The Importance of Living - Hardcover

Yutang, Lin

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0688147178 ISBN 13: 9780688147174

Publisher: William Morrow, 1996

Synopsis

First published in 1937, this classic guide to life shares the author's witty and irreverent philosophy of living life to the fullest, in a guide that prescribes inaction as much as action, a dose of humor, and a thorough enjoyment of one's existence.

About this title

Review:

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

About the Author:

LIN YUTANG was born in 1895 to a mission family and became one of the best-known Chinese scholars and writers.

About this edition

• Publisher: William Morrow
• Publication date: 1996
• ISBN 10: 0688147178
• ISBN 13: 9780688147174
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 462