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The Analects of Confucius (Norton Paperback) Norton Paperback Edition

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Confucius (Author)
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Confucius (Author),
Simon Leys (Translator)
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Simon Leys (Translator)
3.2 out of 5 stars 24 customer reviews
ISBN-13: 978-0393316995
ISBN-10: 0393316998
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Product Details

  • Series: Norton Paperback
  • Paperback: 256 pages
  • Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company; Norton Paperback edition (October 17, 1997)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0393316998
  • ISBN-13: 978-0393316995
  • Product Dimensions: 5.1 x 0.7 x 7.8 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (24 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #497,465 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Top Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 starsI'm not a Confucius nor a China expert, but ...
By C. E. Stevens VINE VOICE on August 24, 2000
Format: Paperback
I enjoyed this book quite a bit. Granted, I haven't read other translations of the Analects, so my rating is for the book itself more than as a comparison to other translations.

The fact that Confucius lived thousands of years ago is amazing to me ... the things he says apply to people throughout the ages, and they're full of wisdom. Having read the book, I find myself trying to be a bit more of a Confucian gentleman than I did before reading it. Confucius' teachings about humanity and being a gentleman span across the ages.

I'm very glad I read this book. The only reason I didn't give the book 5 stars is because I can't compare it to other translations, and it seems a little improper to rate a translated book without comparing it to other translations. But I personally found Leys' lines to be easily understandable and interesting, even if I have no way of ascertaining their accuracy with the original text.

**7/31/09 UPDATE** I was looking to buy a copy of the Analects for a friend when I came across my own review when trying to decide between versions ... which is a somewhat strange feeling! I'm still not an "expert", but having read several more Chinese classics in the meantime, including a few versions of the Analects, I thought I would update this review. I think the Leys translation is a very good introduction to the Analects for someone who is looking for a starting point in Confucian thought. The translation is a little bit loose but flows well in English, the introduction gives a good amount of context without going overboard, and the notes are nicely situated at the end to prevent clutter. This makes it a good version for the Confucius novice, a comment I mean in earnest and not a backhanded compliment.Read more ›
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3.0 out of 5 starsAn anthology
By Christopher Tricarick on September 1, 2009
Format: Paperback
This book is delightful, irritating, and utterly sui generis; the personality of its author is on every page. As a translation it is sometimes inspired--Leys has a knack for avoiding the very un-Chinese verbiage with which Lau and, sometimes, the generally superior Dawson clutter their lines. But it cannot be relied upon as a translation. In the first book the words "Rich but loving ritual" become "Rich but considerate." Ritual (li) is one of the great themes of the Analects and it is either dishonest or shockingly clumsy to conceal its key presence in this important passage. At other times we descend from translation to mere paraphrase: "a state of a thousand chariots" becomes "a medium-sized state". I often found myself wishing that Leys had taken to heart Dawson's words: "I do feel that one should get as close to the original as possible....I do not think that it is entirely virtuous to produce a version which reads as if it were written at the end of the twentieth century."

The notes, to the degree that they comment on the text itself or on the translation choices, are illuminating only for someone who has read other translations and has something to compare them to. But what quickly becomes apparent is that, under the guise of a translation with notes, what we have here is something like an anthology. Borges, Pascal, Stendhal, C. S. Lewis, Marcus Aurelius, Nietzsche, even Pancho Villa and many others are given long and full quotes. Sometimes they shed light on the original. Sometimes there is only a tangential relationship; one gets the impression that Leys was simply reminded of something and decided to share it, as in a conversation. They are always very interesting: this is the delight of the book.Read more ›
2 Comments 17 people found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No Sending feedback...
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1.0 out of 5 starsAmazon is again misleading
By John R. Foster on November 22, 2012
Format: Kindle Edition
The reviews here are for the Simon Leys' translation and notes. The Kindle version is a completely different translation, by James Legge. And there are no notes.
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4.0 out of 5 starsServant Leadership Chinese Style!
By Keith E. Webb VINE VOICE on December 15, 2005
Format: Paperback
The importance of the historical use and misuse of the teaching of Confucius throughout the centuries in China can hardly be understated. While Confucian thought was on the outs with Communist intellectuals, others such as Lee Kwan Yew of Singapore point to Confucius' principles as the secret to the Asian economic tigers' success. Leys, the translator of this volume, notes that Chinese familiarity and historical misuse of Confucius prejudices many, but taken without these prejudices, Confucius is thoroughly modern in his application today.

Confucius is known for being a great teacher, but it was politics and government that was his passion. Today, Confucius is a good source for leadership philosophy. Far from promoting authoritarian despotism, the teachings of Confucius point to a higher calling of leadership through service, character development, and self-abandonment - all sorely lacking in Chinese leadership today.

To learn was Confucius' calling. He said he did not have much innate knowledge and studied literature and history to learn (6.27). The responsibility of learning was on the learner not the teacher: "I enlighten only the enthusiastic; I guide only the fervent. After I have lifted up one corner of a question, if the student cannot discover the other three, I do not repeat" (7.8). While that may sound harsh, Confucius practiced what he preached. "Put me in the company of any two people at random-they will invariably have something to teach me. I can take their qualities as a model and their defects as a warning" (7.22).

Learning was to be put into practice; this showed integrity. The first verse of the Analects says, "To learn something new and then to put it into practice at the right time: is this not a joy?" (1.1).Read more ›
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

1.0 out of 5 starsWrong Book

This is not the full book as I thought. It is an adaptation. Don't waste your money like I did.

Published 6 months ago by Kristina
3.0 out of 5 starsThree Stars

was a gift

Published 14 months ago by J. Brathwaite
5.0 out of 5 starsFive Stars

Perfecto. Gracias!

Published 17 months ago by Jorge
4.0 out of 5 starsFour Stars

good

Published 18 months ago by Siyi Wang
2.0 out of 5 starsneeded for school

Super boring!!! This book is incredibly hard to follow and really teaches it reader nothing. There is no plot and it seems to just ramble on and on. Only read it if you have to!

Published on January 2, 2014 by Zachary B. Booth
5.0 out of 5 starsBest entree into China available

Confucius stands at the start of Chinese culture as the seminal figure. Australian Translator Simon Leys brings Kung into dialog with European culture in the witty and essayistic... Read more

Published on February 4, 2013 by Andy K
2.0 out of 5 starsBook is Missing Pages 33-40

I received this book yesterday as it is required reading for a college course I'm taking. I just realized that pages 33-40 are missing. Read more

Published on May 20, 2011 by JamesDuell
3.0 out of 5 starsafter years of .....

well i bought this book back in college I was getting around to see what i have not review and i can tell you this book was horrible (i got an A in my class) but the book is very... Read more

Published on March 31, 2011 by Mia-Lucy
5.0 out of 5 starsGreat translation!

The biggest thing with this translation is the readability factor. Simon Leys did a good job putting it in a way that was easy to read and understand. Read more

Published on April 8, 2010 by thanson02
4.0 out of 5 starsA look at Confucius

Confucius was born in approximately 551 B.C. Considered by many as a master; he was a teacher and political advisor in pre-imperial China. He lived in a time of transition. Read more

Published on December 10, 2009 by Walter Zapotoczny

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