On the afternoon of November 13, 2025, Duke Kunshan University (DKU) Library and the Office of Development and Alumni Relations hosted the “Donated Books Appreciation Ceremony & Conversation with Dr. Gao Xiqing” at the Library Tea House. The event honored Mr. Gao and his wife, Mrs. Ma Xiaowei, for their generous donation of more than 800 volumes from their personal collections. The gathering brought together around 30 students, faculty, and staff to celebrate the donation and engage in a thoughtful discussion on the enduring value of reading in the age of AI.
Dr. Scott MacEachern, Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, expressed his appreciation for the donation, describing it as “giving a piece of yourself.” He noted the collection’s breadth across multiple disciplines as a reflection of Mr. Gao’s “eclectic reading interests and lifelong engagement with both Chinese and Western thought,” aligning perfectly with DKU’s liberal arts mission.
University Librarian Mengjie Zou shared insights from the Library’s comprehensive analysis of the donated books, which span literature, history, economics, arts, and other disciplines. She also expressed heartfelt appreciation for Mr. Gao’s long-standing support and friendship with DKU since its founding.
The highlight of the event was a dialogue between Mr. Gao and Dr. Keping Wu, Associate Professor of Anthropology, on the topic “Why We Still Read in the Age of AI.” Drawing on personal reading experiences and reflections on technological change, Mr. Gao discussed how books have shaped his worldview from his early studies to his professional journey. When asked about the role of reading in the age of AI, Mr. Gao acknowledged its utility for summarizing content and identifying worthwhile books “AI helps you decide what to read,” Mr. Gao said, but stressed the irreplaceable value of deep, immersive reading.
The event concluded with a Q&A session where Mr. Gao recommended several books for DKU students who “love history, literature, and science,” including Cixin Liu’s sci-fi masterpiece The Three-Body Problem and the works of Neal Stephenson, who coined the term “metaverse” in Snow Crash.
To sustain this momentum, Mengjie Zou shared the “One Month, One Book” initiative, inviting the DKU community to submit book recommendations and participate in shared reading activities to nurture lifelong reading habits. The ceremony ended with a group photo, capturing the spirit of gratitude and intellectual connection.
- Content: Cai Yan, Sari Xu
- Photo: Piper Wang
