book data
37 ratings, 4.19 average rating, 12 reviews
(more data...)
edit
published
September 2005
(first published 1937)
by Debolsillo
binding
Paperback, 517 pages
isbn
9875660914
(isbn13: 9789875660915)
Sign in to Goodreads to see your friends' reviews of this book.
| topics | replies | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chinese traditional culture | 1 | 3 | 08/21/2007 12:08PM |
friend reviews
To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.
This book is currently not featured on any Listopia lists.
Add this book to your favorite list »
other reviews (showing 1-20 of 83)
Read in January, 1984
recommends it for:
everyone
Lin Yutang, Rumi, Martin Buber, Lao T'se, Jesus, Buddha, Rabindranath Tagore, Gandhi...these are the words that can heal our troubled world. In a sensationalized world, the reader of Lin Yutang's great classic will learn how to enjoy merely sitting, lying in bed, reading, writing, walking, and nearly everything one can do that harms no other or self.
For my money, the most important part of "The Importance of Living" is where he discusses, at some length, the non-soldier, and all t...more
For my money, the most important part of "The Importance of Living" is where he discusses, at some length, the non-soldier, and all t...more
Like this review?
yes
(1 person liked it)
add a comment
Read in March, 1991
recommends it for:
philosophers, humanists
I ran across this book in a used-book store and it was very illuminating. The author reveals his familiarity with Western philosophical literature and admits he has no profound solutions. He brings advice from his greater familiarity with Eastern philosophy to suggest that we remember to enjoy life daily and not wait until we have solved all the philosophical problems. Mr Yutang also published a book about Confucius and the Analects, so he is quite familiar with Chinese literature and thought.
...more
...more
Like this review?
yes
(1 person liked it)
add a comment
Read in January, 2000
recommends it for:
Natalie
There are not enough words to describe how much this book changed my life and changed my perspective of self. Lin teaches philosophy to a modern world that has forgotten philosophy exists.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
just started it... recommendation from my chinese friend to learn more about "traditional personalities of chinese people"
here's a quote:
A man who knows how to read finds everything becomes a book whenever he goes:hills and waters are also books, and so are chess and wine, and so are the moon and flowers. A good traveler finds that everything becomes a landscape wherever he goes: books and history are landscapes, and so are wine and poetry, and so are the moon and flowers.
t
here's a quote:
A man who knows how to read finds everything becomes a book whenever he goes:hills and waters are also books, and so are chess and wine, and so are the moon and flowers. A good traveler finds that everything becomes a landscape wherever he goes: books and history are landscapes, and so are wine and poetry, and so are the moon and flowers.
t
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Has a copy to sell/swap
—
Read in July, 2007
recommended to elliot by:
I think this is Navin's bookrecommends it for: philosophers, Chinese people
A 1930s classic of the difference between "Chinese" philosophy (or rather the 'temperament') and the "Christian." Yutang's ideal human is the Scamp, the footloose dreamer who can laugh at his own philosophizing.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
When I was first given a copy of this I didn't want to read it because I arrogantly assumed I knew what was in it. Fortunately I've grown up enough to read it & recomend it - sadly it took me too long to get here.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Has a copy to sell/swap
interesante forma de ver la vida y sobretodo de aplicar la filosofía oriental en la cotidianeidad de la vida occidental... lo recomiendo para personas que quieran tener un punto distinto de ver la vida
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
According to Yutang, a wise person possesses a balance between idealism and pragmatism and between sensitivity and a sense of humor.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in March, 2005
recommends it for:
all who seek
best book i ever read...taught me to never trust someone who lives in a home without a dirty ashtray.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in May, 2008
The first half is thought provoking, the last half, wearisome and sexist.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
to-read
(on 31 people's shelves)
currently-reading (on 15 people's shelves)
philosophy (on 2 people's shelves)
life-changing (on 1 person's shelf)
chinese (on 1 person's shelf)
nature (on 1 person's shelf)
mindfulness (on 1 person's shelf)
essay (on 1 person's shelf)
shamanism---other-spirituality (on 1 person's shelf)
eastern-religions---philosophy (on 1 person's shelf)
More shelves...
currently-reading (on 15 people's shelves)
philosophy (on 2 people's shelves)
life-changing (on 1 person's shelf)
chinese (on 1 person's shelf)
nature (on 1 person's shelf)
mindfulness (on 1 person's shelf)
essay (on 1 person's shelf)
shamanism---other-spirituality (on 1 person's shelf)
eastern-religions---philosophy (on 1 person's shelf)
More shelves...
