Customer Reviews

The Importance of Living

5 star:		(27)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Lin Yutang is endlessly fascinating, and his book of personal philosophy, "The Importance of Living," is a classic, especially his listing of the three American vices (gee, I thought they were virtues!), his unique perspective on loafing, smoking, vacationing, and women in conversation. I've read it several times and have spoken on Lin, and have even appeared as Lin Yutang one time.

But the Little, Brown "reprint" edition is a travesty of cheapness....a white cover and no running heads. Why do American publishers cut corners? It's an insult to the author and the reader. I recommend you avoid the Little Brown edition and buy the original 1937 edition, published by John Day Co., or if you want a new alternative edition in quality paperback, buy the recently published edition in Singapore by Cultured Lotus, available from http://www.selectbooks.com.sg. The original and the Singapore copies have beautiful Chinese paintings on the cover and delightful running heads.

Remember, "The busy man is never wise, and the wise man is never busy." -- Lin Yutang

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!!!

I bought a copy of this book (the original 1937 edition) in a secondhand book store in the 1970s for the princely sum of $1.00. Through countless moves since then I have somehow managed to retain this book, which is surprising since I have lost or given away so many books, almost all of which cost me much more money than this one did. I can honestly say it was the most profitable dollar I ever spent. This is a wonderful book -- rambling at times, it is true -- but it contains many gems. Yutang is a superb writer and his quote of Chuangtse (as he spells the name of the famous Chinese philosopher) is classic: "Spit forth intelligence." This, along with William Strunk's famous dictum "Omit needless words," is a phrase every writer should live by.

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.

I am actually disapointed to find this book in wide circulation. A friend had introduced me to an old copy of 'The importance of Living' on the balcony of a mountain home in the Blue mountains, Sydney, Australia. The edition he showed me resembled a holy text, with its simple red cover and black insignia-character. On opening the cover of Yutang's book, the reader must peruse the contents. This is an intriguing read in itself. Chapters such as 'on having strong muscles' and the classics 'on tea and friendship' and 'on Luck' illustrate Yutang's unorthodox approach to life and philosophy. After reading Yutang, after immersing myself in his slow and simple prose style, I decided, as I am sure many before me have, to live my life by his recommendations, to treat sleep, tea, friendship and leisure as Yutang himself would. So profound was my reaction to 'The importance of living', that I began to reproduce selections of text on my computer. I printed sections describing firecrackers and stuck them beside the front door. I 'blu-tacked' a section about the merits of lying sideways in bed just above my pillow. Soon the house was littered by the floating philosophy of Lin Yutang. I lived in that house for nearly one year. In that time, Yutang philosophy carried me through abject poverty. There is also reason to believe that my adopted Yutangisms were a major factor in the genesis of a whirl-wind and ultimately life-long relationship. Basically, read Yutang's wise words on life, adopt or reject his ideas after long, easy, tea-drenched contemplation. I gaurantee you will not emerge unchanged.

This is a true modern classic (to those who consider 1937 modern anyway). Lin Yutang offers a meandering, informal look at life, happiness, the differences between Eastern and Western cultures, the enjoyment of food and many other things. What I like best about this book is not what it argues for or advocates (Yutang is about as far from an academic philosopher as you can get) but the joy and wisdom he injects into every paragraph. He is often considered a Chinese thinker, but this is only partially true. His very broad studies and experiences make him a true cosmopolitan, the sort it is hard to find today. The Importance of Living is really a call to appreciate the earthly pleasures of life and not take so seriously the overrated follies of modern civilization. You don't have to completely agree with his views to appreciate his style. The ideal life for Lin Yutang is that of a lazy, wandering Taoist scholar. Not a humorless ascetic, but someone who approaches life with a sense of humor and an ability to enjoy the small pleasures. Yutang identifies himself as a hedonist (later in life he became Christian, but that's another story). There are many self help and new age books out today that tell you how to live a simpler, more spiritual life. This book tells you the same thing in a way that is far wittier and less sanctimonious.

I first became aware of this great book when I found an old copy in my Father's library, when I was around age 14. Though it was not exactly an "exciting" read for a boy of 14, I found some of the headings intriguing..."On Having a Stomach; On Having Strong Muscles; On Playful Curiosity; Celibacy A Freak of Civilization ( of course as a 14 year boy old I HAD to read that one!), Inhumanity of Western Dress... and many others.

Perhaps it was partly in response to this book, that I developed an interest in Chinese culture which has now spanned over 40 years.

This book gets the reader back to the very basics of human life--food, friendship, tea, smoking (a bit controversial nowadays), growing old. It is all about CHERISHING EACH PASSING MOMENT and learning to instill each moment of life with quality and to live it artfully.

I was so happy to find this book reprinted. It is not necessarily the kind of book one must read all at once, but a book to pick up on a rainy day, and just savor a few pages--while drinking a fine cup of tea and awaiting a visit from a special friend.

It's one of thoe rare books that may well become a part of you and of each moment of your life.

I have a soft spot for this book because I recently learned that this was my grandfather's favourite book ever. And as he was born in 1900, was a silent man and left us a huge library, I simply had to read this book to see what it was about.

Mr. Yutang is definitely a nice person. It would have been a pleasure to have some conversation with him.

I know that some of his beliefs can seem quite strange, in this crazy 21st. century days we are living, but in a certain way I believe he embodies the Chinese tradition of letting things pass instead of fighting with them.

This book has some funny passages, such as the one where he describes his passion for walking in the rain and how he later would lie to explain to people why he was all wet...

It certainly packs a different approach to life and it is interesting to learn his opinions about our western life styles. And having lived in America, he never condemns any of it, but simply points some absurds and curiosities that couldn't be easily accepted by a chinese.

There is certainly some to be learned from his culture of appreciation and his delightful essays about many aspects of our lives that would have simply passed unnoticed otherwise.

I actually found this book whilst browsing the shelves in a thrift shop in a village in England. I liked the look of the title and it cost me the princely sum of 50 pence sterling. What a find - Yutang's words of wisdom often comfort when the world seems like its turning upside down. This book has been on many of my travels, I often recommend it to friends hoping they'll get as much out of the prose as I did. In a Global World that seems to be moving ever faster - its a pleasure to take time off, relax and philosophize with the Author. This book is never far from hand, I often re-read chapters when in need of inspiration. Kick of the shackles, open up the pages, spark one up and spend some time alone - you'll be a wiser and more tolerant human being for having read this book.

I found Lin Yutang's writings many years ago. The book gives me a peaceful feeling and leads me back to the importance of simple living. I enjoy the author's views on aging especially in a society where aging is not often honored. I have quoted Lin Yutang often when working with elderly people who sometimes feel that they are forgotten.