‘When you know, to know you know. When you don’t know, to know you don’t know. That’s what knowing is.’ Confucius saying

The studious reading of this President Xi Jinping classic represents both an expository and a reaffirmation of certain life core values and principles that are universally valid and applicable. This time focusing on poverty eradication needs and reenactment of innovative and economic growth mindset. The entire volume is devoted to the cogent analysis of this viable precepts in a reader friendly style and discourse. One can hardly find sufficient words to describe fully the awesome value of this literary treasure.

I must confess that I practically lost breath after reading this amazing 223 paged book in my frantic groping for similar books the author has at his credit. The opening quote I used here which appears at the last chapter of the book on page 217 (first paragraph) establishes the importance of cultivating and imbibing reading culture which by implications enhances self development efforts.

Make no mistake about this, there is a strong connect between a people regard to and adaptation of (or lack of it) especially quality education, self development skills, unquenchable thirst for applicable scientific, technological knowledge acquisition, and the realizable sustainable economic and social development. To achieve resounding success in this regard, as an imperative, a given stereotype must need be discarded.

Mr. President threw up cogent suggestions on what to devote the chunk of our set study time for proper education considered germane to building a concrete foundation for stable economic growth. The weighty point made by J. V. Stalin is borrowed thus, ‘practice gropes in the dark if its path is not illumined by revolutionary theory. All fields of knowledge is necessary but these are the four cardinal and notable academic subjects that enduring nation building projects are squarely derived from. They are mathematics, physics, chemistry and government.

Other branches of knowledge such as technology, economy, society and their offshoots are subsumed accordingly to their rudiments. In the light of the theme of the book, and considering the tremendous national task ahead and the brevity of time at our disposal, it is just prudent and frugal that we apportion the available precious study time to only important and relevant things. For the Communist Party of China, it is a compelling demand to focus on the study of Marxist-Leninist theory. This is ‘because Marxist is a summarization of the experience of the international workers movement.’

This gift in hard-cover book form is a befitting bundle of jewelry to the people of any nation like Nigeria who are currently struggling and striving to make headway economically, politically and socially only if they will be disciplined enough to read through. It still baffles the few intellectual Nigerians what grievances the non-reading majority others have against words in print aka books. The reading phobia as presently inculcated in Nigerians is an epidemic, acute and indeed devastating. The author lent a piece of advice on the guiding process of what to read first when the intention is to embark on a national developmental projects.

Read his exact words, ‘As Chen Yun said: Learn philosophy well – it will serve you your entire life. Learning philosophy and scientific methods of analyzing and resolving problems can keep us headed in the right direction during the complex, intricate practice of revolution and development. We must also learn economics, history, literature, and law, among other disciplines, to meet the multifaceted, multilevel needs of leadership work.’

Indeed, the populace are the driving force and motivating factor in the development and evolution of human history. This Chinese ancient saying will be helpful,’ Good rulers love their people as parents love their children and brothers love each other. They feel sorrow when the people are cold and hungry, and distress at seeing their hardship and suffering.’ Actually, there is a sweeping feeler among the Nigeria bourgeoisie and proletariat that the set of political leaders in Nigeria are characteristically sadists. Allegedly they derive joy seeing the hapless masses go through pains. But when we are blessed with concerned, responsive and people oriented political leaders, only then can we begin to answer true and patriotic citizens.

Usually the parting words and summations are both weighty and far-reaching. They assume the solemn structure of wholesome and sound counsel. Oftentimes, they are incontrovertible and thus require no response whatsoever other than humbly complying. Having accomplished milestone targets starting from Ningde, the natural tendency would have been to resort to complacency and or roll out the drums in celebration.

But surprisingly, the hands of President Xi Jinping is seen stuck to his sword, unrelentlessly. Just imagine the height of unparalleled dedication and recommitment to the national course as demonstrated by this dissatisfying statement poised in paradoxical conclusion… ‘The good news is that I expect this book to be forgotten, that would mean that our society has advanced quickly.’ And indeed the book is only used today to export the richly developmental ideology content to foreign countries, and not primarily repeated on China soil.

I think that China is a wholesome gift to the world. There are exceptions to this acclamation but it certainly stands affirmative that the individual nations of the world would have been worse off were it not for the emergency of the Asia Tiger nation China that profitably serves as the production hub of the world.