|
The Importance of Living | 
| Author: Lin Yutang
Publisher: William Morrow
Category: Book
Buy New: $50.00
New (2) Used (8) Collectible (1) from $7.00
Avg. Customer Rating:  24 reviews
Sales Rank: 581542
Media: Hardcover
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 462
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.6
Dimensions (in): 8.8 x 6 x 1.3
ISBN: 0688147178
Dewey Decimal Number: 128
EAN: 9780688147174
ASIN: 0688147178
Publication Date: August 16, 1996
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: Expedited shipping available
Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: hardcover with dj, 6b3 shelf wear to cover
|
| Also Available In:
|
| Similar Items:
|
| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.com
Is it really a philosophy book if it has a section entitled "The Importance of Loafing"? Harvard scholar, Taoist, and modernist Lin Yutang wrote The Importance of Living to express his highly subjective, personal feelings after years of studying ancient Chinese texts, and created a wonderfully slow-going yet radiantly clear guide to the simple life. Taking walks, drinking tea, long talks with friends are all important to Lin, whose stories and retellings of Taoist classics meander away from his points, find new ones, and remind us to enjoy the life that's all around us without needless worry. Lin's prose is gentle, like the conversation of a favorite lazy uncle who is more at home sipping lemonade on the back porch than gulping lattes between meetings. The sincerity of his humility is surprising to a reader used to postmodern writers who seem to pride themselves on their self-abasement. Though Lin deliberately avoided fame and notoriety, correctly observing that it only leads to troubles, one can only hope that his wisdom, timelier than ever, finds a wider audience among today's too-busy-to-breathe global culture. His philosophy, more practical and enjoyable than the usual Western writings on the subject, reminds us all of the vital importance of simply living. --Rob Lightner
Product Description
The Importance of Living is a wry, witty antidote to the dizzying pace of the modern world. Lin Yutang's prescription is the classic Chinese philosophy of life: Revere inaction as much as action, invoke humor to maintain a healthy attitude, and never forget that there will always be plenty of fools around who are willing-indeed, eager-to be busy, to make themselves useful, and to exercise power while you bask in the simple joy of existence.At a time when we're overwhelmed with wake-up calls, here is a refreshing, playful reminder to savor life's simple pleasures.
|
| Customer Reviews: Read 19 more reviews...
 Contemplate Life and Living August 6, 2008
Lin Yutang has a lot to say on "the importance of living"- nearly 500 pages worth. I read most of this book and skimmed through some of it. Reading Lin Yutang is like liesurely conversation with a learned friend. I found some of his opinions on life quite profound and humorous; other things that he had to say I thought were silly, chauvanistic and even insulting. But he does give you a lot to think about.
I basically agree, however, with the basic theme of the book which is to take some time to contemplate life. It's actually a much needed message for the Western world that is getting so caught up in rush, rush, rush. I would even say with the emerging China that is becoming more and more American with the emphasis being on rushing around, and the pollution, and living to make money; that Lin Yutang's message is especially needed in reminding us all of the old Chinese way.
Actually, Lin Yutang's philosophy is very close to Emerson and Thoreau and the other New England transcendentalists in his understanding of the natural world. Lin Yutang, is also quite critical of Christianity in this book. Not quite so much as Mark Twain in his scathing and sarcastic "Letters From Earth"; but critical all the same. As a Christian myself, I took his criticisms in stride. I didn't agree with him completely but I do think that it would do Christianity some good to focus more on "living a happy life" than being a religion that sends people to heaven or hell.
Lin Yutang's idea on living as it relates along spiritual lines is best expressed in the following quotation: "It is against the will of God to eat delicate food hastily, to pass gorgeous views hurriedly, to express deep sentiment superficially, to pass a beautiful day steeped in food and drinks, and to enjoy your wealth steeped in luxuries."
Incidently, Lin Yutang, later wrote "Pagan to Christian" which explains how he left the paganism he advocates in this book and turned back to Christianity which was the religion of his youth. Actually he eventually manages to come to a shaky reconcilliation between Paganism and Christianity or the so-called "Eastern" and "Western" worlds.
Lin Yutang and the New Age Left: There is a Noble Art to Doing Nothing June 1, 2006
11 out of 12 found this review helpful
I first heard of Lin Yutang, I am almost reluctant to say, many years after my exposure to Alan Watts and the "New Left", long before the "Neo-Cons" came to be a force majeure....in fact,..it was during a Michael Savage discussion of his new (4th) political bestseller, "The Political Zoo." He even remarked that he was probably hurting his own sales to remark on this classic work of Yutang--which experienced a resurgence in sales the LAST time he mentioned it in about 1998. But I ordered the Political Zoo at the same time--they are so different as to occupy quite different spaces in the mind and thought.....
I know that fans of Savage (Michael A. Weiner, Ph.D.) are have probably already purchased this book--those who missed the mention in the late 90s, or if they failed to write it down in the recent mention, have found it.
Yutang makes people like Watts, westerners who dabbled in Eastern thought, seem like the true dilettants they were. In any advanced Psychology class contrasting Western and Eastern Philosophy of Living, Yutang comes across as the one who has truly digesting both styles of living, to the point of being able to allow an intelligent lay reader to thing deeply and make some rational and deeply philosophical decisions about life-style.
I'll give one example--the Western custom of shaking hands, versus the Eastern tradition of shaking one's OWN hand. In the mid-19th century, Col. Fremantle discussed the dirty American habit of hand-shaking--which was not done in the upper classes in Britain and in the the officer corps. The point being--close human contact was considered a very special phenomenon and not part of daily human discourse......even in a western culture. There are many such relevations in this book--which is why it fascinated Savage, and why it will fascinate and reader who is interested in cross-cultural psychology and comparative con-specific behaviour....well written, and highly recommended!!
What was true about Chinese and Americans no longer hold, but the brilliance of this book is for all human kind! October 31, 2005
9 out of 12 found this review helpful
What was true about Chinese and Americans no longer hold, but the brilliance of this book is for all human kind!
As a Hong Kong Chinese, i have heard of the name LinYuTang for a while, but knowing the era (1930s)in which he was active, i figured that it must be some boring scholar. I was surprised that how undercredited he was in Chinese society when i found out that he, using English as second language, can write a 52 week bestseller in USA in 1938. He was nominated twice for Nobel prize but lost , yet i think the CHinese Nobel prize winner Gaoxingjian cant measure up to a tenth of LinYutang's achievement in writing bestseller, compiling Sino-English dictionary and invented Chinese typewriters.
What was true about Chinese and Americans no longer hold, but the brilliance of this book is for all human kind!
Interesting enough the traits that was used in the book to describe Chinese and Americans have switched places. Nowadays, our impression about European/Americans are that they got labour unions to protect workers right, minimum age, so many vacations, family is given a top priority; while lot of Chinese are working non-stop, dumping the Made In China labels to every corner of the globe.
I ordered the Chinese version online the other day, but yesterday, i couldnt wait for its arrival and i went to the bookstore in shenzhen to get a cheap english copy, it was indeed cheap, less than USD2 and brandnew, however, in the Foreword by Editor, iwas told that Lin is a great man and a pride of Chinese, however his views are against Marxist ideas and readers should be careful, so they apologize for having to make some deletion. OH, i guess i need to buy a complete version in amazon again.
However, when i reflect on this a little bit, has China really changed so much? Freedom of speech will lead to social turmoil and riots in a yet developing country with enough illiterate everywhere, Democracy is a form of thinking which in itself is a by-product of evolution of our brain as said by Lin; the ultimate function of brain is to help us live, so problem of hunger and poverty must be solved first before everything else. So is the logic of Chinese Communist party and that of majority of citizens here. This seemingly negative trait has been glorified well by Lin in a logical way.
Therefore, i guess despite how life-enjoying americans have become and how all Chinese are burning candles at both end, this book still hold true in some way.
A delightful book to savour September 26, 2005
18 out of 18 found this review helpful
Lin-Yutang (1895-1976) a Chinese humanist and humourist, was
steeped in the ancient wisdom of his motherland. Lin-yutang was also a cosmopolitan. Educated at Saint Johns University in Shanghai, he went on to take his Master's degree at Harvard, then his doctorate at the University of Leipzig. His two most well known writings 'My Country and My People' (1935) and 'The Importance of Living' (1937) brought him international fame, the latter a perennial classic and best seller for decades. A decent reprint of this remarkable book has long been overdue. Happily, the Singapore based publisher, Cultured Lotus, has made a new edition available. The positive reviews were gratifying to see.
This isn't a book to read in a hurry. As the cover-blurb puts it: "offered as a remedy to modern day living, is the classic distillation of Chinese wisdom, revere inaction as much as action , observe the place of humour to ensure healthy living, and simply celebrate existence. Gaily serious, cynicaly kind, shot through with a sense of comedy and backed by sages of many centuries, it brings forth the salt and tang of life.
Lin Yutang observes: " a man who loves life intensely must be always jealous of the few exquisite moments of leisure that he has. And he must retain the dignity and pride of the vagabond. His hours of fishing must be as sacred as his hours of business, erected into a kind of religion as the English have done with sport. "
Superficially, one might see such a philosophy as a refusal to take life seriously - but, Lin Yutang's perspective here is summed up by the quotation from Chang chao:
"Only those who take leisurely what the people of
the world are busy about can be busy about what
the people of the world take leisurely. "
Hence, what this outlook refuses to embrace is the notion that the only meaningful activity open to us - is that which is purpose driven, against which, leisure time will be evaluated as 'dead time.' Lin Yutang reminds us of the positive, living potentialities of 'leisure' time. Much of this is of Taoist inspiration, but like the ancient Greeks, even Confucius recognised that human life is meaningless, if reduced to repetitive, merely utilitarian processes.
Lin Yutang's thought ranges over many aspects of life. Not everything said in this book reflects the 'oriental' point of view (he knew Europe and America)- or Taoist wisdom. Whatever he touches on, usually elicits some witty fact or observation. Nevertheless, many - if not most readers, find Lin-Yutang at his most compelling when digressing on the finer details of ancient Chinese culture, be it the appreciation of tea and incense, eminent Chinese painters and poets - and their works. Although but sixteen pages, the 'Critical Chinese Vocabulary' Lin-Yutang appended to this text is immensely interesting and worth its weight in gold, when it comes to unpacking the delicate shades of meaning permitted by the combination of various Chinese characters. This is a charming and delightful book.
Welcome back to your Childhood! August 28, 2005
22 out of 22 found this review helpful
First off, allow me to say that I'm shocked this book hasn't had more reviews. This book was a major turning point in my Life. After working the "American Dream" i.e. 50 hour work weeks and having zilch to show for it in 3 years, I had a nervous breakdown. Luckily I survived and made it through. Afterwards, I searched the bookstore for a genuine book and found this diamond in the ruff. Wow, was I not dissappointed! This book is totally refreshing for the stressed out individual. Like the heading I wrote proclaims, welcome BACK to your childhood and to the Mystery thereof. After reading this book, I realized that unless one enjoys Life, it is simply not even worth living! Sounds harsh but it's true, you know it. Lin Yutang boldly stands for the human condition. This book relearned me on the fun of my childhood. How could we have gone so far astray? I've dove head first into various religions which did do some good but really only left me full of dogmatic doctrines and repetitive rituals. The Bible says that we should be as children. What good is that advice without a proper manual for the return to this innocense? This book is the manual leading one back to the joys of those not so distant memories. I recommend it to everybody I meet. Take back that precious gift which was stolen from you, the Mystery of Life. Just because you are breathing and active does not mean that you are truly Living, never forget the importance of it! Stand with us and don't look back upon, otherwise babblonn!!! And thank you!!!
|
|
|
Powered by Associate-O-Matic
| |
