本书之所以 值得一读，原因在好几方面：他对自由主义论述的内部分歧，提出了 相当全面的介绍与评论；对于自由主义在理论与实践上的短缺不足， 他直言无讳；对于中国施特劳斯学派以及文化保守主义的思路与歧 途，他进行了深入的剖析；他亲访年轻一代的各类左派，介绍他们的 思想状况。这些，相信会引起许多读者的兴趣。

作者以饱满真挚的感情、平实顺畅的文宇叙述了他所认识的特定时期的各种人物，他亲身经历的社会政治事件，他对那个动荡不安的时代的感受，记录了当时欧洲从一战前夜到二战欧洲危局的社会现实，批露了世界文化名人鲜为人知的生活轶事，同时穿插了作者各种细腻的心迹。...

This is a splendid saga of Guanzhong Plain as well as a colorful painting scroll of Chinese village. Bai Jiaxuan, the protagonist marries six wives who all died. This weird destiny indicates ill omen. Two generations of a family put on soul-stirring plays for ruling White Deer grabbing geomantic field, taking honey-trap for malevolence, dutiful son becoming gangster, kind father-in-law killing his daughter-in-law, struggles of brothers, lovers becoming enemies...Great Revolution, the War of Resistance Against Japan, three-year civil war...The place changes dramatically-time changes, enmity of family and nation are entangled and complex. The revenge wrongly goes from generation to generation. The antique soil is trembling in the throes.