本书讲述一代伟人毛泽东从一个追求进步的普通农家少年逐渐成长为带领亿万中国人民走向新生活的人民领袖的伟大历程，着重从树立共产主义远大理想、读书开启人生、注重以史为鉴、敢于斗争、艰苦奋斗、非凡军事才能、一心为民、坚持调查研究等十二个方面，通过一个个感人的真实故事和生活片段，展现毛泽东同志不懈奋斗的一生和坚定自信的成长之路，向广大读者展现毛泽东同志的丰功伟绩和伟大人格。
本书语言通俗，可读性强，对广大读者特别是青年读者具有较大启发意义。

前 言···········································································································1

第一讲　坚信马克思主义，一生追求共产主义··············································· 1
一、一部《共产党宣言》57 年相伴相随··········································3
二、把马克思主义运用于中国具体实际···········································6

第二讲 生命不息，读书不止 ·····························································15
一、读书使毛泽东更睿智、更坚定、更伟大 ································16
二、在读书中树立追求真理、拯救民族危难和共产主义的远大志向 ····························23

第三讲　重视历史，博览群史，以史为鉴，古为今用 ···············27
一、从青少年到老年读过的部分史籍·············································30
二、一部二十四史反反复复读了 24 年···········································32
三、为什么一生爱读中国史籍··························································39
四、“古为今用”三例 ········································································43

第四讲 敢于反抗，敢于斗争，善于斗争·······································49
一、毛泽东敢于反抗、敢于斗争、善于斗争思想的形成 ···········50
二、打破国民党军队三次“围剿”斗争片段·································56

第五讲 艰苦奋斗，俭朴一生 ·····························································67
一、毛泽东艰苦奋斗，俭朴生活片段·············································68
二、毛泽东为什么能做到一生艰苦奋斗、俭朴生活····················79

第六讲 独特的军事思想，非凡的军事才能··································89
一、毛泽东军事思想要点··································································90
二、毛泽东军事思想形成和发展的三大要素 ································94
三、三大战役的伟大胜利································································106

第七讲　全心全意为人民服务、为人民谋利造福·······················113
一、毛泽东创造性提出党的“全心全意为人民服务” 的根本宗旨··································114
二、心系人民群众，关注百姓生产生活的片段 ··························118
三、全心全意为人民谋利造福的一家人·······································128

第八讲　坚持党的群众路线，深入实际调查研究·······················133
一、毛泽东关于党的群众路线的重要思想···································134
二、毛泽东坚持党的群众路线，深入实际调查研究工作生活片段·······························144
三、为适应新的实际需要，制定和建立一系列规定、制度 ·····152

第九讲　严明纪律、严肃执纪，教育党员干部永葆党的初心····································· 159
一、毛泽东对马克思列宁主义关于党的纪律建设思想的丰富和发展·····························160
二、毛泽东关于党的纪律建设的“三严”之道···························165

第十讲　同党外人士肝胆相照，恪守民主合作共谋国事·········171
一、毛泽东践行党的统一战线的主要特点···································172
二、毛泽东开展统一战线工作的片段···········································176

第十一讲　虚怀若谷学习科学知识··················································195
一、学习钻研自然科学知识····························································196
二、虚心向科学家求教····································································202
三、关注前沿科学讨论····································································207

第十二讲　毛泽东的精神风范、高尚情怀和独特气质 ·············213
一、毛泽东的精神风范····································································214
二、毛泽东的高尚情怀····································································216
三、毛泽东的独特气质····································································223

后 记···························································································229