Review of Mencius In Modern Perspectives
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Ifionayi Onosetale
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Review of Mencius In Modern Perspectives
[Following is a volunteer review of "Mencius In Modern Perspectives" by Raymond K. Li.]
This book by Raymond K. Li is a critical investigation into what Mencius, one of the most influential philosophers of Confucianism, left in writing. The book sets Mencius against the backdrop of tumultuous China during the period of the Warring States. Careful exploration into his contribution to Confucianism is made with regard to themes such as self-cultivation, morality, and governance. The incorporation of contemporary insights in this book makes Mencius's philosophy quite relevant today.
There is a strong emphasis on self-cultivation that I get to like about this book. It delves deep into Mencius's perception of everyone's goodness. He had lessons about how one should cultivate virtues like compassion, respect, and propriety to nourish their inherent goodness. This statement encourages us to improve our character rather than just accepting, "That's how I am, and it's set in stone."
To me, the self-cultivation bits of this book seem to have real advice in understandable ways and good examples that can be used easily in daily life. Picking up this Mencius In Modern Perspectives taught me that personal growth is an endless process, and by focusing on our inner virtues, we can lead more meaningful lives. The book was exceptionally well-edited and error-free.
This book does not lack clarity, and the language is not too difficult to understand. There is nothing I could dislike about the book; instead, Raymond K. Li has brilliantly rendered the teachings of Mencius into simple, clear English while maintaining the underlying richness and subtlety. This makes the book approachable to readers new to Confucian philosophy. Key terms, such as Ren and Yi, are explained clearly and in an approachable style so that the power of Mencius' thinking is brought out without confusion.
I rated this book a full 5 out of 5 stars. The reason for this lies in the fact that this book actually succeeds where all the other books on ancient philosophies fail: this book convincingly translates those very ancient theories into practical pieces of wisdom applied to modern livelihoods. The emphasis on self-cultivation and the innate good nature of people is inspiring. It is also actionable because it provides the reader with a framework from which to begin improving their daily lives. It gets this high rating from me because of the clarity of its language and the author's ability to make those complex ideas accessible. I would recommend it to readers who are interested in philosophy, personal development, or Chinese culture.
******
Mencius In Modern Perspectives
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
This book by Raymond K. Li is a critical investigation into what Mencius, one of the most influential philosophers of Confucianism, left in writing. The book sets Mencius against the backdrop of tumultuous China during the period of the Warring States. Careful exploration into his contribution to Confucianism is made with regard to themes such as self-cultivation, morality, and governance. The incorporation of contemporary insights in this book makes Mencius's philosophy quite relevant today.
There is a strong emphasis on self-cultivation that I get to like about this book. It delves deep into Mencius's perception of everyone's goodness. He had lessons about how one should cultivate virtues like compassion, respect, and propriety to nourish their inherent goodness. This statement encourages us to improve our character rather than just accepting, "That's how I am, and it's set in stone."
To me, the self-cultivation bits of this book seem to have real advice in understandable ways and good examples that can be used easily in daily life. Picking up this Mencius In Modern Perspectives taught me that personal growth is an endless process, and by focusing on our inner virtues, we can lead more meaningful lives. The book was exceptionally well-edited and error-free.
This book does not lack clarity, and the language is not too difficult to understand. There is nothing I could dislike about the book; instead, Raymond K. Li has brilliantly rendered the teachings of Mencius into simple, clear English while maintaining the underlying richness and subtlety. This makes the book approachable to readers new to Confucian philosophy. Key terms, such as Ren and Yi, are explained clearly and in an approachable style so that the power of Mencius' thinking is brought out without confusion.
I rated this book a full 5 out of 5 stars. The reason for this lies in the fact that this book actually succeeds where all the other books on ancient philosophies fail: this book convincingly translates those very ancient theories into practical pieces of wisdom applied to modern livelihoods. The emphasis on self-cultivation and the innate good nature of people is inspiring. It is also actionable because it provides the reader with a framework from which to begin improving their daily lives. It gets this high rating from me because of the clarity of its language and the author's ability to make those complex ideas accessible. I would recommend it to readers who are interested in philosophy, personal development, or Chinese culture.
******
Mencius In Modern Perspectives
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Latest Review: Edwin Steelside Searching out the devil by Bradford Bennett
