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 [ʃɪ'keɪnəri] 欺诈；诈骗；欺骗
calculation 美 [.kælkjə'leɪʃ(ə)n] 算计
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 ['kerəktər] 特征
Political chicanery and calculation were foreign to his character.
be foreign to 陌生的（意指八竿子打不着）
eg: I'm foreign to this reading group.
lame 口语中可等同于boring
eg: the excuese is lame.
smart可以用来表示“干净、时髦”，多用在服饰上，这是英式表达，美食多用sharp
inadequate 美 [ɪn'ædəkwət] 不足的，不充分的
academically she is inadequate, but socially she's excellent. 她学习成绩不好，但是社交能力优秀
discern 美 [dɪ'sɜrn] 识别，察觉出
sap 美 [sæp] 作为动词表示“减弱（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（和他周围的那些人）将开始运用总统的无限权力来削弱普京先生的实力。
He could make or unmake a scholar by a word of praise or blame. 他的一句夸奖能成就一个文人，他的一句批评也能毁掉一个文人。
同样的句子：Their likes and dislikes make or brake products.
phobia 美 ['foʊbiə] 恐惧症，过度的、没有必要的恐惧
have a phobia about sth.
常用语后缀，eg: mysophobia（对细菌恐惧）洁癖
become a laughingstock 成为笑柄
喜欢很重要。喜欢做一件事就自然会找到时间去做。而不喜欢去做一件事就能找到n多个拖延的理由。
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.