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  <title><![CDATA[The Importance Of Living]]></title>
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  <description><![CDATA[Is it <em>really</em> a philosophy book if it has a section entitled &quot;The Importance of Loafing&quot;? Harvard scholar, Taoist, and modernist Lin Yutang wrote <em>The Importance of Living</em> 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.<p>  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. <em>--Rob Lightner</em> </p>]]></description>
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    <![CDATA[The Importance Of Living]]>
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    <![CDATA[Is it <em>really</em> a philosophy book if it has a section entitled &quot;The Importance of Loafing&quot;? Harvard scholar, Taoist, and modernist Lin Yutang wrote <em>The Importance of Living</em> 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.<p>  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. <em>--Rob Lightner</em> </p>]]>
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  <read_at>Sun Jan 04 11:57:11 -0800 2009</read_at>
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    <body><![CDATA[This book is like sitting around with your grandfather while he shares his thoughts about everything under the sun, so long as your father is a witty, erudite, philosophically inclined Chinese man.  I received this book as a gift.  It has an irresistible table of contents, with chapter headings like...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/33032366">more...</a>]]></body>
    
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    <![CDATA[Is it <em>really</em> a philosophy book if it has a section entitled &quot;The Importance of Loafing&quot;? Harvard scholar, Taoist, and modernist Lin Yutang wrote <em>The Importance of Living</em> 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.<p>  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. <em>--Rob Lightner</em> </p>]]>
  </description>
  <published>1937</published>
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  <read_at>Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 1984</read_at>
  <date_added>Tue Jul 22 10:05:42 -0700 2008</date_added>
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    <body><![CDATA[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 nearl...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/27957103">more...</a>]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/27957103]]></url>
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    <![CDATA[The Importance Of Living]]>
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    <![CDATA[Is it <em>really</em> a philosophy book if it has a section entitled &quot;The Importance of Loafing&quot;? Harvard scholar, Taoist, and modernist Lin Yutang wrote <em>The Importance of Living</em> 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.<p>  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. <em>--Rob Lightner</em> </p>]]>
  </description>
  <published>1937</published>
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  <date_added>Mon Sep 07 10:18:19 -0700 2009</date_added>
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    <body><![CDATA[Lin Yutang's book is slightly hard to classify, if only because, as he admits, he's writing a book about Chinese culture and academic history which he doesn't intend to be taken as especially scholarly or serious in large part.  That's not to say it isn't fun, though.  The book is an awful lot of fu...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/70362455">more...</a>]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/70362455]]></url>
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      <review>
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    <![CDATA[The Importance of Living]]>
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  <average_rating>5.00</average_rating>
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    <![CDATA[An American Chinese literary scholar wrote a very readable philosophy of living, beginning with a succint judgement of Western Philosophy and the sound advice: not to get so lost in the labyrinth of philosophical literature that one forgets to enjoy the many pleasures of living. About half of the book is a catalog of his favorite forms of enjoyment. Tops seems to be a long, late evening of discussing literature and ideas with good friends, good food, and good wine.]]>
  </description>
  <published>1937</published>
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  <recommended_for><![CDATA[philosophers, humanists]]></recommended_for>
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  <read_at>Fri Mar 01 00:00:00 -0800 1991</read_at>
  <date_added>Tue Jul 03 17:30:58 -0700 2007</date_added>
  <date_updated>Tue Jul 03 17:46:43 -0700 2007</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[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 ...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2688530">more...</a>]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2688530]]></url>
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      <review>
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    <![CDATA[The Importance Of Living]]>
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  <average_rating>4.05</average_rating>
  <ratings_count>65</ratings_count>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[Is it <em>really</em> a philosophy book if it has a section entitled &quot;The Importance of Loafing&quot;? Harvard scholar, Taoist, and modernist Lin Yutang wrote <em>The Importance of Living</em> 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.<p>  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. <em>--Rob Lightner</em> </p>]]>
  </description>
  <published>1937</published>
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  <date_added>Wed Nov 18 10:57:24 -0800 2009</date_added>
  <date_updated>Thu Dec 10 07:33:59 -0800 2009</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[I'm putting this back on my &quot;to read&quot; list because there's just no way I want to read this book in any fly by night way.  It's almost 500 pages and has the most wonderfully named chapters--&quot;On Having a Mind&quot; and &quot;Cynicism, Folly and Camouflage&quot; and a whole section on &quot;...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/78208518">more...</a>]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/78208518]]></url>
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      <review>
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  <average_rating>4.05</average_rating>
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    <![CDATA[Is it <em>really</em> a philosophy book if it has a section entitled &quot;The Importance of Loafing&quot;? Harvard scholar, Taoist, and modernist Lin Yutang wrote <em>The Importance of Living</em> 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.<p>  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. <em>--Rob Lightner</em> </p>]]>
  </description>
  <published>1937</published>
</book>

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  <recommended_for><![CDATA[Natalie]]></recommended_for>
  <recommended_by><![CDATA[]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at>Sat Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2000</read_at>
  <date_added>Fri Nov 21 15:48:44 -0800 2008</date_added>
  <date_updated>Fri Nov 21 17:04:57 -0800 2008</date_updated>
  <read_count>1</read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[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. <br/><br/>]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/38340718]]></url>
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  <average_rating>4.05</average_rating>
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  <description>
    <![CDATA[Is it <em>really</em> a philosophy book if it has a section entitled &quot;The Importance of Loafing&quot;? Harvard scholar, Taoist, and modernist Lin Yutang wrote <em>The Importance of Living</em> 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.<p>  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. <em>--Rob Lightner</em> </p>]]>
  </description>
  <published>1937</published>
</book>

    <rating>5</rating>
  <votes>0</votes>
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  <recommended_by><![CDATA[]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at></read_at>
  <date_added>Tue May 12 11:16:00 -0700 2009</date_added>
  <date_updated>Tue May 12 11:18:00 -0700 2009</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[What a good read - one quote I really liked and please excuse that it is not exact but prerry close -  &quot;If god only loved me half as much as my mother, he would not sentence me to hell&quot;]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/55813176]]></url>
  <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/55813176]]></link>
</review>
      <review>
  <id>46694152</id>
    <user>
    <id>2035392</id>
    <name><![CDATA[Simon]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[Miami, FL]]></location>
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  <isbn13>9780688163525</isbn13>
  <text_reviews_count type="integer">17</text_reviews_count>
  <title>
    <![CDATA[The Importance Of Living]]>
  </title>
  <image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1171053724m/84352.jpg</image_url>
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  <average_rating>4.05</average_rating>
  <ratings_count>65</ratings_count>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[Is it <em>really</em> a philosophy book if it has a section entitled &quot;The Importance of Loafing&quot;? Harvard scholar, Taoist, and modernist Lin Yutang wrote <em>The Importance of Living</em> 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.<p>  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. <em>--Rob Lightner</em> </p>]]>
  </description>
  <published>1937</published>
</book>

    <rating>4</rating>
  <votes>0</votes>
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  <recommended_for><![CDATA[]]></recommended_for>
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  <date_added>Tue Feb 17 18:19:34 -0800 2009</date_added>
  <date_updated>Tue Feb 17 18:20:55 -0800 2009</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[My fathers guide to living and loving. Great philosophy from China where great thinkers have given us rich advice and insight into our souls.]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/46694152]]></url>
  <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/46694152]]></link>
</review>
      <review>
  <id>57474231</id>
    <user>
    <id>2349507</id>
    <name><![CDATA[Errol]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[Donalds, SC]]></location>
    <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/2349507-errol-hess]]></link>
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  <isbn13>9780688163525</isbn13>
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  <title>
    <![CDATA[The Importance Of Living]]>
  </title>
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  <average_rating>4.05</average_rating>
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  <description>
    <![CDATA[Is it <em>really</em> a philosophy book if it has a section entitled &quot;The Importance of Loafing&quot;? Harvard scholar, Taoist, and modernist Lin Yutang wrote <em>The Importance of Living</em> 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.<p>  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. <em>--Rob Lightner</em> </p>]]>
  </description>
  <published>1937</published>
</book>

    <rating>4</rating>
  <votes>0</votes>
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  <date_added>Wed May 27 05:16:44 -0700 2009</date_added>
  <date_updated>Wed May 27 05:18:27 -0700 2009</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[I read this at age 15.  It started expanding the horizons of a boy in a grubby backward town in the 1950s.]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/57474231]]></url>
  <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/57474231]]></link>
</review>
      <review>
  <id>35386649</id>
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    <name><![CDATA[Jama]]></name>
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  <title>
    <![CDATA[The Importance Of Living]]>
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  <average_rating>4.05</average_rating>
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  <description>
    <![CDATA[Is it <em>really</em> a philosophy book if it has a section entitled &quot;The Importance of Loafing&quot;? Harvard scholar, Taoist, and modernist Lin Yutang wrote <em>The Importance of Living</em> 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.<p>  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. <em>--Rob Lightner</em> </p>]]>
  </description>
  <published>1937</published>
</book>

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  <recommended_by><![CDATA[]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at></read_at>
  <date_added>Wed Oct 15 11:52:10 -0700 2008</date_added>
  <date_updated>Wed Oct 15 12:04:41 -0700 2008</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[just started it... recommendation from my chinese friend to learn more about &quot;traditional personalities of chinese people&quot;<br/><br/>here's a quote:<br/>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...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/35386649">more...</a>]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/35386649]]></url>
  <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/35386649]]></link>
</review>
      <review>
  <id>23362864</id>
    <user>
    <id>938408</id>
    <name><![CDATA[elliot]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[Dallas, TX]]></location>
    <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/938408-elliot]]></link>
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  <text_reviews_count type="integer">17</text_reviews_count>
  <title>
    <![CDATA[The Importance Of Living]]>
  </title>
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  <link>http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/84352.The_Importance_Of_Living</link>
  <average_rating>4.05</average_rating>
  <ratings_count>65</ratings_count>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[Is it <em>really</em> a philosophy book if it has a section entitled &quot;The Importance of Loafing&quot;? Harvard scholar, Taoist, and modernist Lin Yutang wrote <em>The Importance of Living</em> 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.<p>  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. <em>--Rob Lightner</em> </p>]]>
  </description>
  <published>1937</published>
</book>

    <rating>4</rating>
  <votes>0</votes>
  <spoiler_flag>false</spoiler_flag>
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      </shelves>
  <recommended_for><![CDATA[philosophers, Chinese people]]></recommended_for>
  <recommended_by><![CDATA[I think this is Navin's book]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at>Sun Jul 01 00:00:00 -0700 2007</read_at>
  <date_added>Sat May 31 01:53:28 -0700 2008</date_added>
  <date_updated>Fri Feb 13 02:37:28 -0800 2009</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[A 1930s classic of the difference between &quot;Chinese&quot; philosophy (or rather the 'temperament') and the &quot;Christian.&quot; Yutang's ideal human is the Scamp, the footloose dreamer who can laugh at his own philosophizing.]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/23362864]]></url>
  <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/23362864]]></link>
</review>
      <review>
  <id>20975127</id>
    <user>
    <id>790941</id>
    <name><![CDATA[Ross]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[The United Kingdom]]></location>
    <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/790941-ross]]></link>
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  <title>
    <![CDATA[The Importance Of Living]]>
  </title>
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  <average_rating>4.05</average_rating>
  <ratings_count>65</ratings_count>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[Is it <em>really</em> a philosophy book if it has a section entitled &quot;The Importance of Loafing&quot;? Harvard scholar, Taoist, and modernist Lin Yutang wrote <em>The Importance of Living</em> 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.<p>  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. <em>--Rob Lightner</em> </p>]]>
  </description>
  <published>1937</published>
</book>

    <rating>4</rating>
  <votes>0</votes>
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  <read_at></read_at>
  <date_added>Fri Apr 25 10:48:05 -0700 2008</date_added>
  <date_updated>Fri Apr 25 10:51:15 -0700 2008</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[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 &amp; recomend it - sadly it took me too long to get here.]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/20975127]]></url>
  <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/20975127]]></link>
</review>
      <review>
  <id>30422</id>
    <user>
    <id>3155</id>
    <name><![CDATA[Edgar ]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[Chile]]></location>
    <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/3155-edgar-puch]]></link>
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  <title>
    <![CDATA[The Importance Of Living]]>
  </title>
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  <average_rating>4.05</average_rating>
  <ratings_count>65</ratings_count>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[Is it <em>really</em> a philosophy book if it has a section entitled &quot;The Importance of Loafing&quot;? Harvard scholar, Taoist, and modernist Lin Yutang wrote <em>The Importance of Living</em> 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.<p>  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. <em>--Rob Lightner</em> </p>]]>
  </description>
  <published>1937</published>
</book>

    <rating>4</rating>
  <votes>0</votes>
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  <recommended_for><![CDATA[]]></recommended_for>
  <recommended_by><![CDATA[]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at></read_at>
  <date_added>Fri Feb 09 12:42:44 -0800 2007</date_added>
  <date_updated>Fri Feb 09 12:48:25 -0800 2007</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[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]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/30422]]></url>
  <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/30422]]></link>
</review>
      <review>
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    <id>62081</id>
    <name><![CDATA[Clearly]]></name>
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  <title>
    <![CDATA[The Importance Of Living]]>
  </title>
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  <average_rating>4.05</average_rating>
  <ratings_count>65</ratings_count>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[Is it <em>really</em> a philosophy book if it has a section entitled &quot;The Importance of Loafing&quot;? Harvard scholar, Taoist, and modernist Lin Yutang wrote <em>The Importance of Living</em> 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.<p>  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. <em>--Rob Lightner</em> </p>]]>
  </description>
  <published>1937</published>
</book>

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    <body><![CDATA[According to Yutang, a wise person possesses a balance between idealism and pragmatism and between sensitivity and a sense of humor.    ]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2114319]]></url>
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    <![CDATA[The Importance Of Living]]>
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    <![CDATA[Is it <em>really</em> a philosophy book if it has a section entitled &quot;The Importance of Loafing&quot;? Harvard scholar, Taoist, and modernist Lin Yutang wrote <em>The Importance of Living</em> 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.<p>  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. <em>--Rob Lightner</em> </p>]]>
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    <body><![CDATA[best book i ever read...taught me to never trust someone who lives in a home without a dirty ashtray. ]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/31186250]]></url>
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    <![CDATA[The Importance Of Living]]>
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    <![CDATA[Is it <em>really</em> a philosophy book if it has a section entitled &quot;The Importance of Loafing&quot;? Harvard scholar, Taoist, and modernist Lin Yutang wrote <em>The Importance of Living</em> 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.<p>  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. <em>--Rob Lightner</em> </p>]]>
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    <body><![CDATA[The first half is thought provoking, the last half, wearisome and sexist.]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/24621817]]></url>
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    <![CDATA[The Importance Of Living]]>
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    <![CDATA[Is it <em>really</em> a philosophy book if it has a section entitled &quot;The Importance of Loafing&quot;? Harvard scholar, Taoist, and modernist Lin Yutang wrote <em>The Importance of Living</em> 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.<p>  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. <em>--Rob Lightner</em> </p>]]>
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    <body><![CDATA[Thought provoking,funny,entertaining.]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/12557772]]></url>
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    <![CDATA[The Importance Of Living]]>
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    <![CDATA[Is it <em>really</em> a philosophy book if it has a section entitled &quot;The Importance of Loafing&quot;? Harvard scholar, Taoist, and modernist Lin Yutang wrote <em>The Importance of Living</em> 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.<p>  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. <em>--Rob Lightner</em> </p>]]>
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    <body><![CDATA[a easy reading book]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/32001617]]></url>
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    <![CDATA[Is it <em>really</em> a philosophy book if it has a section entitled &quot;The Importance of Loafing&quot;? Harvard scholar, Taoist, and modernist Lin Yutang wrote <em>The Importance of Living</em> 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.<p>  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. <em>--Rob Lightner</em> </p>]]>
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    <![CDATA[Is it <em>really</em> a philosophy book if it has a section entitled &quot;The Importance of Loafing&quot;? Harvard scholar, Taoist, and modernist Lin Yutang wrote <em>The Importance of Living</em> 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.<p>  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. <em>--Rob Lightner</em> </p>]]>
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