Reviews
I happened to pass by this book at a bookstore a few months ago, but it caught my eye, and I stood there holding it for quite a while. I am glad to have acquired it before the year ends. You might think that dealing with Eastern philosophy from a Western perspective would be unfamiliar, but it is surprisingly easy to read!
Eastern philosophy by Michael Puett, a popular lecturer at Harvard University, has been published as a book. The author, praised for his "outstanding lectures that make students think for themselves," is described as kind, humble, dedicated to the development of his students, and someone who puts his teachings into practice 100%. While there are many professors at universities, it is difficult to find someone who fully implements the theories they advocate. Perhaps the secret to the lecture's
Following Michael Sandel's *Justice: What Is the Right Thing to Do?*, the most popular lecture at Harvard, another popular course has been published as a book. It is titled *The Path: An Innovative Way of Thinking About the World*. While *Justice: What Is the Right Thing to Do?* explores questions regarding justice and philosophy, *The Path* discusses Eastern philosophy. The author, Michael Puett, is a professor of Chinese history at Harvard University. His lectures are highly regarded as
Harvard's most popular lecture, surpassing *Justice: What Is It?*. This phrase on the yellow book band was enough to ignite an intense desire for this book. The subtitle, "Innovative Thinking on the World," stimulated my interest and curiosity even more than the title, "The Path." Thus, I obtained the book and began reading. Professor Michael Puett, a professor of Chinese history at Harvard University and recipient of the "Harvard University Outstanding Teaching Award" in 2013, has published
This book was co-authored by a professor of Chinese history at Harvard University and a scholar who earned a Ph.D. in East Asian history from the same institution. It struck me as unique that a Western professor, rather than an Asian, is teaching Chinese history to students at Harvard, a top-tier Western university, and receiving acclaim for his outstanding lectures. The book introduces the teachings of Chinese philosophers from 2,000 years ago, including Confucius, Mencius, Laozi, Zhuangzi,
During my school days, I always found ethics classes boring. This was because I believed that the values pursued by ancient sages were entirely different from those of the 21st century, and that the world they lived in was completely different from the world I live in now. This mindset led me to avoid philosophy and the humanities as well. However, as I grew older and entered society, the relationships and values formed within the unique environment of school began to shift. As my awareness and
Since *Justice: What Is It?*, books based on Harvard lectures have been appearing frequently. This book is also a lecture by a professor who won the "Harvard Outstanding Professor Award." So, what is the subject of this book? It is "Eastern Philosophy." Since the mainstream of Eastern philosophy is Chinese philosophy, and having grown up in a country heavily influenced by China, Eastern philosophy is not unfamiliar to us. Even though it is Harvard University, the mention of Eastern philosophy
Confucian culture and thought still hold deep root in our society. It would not be an exaggeration to say that our society is even more strongly imbued with Confucian character than China, the birthplace of Confucianism. While it is true that Confucianism and many other Chinese philosophies have profoundly influenced our culture and thought systems, it seems equally true that we do not fully understand these ideas accurately or deeply. I feel that due to these inaccurate and superficially
Eastern philosophy, represented by Confucius, Mencius, Laozi, Zhuangzi, and Xunzi, initially feels heavy and difficult, as if it is far removed from everyday life. At least, that is the case for me. To start with the conclusion, I am glad that there is a book that explains Eastern philosophy so easily and clearly. As I read through the beginning, this book shattered those preconceptions I had held. It even made me want to quickly take out and read the series of books in the field of Eastern
While we occasionally have the opportunity to study Western philosophy, such as that of Socrates and Nietzsche, opportunities to learn about Eastern philosophy—including Confucius, Mencius, and Laozi—are rare. Moreover, for those of us unfamiliar with Chinese characters, the content often feels incredibly difficult. However, surprisingly, Michael Puett, a professor of Chinese history at Harvard University, has delivered lectures that make these complex Eastern philosophical concepts easy to
Michael Puet et al.: The Path
*The Path* is a book that compiles the lectures on Eastern philosophy by Professor Michael Puett, a recipient of Harvard’s top teaching award. Drawing on the philosophies of ancient Eastern philosophers to offer the most realistic and unconventional answers to the profound question, "How can one live a good life?", this lecture captivated Harvard in an instant, earning the reputation of being an "outstanding lecture that makes one think for oneself." Citing the teachings of philosophers on various topics ranging from decision-making to human relationships, Michael Puett points out the illusions of the life we have pursued and discusses the possibilities and changes that begin in the most trivial aspects of daily life. He argues that standards accepted as integral parts of life—such as "self-discovery," "goals and plans," and "execution"—are not the path to success and happiness. Instead, he suggests initiating change using everyday situations as examples, such as "what career and workplace to choose" or "how to navigate conversations with family members with whom one only clashes." He asserts that if we change the beliefs we have long regarded as truth, we will come to recognize new possibilities for a good life. He emphasizes the fact that "once you realize this, it is impossible to return to the same lifestyle as before." Finally, the author criticizes how history has devalued the worth of Eastern philosophy and the remarkable achievements of traditional society, and reveals the true value of Eastern traditional society—which was distorted alongside Europe's development as it began to evolve by adopting the remarkable systems of ancient societies. Furthermore, the author emphasizes once again that the answers to the practical concerns we face today were already found in Eastern philosophy 2,000 years ago.
Korean title: 더 패스(The Path)
Korean author: 마이클 푸엣 외
Korean publisher: 김영사
ISBN-13: 9788934976080
Reviews
I happened to pass by this book at a bookstore a few months ago, but it caught my eye, and I stood there holding it for quite a while. I am glad to have acquired it before the year ends. You might think that dealing with Eastern philosophy from a Western perspective would be unfamiliar, but it is surprisingly easy to read!
Eastern philosophy by Michael Puett, a popular lecturer at Harvard University, has been published as a book. The author, praised for his "outstanding lectures that make students think for themselves," is described as kind, humble, dedicated to the development of his students, and someone who puts his teachings into practice 100%. While there are many professors at universities, it is difficult to find someone who fully implements the theories they advocate. Perhaps the secret to the lecture's
Following Michael Sandel's *Justice: What Is the Right Thing to Do?*, the most popular lecture at Harvard, another popular course has been published as a book. It is titled *The Path: An Innovative Way of Thinking About the World*. While *Justice: What Is the Right Thing to Do?* explores questions regarding justice and philosophy, *The Path* discusses Eastern philosophy. The author, Michael Puett, is a professor of Chinese history at Harvard University. His lectures are highly regarded as
Harvard's most popular lecture, surpassing *Justice: What Is It?*. This phrase on the yellow book band was enough to ignite an intense desire for this book. The subtitle, "Innovative Thinking on the World," stimulated my interest and curiosity even more than the title, "The Path." Thus, I obtained the book and began reading. Professor Michael Puett, a professor of Chinese history at Harvard University and recipient of the "Harvard University Outstanding Teaching Award" in 2013, has published
This book was co-authored by a professor of Chinese history at Harvard University and a scholar who earned a Ph.D. in East Asian history from the same institution. It struck me as unique that a Western professor, rather than an Asian, is teaching Chinese history to students at Harvard, a top-tier Western university, and receiving acclaim for his outstanding lectures. The book introduces the teachings of Chinese philosophers from 2,000 years ago, including Confucius, Mencius, Laozi, Zhuangzi,
During my school days, I always found ethics classes boring. This was because I believed that the values pursued by ancient sages were entirely different from those of the 21st century, and that the world they lived in was completely different from the world I live in now. This mindset led me to avoid philosophy and the humanities as well. However, as I grew older and entered society, the relationships and values formed within the unique environment of school began to shift. As my awareness and
Since *Justice: What Is It?*, books based on Harvard lectures have been appearing frequently. This book is also a lecture by a professor who won the "Harvard Outstanding Professor Award." So, what is the subject of this book? It is "Eastern Philosophy." Since the mainstream of Eastern philosophy is Chinese philosophy, and having grown up in a country heavily influenced by China, Eastern philosophy is not unfamiliar to us. Even though it is Harvard University, the mention of Eastern philosophy
Confucian culture and thought still hold deep root in our society. It would not be an exaggeration to say that our society is even more strongly imbued with Confucian character than China, the birthplace of Confucianism. While it is true that Confucianism and many other Chinese philosophies have profoundly influenced our culture and thought systems, it seems equally true that we do not fully understand these ideas accurately or deeply. I feel that due to these inaccurate and superficially
Eastern philosophy, represented by Confucius, Mencius, Laozi, Zhuangzi, and Xunzi, initially feels heavy and difficult, as if it is far removed from everyday life. At least, that is the case for me. To start with the conclusion, I am glad that there is a book that explains Eastern philosophy so easily and clearly. As I read through the beginning, this book shattered those preconceptions I had held. It even made me want to quickly take out and read the series of books in the field of Eastern
While we occasionally have the opportunity to study Western philosophy, such as that of Socrates and Nietzsche, opportunities to learn about Eastern philosophy—including Confucius, Mencius, and Laozi—are rare. Moreover, for those of us unfamiliar with Chinese characters, the content often feels incredibly difficult. However, surprisingly, Michael Puett, a professor of Chinese history at Harvard University, has delivered lectures that make these complex Eastern philosophical concepts easy to
