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.
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Amazon.com 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
From Library Journal
Published in 1937, this was one of the original "don't worry, be happy" books. The Chinese philosopher here expounds on the mindset people need to develop in order to have a more successful and peaceful life.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
92 of 97 people found the following review helpful
By M. Skousen
Format:Paperback
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 [...] 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
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 [...] 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
50 of 51 people found the following review helpful
By Feral Puma
Format:Paperback
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!!!
64 of 68 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
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.
25 of 25 people found the following review helpful
By Hakuyu
Format:Paperback
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.... Read more ›
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.... Read more ›
Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
Was ok
Lin Yutang was no doubt an interesting fellow, but very long winded. After reading Tom Hodgekinsons books about idleness and freedom, I was interested in this book because it was... Read more
Published 3 months ago by JMaster814
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Art of Leaving Things Undone
I regard the discovery of one's favorite author as the most critical event in one's intellectual development. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Steve Malone
5.0 out of 5 stars
Satisfaction
Found that this book is much better than described. It should be read by everyone. It is very informative and thought provoking
Published 5 months ago by yardie man
4.0 out of 5 stars
Curl up on your bed and read.
This is a humorous and delightful read. Written from a Chinese Taoist perspective, Lin Yutang regaled us with a leisurely look at life, dubbed the philosophy of loafing. Read more
Published 14 months ago by Donner C. S. Tan
5.0 out of 5 stars
A remarkable book of philosophy.
This is an amazing book. Written in 1939, its philosophy and view of life are most helpful to those of us tossed by the political and religious pains of our time. Read more
Published 23 months ago by Jerry D. Benjamin
2.0 out of 5 stars
Not a Favorite here...
I felt the need to leave an alternate opinion quickie-review as I love older chinese writing (all of Cao Xueqin, Pu Songling, Lu Xun, The Monkey stories, chinese folktales, myths,... Read more
Published on May 9, 2011 by Abigail Stone
5.0 out of 5 stars
Book; Importance of Living
The book was as if new, absolutely thrilled!
The book teaches one, in the ancient Chinese way, how to uncomplicate ones life and thoughts and illustrates how it was done by... Read more
The book teaches one, in the ancient Chinese way, how to uncomplicate ones life and thoughts and illustrates how it was done by... Read more
Published on February 22, 2011 by SS
5.0 out of 5 stars
One of the great works of all time
Lin Yutang's book is alternately hilarious, thought-provoking, spine-tingling, sensible and illusion shattering, reminding us, as a representative of the oldest civilization in the... Read more
Published on February 13, 2011 by Daniel O. Strongin
5.0 out of 5 stars
A truly inspiring and delightful book
Lin Yutang made all us westerners the service of putting a broad view of the traditional Chinese life philosophy in an accessible manner. Read more
Published on July 17, 2010 by cincosauces
5.0 out of 5 stars
A TRULY GREAT INSIGHT INTO LIVING A GOOD LIFE
If your bookshelf can take the weight, get a hardbound edition circa the 1930's. This is the kind
of book you'll want to revisit again and again; just open and read anything... Read more
of book you'll want to revisit again and again; just open and read anything... Read more
Published on July 16, 2010 by Roy Clark
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