesting and mind blowing when you have the opportunity to pair different books from different backgrounds and find similarities and get something out of what you’ve read! Everybody asks me the same question though, “so you’ll graduate with this major, what do you plan to DO with it?” I’ll find out when I get there I guess

Having a goosebumps.... one of the best videos ive ever watch..thank you

This makes me wanna read more books everyday :) tq so much...

6 mins and i like her already

This made me kind of want to cry...so beautiful and inspirational.

She talked amazing. I really loved. Thank you for this video ❤️

A neuro surgeon hit me on my head with his book on neurosurgery. It really opened my mind.

"Imagination is more important than knowledge" Albert Einstein, The only faculty of the mind you use when reading a novel, Imagination!

Qué alegría conocer a personas como Lisa Bu. Los libros nos permiten conocer y entender que a nuestro alrededor existe una diversidad de ideas y de fenómenos que jamás habríamos imaginado. Cuánta satisfacción da tener un buen libro al lado de la almohada.

So bcoz of books You are Happy, Living with a purpose and Clarity .. I Hope everyone can understand the power of Books. Loved it and Thank You.

Came here for my English assingment on " Why books are best companions ? " 😂😂

Reading books indeed helps you in a long run. According to me every single person must read books.

Wonderful talk, she is lovely, soulful and graceful...may books always be with you!

😍😍😍thx much for this! I love it , especially when she said that because of books we can connect with people from the past and present . Thus we can gain their experience and understand where happiness comes from ,where fear comes from...Awesome ✨ 😊 ☺ 🙂

Love this video!! 💙📚

Wow she didn't age at all lol, I love her she is a great speaker!

I really enjoyed this talk, as I am a passionate reader myself. Reading similar stories from different cultures is educational and, in my opinion, develops your critical thinking also.

Such warmhearted sharing. You reminded us that 2nd class happiness is not our fate, and showed us the powerful tool to open up new pathways. Thanks!

Books. Are. So. Important.

Simply inspiring! Short and and to the point

What a wonderful talk! She’s extremely adorable.

I got into reading through the simplified versions of classics which I started reading when I was a kid. The adventure novels especially caught my eyes. I loved reading Enid Blyton, H G Wells, Rudyard Kipling, Daniel Defoe, Robert Louis Stevenson and more.

Great talk! It’s got me thinking about the books I plan on reading in 2018

Heard someone say the best season for a financial breakthrough is now, especially with inflation running at a four-decade high. I have approximately $650k stagnant in my port_folio that needs growth.What is the best way to take advantage of this downturn?

That was probably one of the most compelling talks I’ve seen yet

The way she presented it just totally like in an IELTS speaking test. Such a formative person