In January 2011, Harvard Professor Harry Lewis gave a series of four talks and lectures in Hong Kong, anchored by an invitation from the Chinese University of Hong Kong as Sir Run Run Shaw Visiting Scholar. The four lectures gathered in this volume are: "Approaches to General Education" Lee Hysan lecture, delivered at Chinese University of Hong Kong"Civic Education in the Information Era" Sir Run Run Shaw Distinguished Lecturedelivered at Shaw College, Chinese University of Hong Kong"The Future of Ignorance" delivered at City University of Hong Kong"Idea economy" delivered at the Asia SocietyHarry R. Lewis is Gordon McKay Professor of Computer Science in the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences at Harvard University. He served as Dean of Harvard College from 1995-2003. He is the author of "Excellence Without a Soul: Does Liberal Education Have a Future?" and coauthor of "Blown to Bits: Your Life, Liberty, and Happiness After the Digital Explosion