Personal Reading Notes》Shen Shang-Hung, Chairman of Ta Ya Group, Explores the Timeless Insights of History to Illuminate the Present

Personal Reading Notes》Shen Shang-Hung, Chairman of Ta Ya Group, Explores the Timeless Insights of History to Illuminate the Present

Published Date: January 19th, 2023 Article by: Sun Jung-Ping

       Every morning, rising before dawn at around 4 o'clock, Shen Shang-Hung, Chairman of the Ta Ya Group, engages in a routine that includes replying to emails, weight training and having breakfast. Afterwards, he often dedicates a small portion of his time to indulge in books. Despite pursing his undergraduate studies in Electrical Engineering at National Taiwan University, and later obtaining a Master's degree in Business Administration from Emory University in the United States, Shen’s true passion lies in the realm of historical literature.

       “As I pursued studies in the natural sciences during my high school years, I treated history classes as a mere formality, often placing my math textbooks beneath them, focusing solely on achieving passing grades. The prospect of memorizing historical facts held little appeal to me. It was during my college years, while taking a course in Chinese literature, that my professor assigned us the task of submitting reflective reports on the ‘Comprehensive Mirror for Aid in Government’ translated by Bo Yang. I found Bo Yang’s translation to be more accessible than the original historical chronicle, sparking my interest in reading historical books.”

       Approximately a decade ago, Shen’s love for historical books deepened. He came to realize, as his life experiences grew richer, that there is truly nothing new under the sun. While humanity may learn and potentially become wiser, its inherent flaws continue to evolve. “Although human existence revolves around the cycles of life and death, we also exist within societies, which give rise to economic and political activities, as well as wars and diseases. Through historical books, one can witness humanity’s journey, accelerating the comprehension of human civilization, culture, and a microcosm of various behaviors.”

       The author of “The Wise Men: Six Friends and the World They Made,” Walter Isaacson, is renowned for his storytelling prowess. He has served as the Chairman of Cable News Network (CNN) and the executive editor of Time magazine, and his notable works include “Steve Jobs” and “Benjamin Franklin: An American Life.” This book portrays the extraordinary contributions of six intellectuals who graduated from prestigious Ivy League schools such as Yale and Harvard. They played pivotal roles during the Cold War era, assisting the President at the time and shaping the American century for the government and its people.

       They are respectively: Averell Harriman, who served as the U.S. ambassador to the Soviet Union and the United Kingdom; Robert Lovett, who served as the U.S. Secretary of Defense; Dean Acheson, who served as the U.S. Secretary of State; John J. McCloy, who served as the President of the World Bank; George F. Kennan, who served as the Director of Policy Planning for the State Department; Charles Bohlen, who served as the U.S. ambassador to the Soviet Union, the Philippines, and France.

       In the book, it is discussed how, following the end of the two World Wars, the Western world watched as Stalin sought to communistize Eastern Europe. At that time, due to the recent conclusion of the wars, nations were reluctant to engage in immediate warfare. Meanwhile, the Soviet Union was in need of reconstruction. The United States had the idea that by helping the Soviet Union become prosperous, it would abandon communism and embrace a pro-Western capitalist approach. Additionally, Americans saw potential business opportunities in this endeavor. However, George F. Kennan, at the time, bluntly stated that this diplomatic policy was erroneous, as there was insufficient understanding of Stalin and that the Soviet Union’s ideology would not change.

The Resemblance of the US-China Trade War to the Cold Era

       Lately, the global impact of the US-China trade war evokes a sense of familiarity upon reading “The Wise Men: Six Friends and the World They Made.” The dynamics between the United States and China today can be compared to the state of affairs during the Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union. However, the current landscape is far more complex and intricate, as the relationship between the United States and China is not purely adversarial like the previous US-Soviet rivalry. Instead, they find themselves intertwined in a complex web of interdependence and competition, particularly in the realms of trade and technology.

Book Title: The Wise Men: Six Friends and the World They Made
Authors: Walter Isaacson, Evan Thomas
Translator: Wu Wei-Chiang
Publisher: Book Republic
Publication Date: November 2015

Original Source: Wealth Magazine( https://reurl.cc/lZq2Aj )