The Middle Way: Finding Happiness in a World of Extremes [Hardcover]

Lou Marinoff PhD (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 2007

Today, our global village is filled with strife, caused primarily by extremists of every kind, all unwilling to compromise. But there is a better way—a middle way—where we might discover common ground for peace, both personally and universally. Lou Marinoff, professor of philosophy and author of Plato, not Prozac, reveals the ABCs of finding that spiritually rich path: Aristotle, Buddha, and Confucius. Each of these wise men knew that extremism destroys happiness, health and harmony, and shared the supremely important notion that the main purpose of our existence is to lead a good life, here and now. In three sections, Marinoff examines the contemporary world and shows how the “Middle Way” provides solutions to our most pressing problems. Part One looks at civilizational dynamics that drive both cooperation and conflict across borders, and introduces each of the ABCs. The second segment focuses on some notorious extremes—including political polarization, and simmering religious, tribal, gender, cultural, and economic divides—and how the ABCs can reconcile them. And the third, final section enlightens us on how we all can apply the ABCs to the betterment of our own lives and humanity as a whole. A short list of recommended readings accompanies each chapter, along with illustrations, maps, and eye-opening charts.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Buddha preached the Middle Way, advising individuals to avoid the extremes of behavior and thought: if one engages with tolerance and moderation, one will find enlightenment. Marinoff, a philosophical counselor and Buddhist practitioner, teaches that the ABCs of Aristotle, Buddha and Confucius can pave the way not just to happiness but to finding balance in an increasingly globalized world. The book starts strong, with five chapters relating these ABCs to the individual. But the second part, which extends the conceit to dealing with drugs, poverty, terrorism and other global problems, is less successful. Marinoff's inclination toward rant over reason may polarize readers rather than driving them toward the prescribed balance and thoughtfulness. For example, he writes, Whenever some inane American billboard or subway advertisement asks me, 'Is your child on drugs?' I sometimes think, 'I sure as hell hope so.' Good drugs may be his best chance of getting off all the bad drugs... the Ritalin... the televangelism... and the Starbucks coffee. Though Marinoff says, I too have finally been driven to an extreme—the extreme center. It's peaceful here, and quiet, his book is anything but quiet. Readers may wish for more solutions, indeed more of the Middle Way. (Oct.)
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Product Details

• Hardcover: 640 pages
• Publisher: Sterling; First Edition edition (October 1, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1402743440
• ISBN-13: 978-1402743443
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6.4 x 1.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #796,404 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 20 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars The Right Side of Middle January 27, 2008

By JMB

Format:Hardcover

Three disclosures before I begin this review: First, I could not finish this book in its entirety; rather I skimmed the last half in hopes finding merit that had been missing since page one hundred sixty-three. Secondly, it has been approximately twenty years since I spent any time in the American university system. Lastly, I have never been to Canada.
Dr. Marinoff makes his first stumble with the subtitle of the book, Finding Happiness in a World of Extremes. A better choice might have been 640 Pages of Paranoia Driven Anti-Post Modernisms. What starts out as a fascinating treatise on the links between Buddhism, Taoism and Aristotelian philosophies rapidly devolves into one long rant about the detrimental effects of post modernism on Western society.
A self proclaimed "refugee from Canadian totalitarianism", Marinoff characterizes himself as "part of the solution, not part of the problem" of "commies ... running America's universities". For my part, I can't remember a single communist in any of my university classes, and of the several Canadians I consider friends, none have ever uttered the phrase "Canadian Totalitarianism" in my presence.
Not that the left is without its prejudices to be sure, but there is simply too much focus on it in this book.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Good, But Not Extremely Good January 9, 2009

By Garner

Format:Hardcover

I made it all the way through this book. Enjoyed it for the most part, but I will admit that I'm predisposed to agree with any book that critiques the various polarizations that seem to imminently threaten our society.

In a key chapter on intellectual extremes, the extreme poles that Marinoff identifies are the reactionary religous right vs. what he terms the post-modern, deconstructed, collectivist radical left. In terms of rhetorical emphasis, he clearly feels that the extreme left is currently the greater threat to our society. And speaking from the middle-left of the American political road, I think he makes a pretty good case. Not that I want the Bible rammed up my statutes, but the radical left is firmly entrenched in American intelligentsia, where it wields the power to undermine liberal education, suppress critical thinking and open discourse, and subvert moderately progressive causes to a degree well beyond Christian fundamentalism's reach.

One word of criticism and caution. In parts of the book, Marinoff's arguments leans very heavily on sociobiology, the notion that behavior differences, e.g. between the sexes, can be accounted for physiologically, as by-products of evolution. While many of the theories promulgated by sociobiologists resonate with prevailing folk wisdom, they remain controversial in the academic community for good reasons. As counterpoint, read "Evolution of the Mind: 4 Fallacies of Psychology" in the December, 2008 issue of Scientific American [..]

It's obvious that Marinoff writes with some biases (the Middle Way is an ideal, after all), but most of the chapters seem reasonably balanced and provoke rather than suppress thought. (Disclaimer: I don't know enough about Middle East politics or history to judge the merits of that chapter....) I enjoyed the chapter on geometry, which I take to be nothing more than a playful digression before delving into weighty and serious matters. And I agree with other reviewers here that the breadth of subject matter is impressive and Marinoff's source material provides rich opportunities for further reading. Marinoff's style can get a bit bombastic when it comes to touting the "Middle Way," but he can also be an engaging, down-to-earth writer on many subjects.

Overall, three stars, plus a sympathy star for tackling a lot of difficult subjects with erudition and the best of humanistic intentions. Too bad the extremists who would get the most out of reading this book probably never will. Read more ›

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Buddha's Middle Way Devolves into a Muddle on Globalization February 14, 2009

By Gary Reiner

Format:Hardcover

What starts out great as a text which compares the ABC's -- Aristotle, Buddha, and Confucius -- and how they relate to Buddha's Middle Way, devolves into a muddled presentation of globalization and various kinds of random examples of extremism. That might be okay, but over 2/3 of the book pertains to the examples of extremism, with little reference to Buddha's Middle Way.

The first 166 pages of the 596 page tome (about the first 1/3 of the text) read quickly and seem like a tightly thought out presentation of: 1) Buddha and the roots of the Middle Way in the world of Aristotle and Confucius; 2) a succinct comparison of Hellenic, Abrahamic, Vedic, and Sinic civilizations; and, 3) a comparison of Indian, East Asian, Islamic, and Western civilizations' cultural DNA and the Core Formula (e.g. Indian: all Gods, all books, all prophets; East Asian: no Gods, no books, no prophets; Islamic: one God, one book, one prophet; Western: any Gods, any books, any prophets). This portion of the book is quite intriguing and draws the reader in to digest the well-presented material.

After page 166, however, the book takes on a different, non-spiritual, scatter-brained, hard to pin down, personality. This dual presentation is hard to follow at times and tends to be a victim of repetative digressions.

4.0 out of 5 stars Ineresting May 3, 2013

By Claycreekbob

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

The book came in great condition, and promptly. I had taken this book out of our local library, and wanted to have it for my purusal without return problems.

2.0 out of 5 stars Starts ok, then it dissolves into blah, blah, blah March 24, 2013

By Sam Thorpe

Format:Hardcover

The first few chapters are interesting. I found the chapter 5 on geometry way more interesting than geometry i took in high school.
But then it starts getting boring and some of it does not seem in the middle at all but more of the same old patriarchal right wing conservative dogma. By chapter 9 i was insulted that i had wasted this much time on the book. Didn't read much further.
I am inspired to read more Aristotle & Confucius. But not more of Lou Marinoff.

2.0 out of 5 stars A good overview but . . . . December 9, 2012

By John S.Olson

Format:Hardcover

The explanation of Buddhism was cogent and well put together. I have practiced many years in this tradition, and it is an excellent history. I also enjoyed the refresher on Aristotle's teachings on living the virtuous life, and wished for more treatment on Confucious. I ultimately stopped reading after these histories. The book began to drag, was too much of a rant on subjects which seemed outside the expertise of the writer. I also was put off by the constance reliance on the pronouncements of Daisuku Ikeda, the controversial leader of the international branch of Soka. In these instances the author seemed to step outside his role as a professor of philosophy, and into the role of mentee, or devotee. Nevertheless, I recommend the opening chapters to anyone interested in an historical overview of the teachings and importance to the East and the West of Aristotle, the Buddha, and Confucious. We all can benefit by making their teachings part of our daily life.