本书所选定的18位英语世界“文化名人”，都体现出这样三个特点：一是与世人共呼吸，与民族同命运，在历史上引领时代潮流，体现时代精神，其品德言行足以启迪后人；二是在文化上有所建树，留下了值得后代传承的文学艺术遗产；三是符、合大众化定位，体现社会认同度和大众认知度的统一。这18位名人的20篇演说，短的仅数百字，长的达数万言，本书按其发表的年代顺序排列，而不考虑国别或演讲主题。

AREOPAGITICA

THE AMERICAN SCHOLAR

CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE

IN THAT SAME FAITH TO LIVE AND TO DIE

SCIENTIFIC EDUCATION

UNCONSCIOUS PLAGIARISM

SCIENCE AND ART

THE WAY OF MY SUCCESS

I TOOK THE RIGHT TURNING

WHY I AM NOT A CHRISTIAN

ASPECTS OF THE NOVEL

MY DEBT TO STRINDBERG

STRUGGLE FOR FREEDOM

LOOK UP HANNAH!

PERMANENT HUMAN VALUES

THE SUPPA-NATIONAL VALUE OF POEYRY

THE PROPS TO HELP MAN ENDURE

MAN'S PERIL

THE WORD IS WITH MAN

GOD'S PLAN FOR CREATION