I have some serious criticism for Lin Yutang. Overall it was a good read. However, in many places I got the impression that the author was being led by the material he found rather than the other way round. I feel this is lazy writing, not bothering to organise your writing and lead the readers into themes. Usually good books or movies or shows have to "cut the fat and leave the muscle". This makes it powerful. This book had far too much irrelevant material which should have been edited.
apply myself 全力以赴做某事
if I really apply myself, I could get to be employee of the month.
chicanery?美?[??'ke?n?ri]?欺詐；詐騙小压；欺騙
calculation?美?[.k?lkj?'le??(?)n] 算計
But let me give you this advice as you embark on your journey here at Harvard. First, follow your passion, not your calculation.
character?美?['ker?kt?r] 特征
Political chicanery and calculation were foreign to his character.
be foreign to 陌生的（意指八竿子打不著）
eg: I'm foreign to this reading group.
lame 口語中可等同于boring
eg: the excuese is lame.
smart可以用來表示“干凈梳虽、時髦”银酬，多用在服飾上孔庭，這是英式表達胧砰，美食多用sharp
inadequate?美?[?n'?d?kw?t] 不足的至朗，不充分的
academically she is inadequate, but socially she's excellent. ?她學(xué)習(xí)成績不好讥蔽，但是社交能力優(yōu)秀
discern?美?[d?'s?rn] 識別，察覺出
sap?美?[s?p] 作為動詞表示“減弱（力量/信心）”
eg: or he (and those around him) will set about using the president's immense powers to try to sap Mr Putin's strength.又或者他（和他周圍的那些人）將開始運用總統(tǒng)的無限權(quán)力來削弱普京先生的實力篷角。
He could make or unmake a scholar by a word of praise or blame.?他的一句夸獎能成就一個文人焊刹，他的一句批評也能毀掉一個文人。
同樣的句子：Their likes and dislikes make or brake products.
phobia?美?['fo?bi?] 恐懼癥，過度的虐块、沒有必要的恐懼
have a phobia about sth.?
常用語后綴俩滥，eg: mysophobia（對細菌恐懼）潔癖
become a laughingstock 成為笑柄
喜歡很重要。喜歡做一件事就自然會找到時間去做贺奠。而不喜歡去做一件事就能找到n多個拖延的理由霜旧。
Dreamed too much but took little action.
If you don't take any steps to make your desires come true, everything will remain just a fantasy. If you wait for the perfect conditions for all your life, you may never have a chance.
