大西北是什么呢？是中国民族生成与文化发展的、在苍凉中呼啸生命元气的孕床。在当今这样一个地质年代，文化生物贾平凹锲而不舍地做着一项工作：要将大西北古人今人的思考链接起来，要将大文化中个人与群体的情怀绵延到一起。这部散文随笔，写自己，写友人，写收藏，写文学，是他已经完成和将要完成的文化长链上的一个烨烨生辉的扣子。（What is the northwest? It is the birthplace of the Chinese nation and its cultural development. It is the life strength in the desolate whine. In today's geological age, cultural creature, Jia Pingwa insistently take on a job: linking the thoughts of ancient northwest people with today's northwest residents, connecting the feelings of individuals with the groups against a great culture background. In this prose essay, Jia writes himself, his friends, his collections and literature. It is a brilliant button in the long cultural chain he has completed and will to complete.）