Confucius in 90 Minutes (Philosophers in 90 Minutes) (Hardcover)

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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Paul Strathern's little book on Confucius is one of the most cursory in his series of "90-Minute" texts on the great philosophers of history--but then, there really isn't that much known about Confucius's life that Strathern could discuss. Circumstances being what they are, we get a brief biographical sketch and a rough outline of the Chinese sage's principles, as well as a useful guide to the differences between Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism. But Confucius in 90 Minutes is probably best left to the Strathern completists; those seeking an introduction to Confucianism might more profitably peruse Confucius Speaks. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Review

"A new-millenium version of Cliffs Notes...Breezy, chatty, and to the point. Perfect for those hungry for literature." -- Nancy Sundstrom, ForeWord

A godsend in this era of the short attention span. -- Daryl Royster Alexander, New York Times

I cannot think of a better way to introduce oneself and one's friends to Western civilization. -- Katherine A. Powers, Boston Globe

Well-written, clear and informed, they have a breezy wit about them...I find them hard to stop reading. -- Richard Bernstein, New York Times

Witty, illuminating, and blessedly concise. -- Jim Holt, Wall Street Journal

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 89 pages
• Publisher: Ivan R. Dee, Publisher (April 25, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1566632374
• ISBN-13: 978-1566632379
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.2 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #3,449,241 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Nice, brief book, January 23, 2002

By	From_Plano_TX "a_customer_from_plano" (Plano, TX USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Confucius in 90 Minutes (Philosophers in 90 Minutes) (Paperback)

I was very interested in reading more about Confucius after reading "Socrates, Buddha, Confucius, Jesus" by Karl Jaspers. Strathern's brief book reinforced some of what Jaspers said, but with much easier language. This book won't tell you a lot about Confucius and his teachings, but will let you know if you want to do any more reading. I liked his recommendation of Arthur Waley's translation of "The Analects." I do wish he had given just a little more recommended reading. He didn't suggest "The Wisdom of Confucius" by Lin Yutang, but I recommend it. This "90 minute" book is a light, quick read, which suited me at the time. Now I want to read more about Confucius (the Lin Yutang book). I like the 90 minute series and intend to read more of these volumes. Modern business just doesn't give you the luxury of time to read about philosophy. So for authors that I'm not sure I want to spend much time on, the 90 minute series is great. Strathern is a clever man. He didn't just write a book. He created a product line with a recognizable "90 minute" brand label!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A good beginning, March 22, 2005

By	Shalom Freedman "Shalom Freedman" (Jerusalem,Israel) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)

This review is from: Confucius in 90 Minutes (Philosophers in 90 Minutes) (Paperback)

Before Mao there was Confucius, and probably after Mao there will be Confucius. He is the central figure in Chinese social and political thought, and his prescriptions have been the rule - of -life among China's ruling bureaucracies for hundreds of years. In his small work Paul Strathern humorously chronicles the efforts of Confucius to provide an ethic of decency for a feudal world living through troubled times. The wisdom of Confucius is not meant to save the individual soul but rather to enable society to function decently. Confucius in his own life, Strathern makes clear was not exactly the model of success. And he died disappointed and far from the political office he would have liked to have held. But he left a legacy which Chinese civilization as a whole would adopt.
This work gives an excellent outline of Confucius life and work. It is a good beginning for anyone who wishes to explore the subject in greater depth.

5.0 out of 5 stars Ends any confusion about Confucius, November 5, 2009

By	Lawrence Kassan - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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This review is from: Confucius in 90 Minutes (Philosophers in 90 Minutes) (Paperback)

An excellent overview of the man, his times, and his philosophy. A joy to read and experience.