《世博读本》将主体内容与知识窗相结合，立体地介绍了世博会的历史、文化与发展过程，以及它所折射出来的精神内涵。全书分“一切始于世博会”，“各国与世博会”，“中国与世博会”，“世博会：向上海走来”四大板块。值得一提的是，在“中国与世博会”部分，前半部分内容介绍了晚清第一批“睁眼看世界”的中国商人、巴黎世博会上的中国人身影、清政府是如何登上世博会舞台的、在美国芝加哥世博会上中国民营资本的通力合作，以及民族企业所取得的奖项，其中有“荣记湖丝”在1851年伦敦世博会上所获得的奖状、上海耀华照相馆在1900年巴黎世博会上所获得的奖状等内容。后半部分则介绍了新中国先后参加的11次世博会，在这些世博会上，中国馆兼顾古代文明，以现代科技成就为表现重点，精彩的展出包容古今硕果，体现了人与自然和谐相处的理念。而“世博会：向上海走来”板块，则介绍为了这一天我们所做的各种准备、“城市，让生活更美好”的上海世博会主题，以及展馆、论坛、文艺活动等内容,介绍了在2010年上海世博会，城市最佳实践区和网上世博会将成为两大创新亮点。

一切始于世博会。

世博会被称为经济、文化、科技领域的奥林匹克盛会。150多年来，世博会以其自身魅力吸引着人们的目光，从水晶宫到自由女神像，这些源于世博会的经典建筑已经成为人类建筑的标志性符号；从魔方到冰淇淋，这些首次露面于世博会的发明已经渗透到我们的日常生活。世博会改变并影响着这个世界。本书图文并茂地介绍了林林总总的世博会历史与文化。

城市，让生活更美好！

Preface

Chapter Ⅰ: Everything Great Starts from World Expo

 World Expo: Olympics for Economy, Culture, Science and Technology

 From Strength Competition to Intelligence Exposure: Expo Witnesses the Human Development

 World Expo: A Showcase for Human's Progress

 Glamour of the Expo: Communication and Participation

 World Expo Culture: National and Global

 Theme: The Soul of Expo

 Exhibition: Five Continents before Your Eyes

 Brainstorming: Discussing Global Common Topics

 Joyful Gathering at the Uncommon World Expo

 Follow-up Effect of World Expo

Chapter Ⅱ: Host Countries and Their World Expos

 The U.K. and the World Expo: Modem World in Crystal Palace

 France and the World Expo: A Beautiful Encounter with Paris

 France and the World Expo: The Vicissitudes of Eiffel Tower

 The U.S. and the World Expo in the 19th Century: Mankind Enters the Age of Skyscrapers

 The U.S. and the World Expo in the First Half of the 20th Century: Indelible Taste

 The U.S. and the World Expo in the Second Half of the 20th Century: Stride toward the Space Age

 Belgium and the World Expo: Science, Civilization and Humanity

 Canada and the World Expo: Seek Common Progress for Mankind

 Germany and the World Expo: Building the Image of Modem World Expo

 Japan and the World Expo: Development and Rise

Chapter Ⅲ: China and the World Expo

 London, England: The First Chinese Businessmen to "Open Their Eyes to the World"

 Paris, France: The Chinese at Four Paris World Expos

 Vienna, Austria: The Controversy Concerning

 with the Foreign-controlled China's Participation in the World Expo

 Philadelphia, U.S.: Witness to Sino-America Friendship

 St. Louise, U.S.: Qing Government Formally Ascended the Stage of World Expo

 Nanjing, China: The First Practice Aiming at the World Expo

 San Francisco, U.S.: The World Expo That Hugely Influenced on China

 Philadelphia, U.S.: World Expo Made China Realize What the Lags Were

 Chicago, U.S.: A Well-concerted Cooperation among Private Capital

 From Knoxville to Aichi:

 The Glorious and Splendid Trip Made by New China in World Expos

Chapter Ⅳ: 2010, We Are Coming

 World Expo: Marching toward Shanghai

 We Are Preparing for This Day

 Theme of World Expo Shanghai: "Better City, Better Life"

 Pavilion: Creating a "On-site Experience" of World Expo

 Forum: Carry Forward Spiritual Heritage of World Expo

 Performance: Mould the Harmony of Diverse Cultures in World Expo

 Expo 2010 Shanghai: Two Innovations

Postscript

Index