Through the description of more than 20 years life experiences of the leading character Nie Zhiyuan who studied as a master, a doctorial candidate and then functioned as a college teacher, Yan Zhens novel Beyond Living reveals the survival predicament and spiritual dilemma of modern intellectuals, and explores the life meaning of living and beyond living. The novel is a spiritual excruciation of intellectuals in the materialized society, and also a criticism and revolt of the materialized world.