the book - 本书
On July 11th, 2024, Foreign Language Press, one of the largest book publishers in China, gave final approval to publish “Inside the Heart of China”. The process of final editing, illustration, and production is estimated at 6 months. Please sign-up below, to receive updates about the release of the audio and printed book versions in both English and Mandarin Chinese.
2024 年 7 月 11 日，中国最大的图书出版商之一外文出版社最终批准出版《走进中国深处》一书。最终编辑、插图和制作过程预计需要 6 个月。请在下方注册，以接收有关中英双语音频和印刷书籍版本发布的最新消息。
The authors - 作者
The heart of China is the people of China. “Inside the Heart of China” is a book that connects the hearts of its readers to the people of China from the perspective of a foreigner through true stories filled with both happiness and sadness. Readers can experience a wide range of emotions and come to better know the culture, sense of community, love of family and the individual dreams of Chinese people through the eyes of an American professor who has developed close relationships with his Chinese friends, colleagues and students.
中国之魂，在于其人民。《走进中国深处》一书，从一位外国人视角展开叙述，它真实地描绘了幸福与悲伤交织的生活画卷，将读者的心与中国人民的心紧密相连。作者是一位与中国同事和学生建立了深厚友谊的美国教授，通过他的视角，读者能够进入到一个丰富多彩的情感世界，进而更深刻地理解中国人的文化、集体意识、家庭纽带以及个人追求。
Denis Nurmela | Author (丹尼斯·努尔梅拉| 作者)
Denis Nurmela was a professor at Changsha University in Hunan, China teaching public speaking and oral English for 6 years. He is a wise, loving, charitable and energetic old kid and has become a grandfather figure to many of his students. During these years, he has visited over 20 of his students’ families in their hometowns and lived with them for short periods of time. Over time getting to know them and their families, he has become their trusted confidant, advisor and dear friend.
丹尼斯·努尔梅拉（Denis Nurmela）是中国湖南长沙大学的教授，教授公开演讲和口语长达6年。他是一位聪慧、慈爱、乐于助人、精力旺盛“老顽童”，在众多学生眼中，他早已是一位祖父级的人物。这些年，他访问了20多位学生的家乡，与他们共度短暂时光。随着时间的流逝，他不仅深入了解了他们及其家庭，还成了他们深信不疑的密友、顾问和挚友。
YoYo Wang | Co-Author & Editor 王琴| 合著者及编辑
Coauthor YoYo was his student for 5 semesters before she graduated in 2022. She is an excellent and versatile young lady. Over the years, she often accompanies him as an interpreter, edits his social media influencer videos and has become one of the close trusted friends. She was in most of the stories in this book.
合著者YoYo，于2022年毕业，丹尼斯曾连续五个学期任教其所在班级。她不仅出类拔萃，而且多才多艺，多年来经常协助丹尼斯进行翻译工作，也是他的社交媒体的视频编辑者，成了他值得信赖的挚友之一。在本书的许多故事里，都能看到她的身影。
Wang Fei "Robin" | Contributing Editor (王飞“Robin” | 特约编辑)
Wang Fei is a long-time friend and colleague who teaches English writing and poetry. He is a poet himself and has contributed as an editor of this book and wrote the poem in the book. Wang Fei is affectionately called Denis’ “Little brother”. There is a story in the book about when Denis once saved Robin’s life.
王飞，是我的老朋友兼同事，他教授英语写作及英语诗歌，本身也是位诗人。他曾任本书特约编辑，在书中贡献了自己的诗作。大家都亲切地把王飞称作丹尼斯的“小弟”。书里还收录了一个故事，讲述了丹尼斯曾经救过“小弟”一命的经历。
Many stories are extremely touching, like when Denis helped YoYo’s grandmother enjoy playing Erhu again a few months before she died. How he received his Chinese name and why it is so meaningful to him. His emotional visit to the ruins of the Imperial Gardens. A tragic story about a grandfather who committed suicide by ingesting poison and his family watched him deteriorate over the course of more than a week when doctors could do nothing.
书中许多故事都令人动容，例如Denis在YoYo的外婆去世前几个月，帮助外婆重新找回了拉二胡的快乐；他自己的中文名字是怎么起的以及这个名字对他为何如此重要；还有他参观圆明园遗迹时的五味杂陈；还有一个悲伤的故事，讲述了一位选择服毒自尽的祖父，在医生都束手无策的一周多时间里，他的家人如何无奈地目睹他的健康每况愈下……
Some of the stories are inspiring. How some of his shy students gained confidence during their college years. How one of his students became a positive force in trying to rid her father of alcoholism. Stories about his students winning provincial and national speech competitions. Learning how to play Mahjong (without betting money). Participation in two days of walking in the Hunan 100k event with a group of his students and almost 20,000 other locals.
有些故事极具鼓舞力量，比如，一些内向的学生在大学期间如何让自己变得更加自信；他的一名学生如何成功助力酒鬼父亲戒酒；他的学生在省级乃至全国演讲比赛中夺冠的故事；如何学会如何打麻将（不涉赌）；他还与学生们同近2万名当地人一同参加了为期两天的湖南百里毅行挑战……
Also, there is a frustrating but funny story about a long 18-hour trip ride from Shenzhen to Changsha during May Day holiday traffic when he was stuck on a bus with no bathroom sitting next to a smelly seatmate.
另外，还有个既让人沮丧又颇具趣味的故事，在五一假期交通高峰期，忍受从深圳到长沙的18小时长途旅行，没有厕所的大巴，浑身臭烘烘的邻座……
“Inside the Heart of China” is written for Chinese people to see how their positive impacts have touched the life of a foreigner. This book is also written for people of the world, intending to serve as a bridge between cultures so that international readers will gain an emotionally comprehensive insight about the real lives of Chinese individuals, families and communities. In a time of much tribulation between nations, we sincerely hope that this book will serve as a positive connecting force for promoting peace and stability in the world.
《走进中国深处》旨在让中国人民了解他们自身带来的积极影响是如何深刻触动了这名外国教授的人生的。与此同时，本书亦是为全世界人民撰写的，它致力于成为不同文化之间的桥梁，让国际读者对中国人个体、家庭和社会的真实生活有一个情感上的深入认识。在风云变幻，全球各民族面临诸多困难与挑战的艰难时刻，我们真心希望这本书能够成为促进世界和平与稳定的一股积极温暖的力量。
Denis has a growing audience of social media fans on 12 different Chinese and international platforms. Find out where to follow him by visiting www.DenisSharesChina.com.
Denis在中国和国际12个不同的社交媒体平台上拥有日益增多的粉丝。欢迎访问以下网址关注他： www.DenisSharesChina.com.