一、第二章主要介绍了苏东坡的家乡眉山镇，在乐山以北64公里外。作者还介绍有关苏东坡的生日两件事，一是向西方读者介绍中国的年龄算法，二是他降生在天蝎宫之下，如韩愈一般，所以一生饱经忧患。接着介绍苏东坡的祖父与父亲。父亲希望生个儿子，用玉镯子来换画像，时常祷告。苏东坡身心精力过人的深厚，胸襟气度的开阔，纯厚正直都有祖父的影子。作者又介绍中国有古老风俗，不称父母与祖父母的名讳，苏东坡作品中要写很多“序”，而用“序”则是对祖父的不尊敬，而后祖父对于父亲的才气焕发但不务正业不发愁，坚信父亲会痛改前非。最后作者介绍四川因发明印刷术，好学之风勃然风气，四川居民酷爱雄辩，谈话引经据典。眉州人“难治”的原因以及民间的社会门阀制度和农民田间劳作迟到或不力者都要罚款。
三、好词好句
1. In this young days he had been a tall, handsome man, hale and hearty, given to drink, big-hearted and generous.
2. Su Tungpo did not inherit from his grandfather his capacity for wine. e.g. My mom inheritd from my grandmother her capacity for wine.
3. Possesing a high intelligence, severe in temperament, independent in mind, and crotchety in character, Su Shun was not a man easy to get along with. 禀赋颖异，气质严谨，思想独立，性格古怪
4. "... the situation must have become unbearable. " 这里写道苏洵看到自己的哥哥，内兄，姐丈都科考成功，为官为史，对于他这么一个天赋智力如此高的人是看了根本是难以忍受的，因而觉得含羞带愧(He must have been bitten with shame to see) 昨天白天估计是感冒引发了咽炎，一晚上没睡好。 e.g. The pharyngitis was becoming unbearable at night.
5. Those who arrived late, or those who were slack, were fined. If someone is slacking, they are not working as hard as they should. fine在这里表示“罚款” 。
