Overview

"This new and comprehensive rendition and commentary on the Chinese classic ""Dao De Jing"" was researched over 13 years in China. It is built on the premise that if the scholar Laozi had ideas and advice on personal conduct 2,500 years ago that could shake the foundations of philosophy for centuries afterwards, as well as influencing the course of three of the great world religions - then perhaps these ideas are still worth our serious consideration now. This work, loosely structured on the 81-verse original Chinese text, is an engaging blend of modern and ancient philosophy with a focus on genuinely practical life advice. The timeless relevance of Laozi's 2,500-year-old text is explored here at the dawn of the third millennium with humor and insight, and using resources as varied as the ideas of Plato, Bruce Lee, Jean-Paul Sartre, Carl Jung, and Winnie the Pooh - to name but a few. Using topical references, and examples from literature both ancient and modern, the essential message from the age-old thoughts of the sage Laozi is illuminated and brought into sharp contemporary focus using familiar modern idioms, and with examples from philosophy, psychology, politics, and other social sciences."

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9780987446046

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"""Cogent, often inspiring essays emphasize both the pragmatic advice of Laozi, and... also societal and cosmic concerns... Clear, crisp, engaging prose that boils the teachings down to essences... (an) inviting celebration and in-depth explication of the collection of ancient wisdom known as the Dao De Jing"" - BookLife. ""(the) rating for this book is a resounding five out of five stars. It stands as a masterful work that bridges the ancient wisdom of the Dao De Jing with the complexities of our contemporary world, offering invaluable guidance and wisdom."" - online bookclub.org ""I enjoyed your turn of phrase and could almost visualize the quiet effort that brought your intuitions and wisdom onto the page... A lot of people would get a kick out of seeing how you have realized other translations... (Of the Dao De Jing) ... into a more holistic contemplation of self... this is a book that many readers will appreciate and keep going back to..."" - Dr Mark Stevenson, (Dept. of Asian Studies, Victoria University, Australia."

Author Information

Jack Parkinson's early background was in various creative and managerial roles in electronic and print media. He has lived and worked on three different continents, and more recently, taught for 13 years on (mostly) British university campuses around China. He was Deputy Director of the Language Centre at XJTLU (Xi'an Jiaotong-LiverpoolUniversity) in Suzhou, for 5 years.

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