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Books that Matter: The Analects of Confucius
Compiled centuries before the birth of Jesus, the Analects of Confucius is anything but dry ancient philosophy. Many of its passages hold the same power as any great Socratic dialogue. Which makes trying to get to the heart of the Analects - and its importance - a challenging and undeniably exciting intellectual pursuit.
With these 24 accessible lectures, enjoy an adventurous exploration of one of the world's most important philosophical texts. Filled with rich historical context, detailed close readings of key passages, expert interpretations of larger cultural trends, and stories of Confucius and his most notable students (and critics), these lectures are required learning for anyone who wants a solid understanding of Eastern philosophy - and the ways a single book can cross cultures and go on to inspire an entire world.
After grounding your approach to the Analects with a look at what we know (and don't know) about Confucius' life, career, and teaching philosophy, you'll examine some of the book's most powerful, central themes. Among these are remonstrance (an idea at the heart of Chinese social and political life) and effective rule (which, for Confucius, required a grounding in morality and integrity).
As you illuminate your understanding of key passages in the Analects, you'll also meet the students, philosophers, and statesmen who, in their own ways, contributed to the millennia-long story of this enduring book - by recording Confucian thought, critiquing it, building on it, pillorying it, and resurrecting it for the modern age.
As with all great philosophical experiences, the Analects is a work whose intellectual richness and insight remain with you long after you've heard the final passages. So, too, will these lectures, which will help internalize Confucian teachings - and make them work in your own life.
With these 24 accessible lectures, enjoy an adventurous exploration of one of the world's most important philosophical texts. Filled with rich historical context, detailed close readings of key passages, expert interpretations of larger cultural trends, and stories of Confucius and his most notable students (and critics), these lectures are required learning for anyone who wants a solid understanding of Eastern philosophy - and the ways a single book can cross cultures and go on to inspire an entire world.
After grounding your approach to the Analects with a look at what we know (and don't know) about Confucius' life, career, and teaching philosophy, you'll examine some of the book's most powerful, central themes. Among these are remonstrance (an idea at the heart of Chinese social and political life) and effective rule (which, for Confucius, required a grounding in morality and integrity).
As you illuminate your understanding of key passages in the Analects, you'll also meet the students, philosophers, and statesmen who, in their own ways, contributed to the millennia-long story of this enduring book - by recording Confucian thought, critiquing it, building on it, pillorying it, and resurrecting it for the modern age.
As with all great philosophical experiences, the Analects is a work whose intellectual richness and insight remain with you long after you've heard the final passages. So, too, will these lectures, which will help internalize Confucian teachings - and make them work in your own life.
12 pages, Audible Audio
Published January 1, 2016
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
February 11, 2020
A fantastic primer for the ignorant Westerner like myself. I've read the Analects but struggled to make heads or tails of them despite knowing that they are integral to understanding Chinese philosophical traditions. This series of lectures helped a great deal.
August 5, 2017
For Westerners who have read the Analects of Confucius for sure, we have found a set of sayings without much coherence. I read them twice and I did not have much left.
However, the course "Books That Matter: The Analects of Confucius produced" by The Great Courses with Professor Robert André LaFleur; Has opened my eyes a little more.
Confucius is a character who has influenced the way of being Chinese for 2,500 years. Neither the wars between the kingdoms nor even the communist revolution have managed to eliminate this philosophy.
Confucius was not a God, he was a man (probably a teacher) who taught the best way to live in society, to relate to one another.
Perhaps their ways of thinking about the family (authoritarian and monolithic) are no longer very practicable today, but others do.
On the other hand, their teachings are very valuable and even today they are an important part of Chinese culture, so it is worth reading and learning from them.
However between Taoism and the philosophy of Confucius I prefer Taoism:
Intuition, freedom to be who you are, spontaneity. Contrary to living certain social norms and in a certain way .... Maybe that's why I do not shine much in society .... jejeje
However, the course "Books That Matter: The Analects of Confucius produced" by The Great Courses with Professor Robert André LaFleur; Has opened my eyes a little more.
Confucius is a character who has influenced the way of being Chinese for 2,500 years. Neither the wars between the kingdoms nor even the communist revolution have managed to eliminate this philosophy.
Confucius was not a God, he was a man (probably a teacher) who taught the best way to live in society, to relate to one another.
Perhaps their ways of thinking about the family (authoritarian and monolithic) are no longer very practicable today, but others do.
On the other hand, their teachings are very valuable and even today they are an important part of Chinese culture, so it is worth reading and learning from them.
However between Taoism and the philosophy of Confucius I prefer Taoism:
Intuition, freedom to be who you are, spontaneity. Contrary to living certain social norms and in a certain way .... Maybe that's why I do not shine much in society .... jejeje
December 15, 2025
“The Industrial Revolution and its consequences have been a disaster for the human race” - Confucius
November 20, 2020
Excellent introduction to the Analects. Robert LaFleur does a great job of pulling out the threads of Confucian thought, which would so dominate Chinese culture for over 2,000 years. Recommended for anyone with an interest in ancient China.
March 29, 2022
Nice compilations! This book is one of those that leaves you more thirsty at the end...
August 14, 2021
I might not be the intended audience for this course. I've already taken a course in university where we had to read The Analects, so I was already convinced that the book has something meaningful to say. I've read the Simon Leys translation, the D.C. Lau translation, and parts of the Arthur Whaley translation. While LaFleur acknowledges the difficulty and ambiguity in translating ancient Chinese, none of the actual lectures discuss this in relation to specific passages, the professor just presents (presumably his own) translation as the authoritative one. While his translatations are slightly less workmanlike than D.C. Lau's, it lacks the poetry and conciseness of Leys', which left me cold.
Some other things that bugged me (although what follows is my opinion, I don't begrudge other people their higher ratings at all, nor do I regret having purchased thr class):
* professor keeps spouting edu-tainment phrases like "and it's remained relevant for over 2500 years," in what becomes a weird attempt to sell the listener on the lectures as he's giving them. I know the book is interesting, stop with the sales pitch.
* some passages are not discussed, e.g. "a gentleman (junzi) is not a pot (or tool, vessel)," or the one where Confucius muses setting sail for distant lands, or the really long one in Chapter 18 that discusses what simple pleasures are, or the anti-confucian propaganda in later chapters. Other passages about ritual are repeated several times.
* the later lectures on Confucianism and imperialism are good, and raised my rating to 3 stars, but the last lecture on Confucius in modern China dropped it back down. So Confucius is relevant to both the communists and nationalists? How is that not evidence that his message has been diluted or misconstrued, if it can be the foundation for opposing forms of government?
* finally, any lectures on the analects need to ground the text as a work of either political philosophy (as Leys does), moral philosophy, or something else (such as pseudo-religious doctrine, self-help, history, or literature). LaFleur waffles between all of these, and as a result the message becomes diluted. I cringe every time I hear about "Confucius the management guru," but some of that is in here. I get the impression that LaFleur has become used to delivering these lectures to surly undergraduates, so he peppers anecdotes discussing modern sociology to sports (with a reference to LeBron James.) Again, I would prefer a more scholarly tone rather than the edu-tainment approach that emerges.
Some other things that bugged me (although what follows is my opinion, I don't begrudge other people their higher ratings at all, nor do I regret having purchased thr class):
* professor keeps spouting edu-tainment phrases like "and it's remained relevant for over 2500 years," in what becomes a weird attempt to sell the listener on the lectures as he's giving them. I know the book is interesting, stop with the sales pitch.
* some passages are not discussed, e.g. "a gentleman (junzi) is not a pot (or tool, vessel)," or the one where Confucius muses setting sail for distant lands, or the really long one in Chapter 18 that discusses what simple pleasures are, or the anti-confucian propaganda in later chapters. Other passages about ritual are repeated several times.
* the later lectures on Confucianism and imperialism are good, and raised my rating to 3 stars, but the last lecture on Confucius in modern China dropped it back down. So Confucius is relevant to both the communists and nationalists? How is that not evidence that his message has been diluted or misconstrued, if it can be the foundation for opposing forms of government?
* finally, any lectures on the analects need to ground the text as a work of either political philosophy (as Leys does), moral philosophy, or something else (such as pseudo-religious doctrine, self-help, history, or literature). LaFleur waffles between all of these, and as a result the message becomes diluted. I cringe every time I hear about "Confucius the management guru," but some of that is in here. I get the impression that LaFleur has become used to delivering these lectures to surly undergraduates, so he peppers anecdotes discussing modern sociology to sports (with a reference to LeBron James.) Again, I would prefer a more scholarly tone rather than the edu-tainment approach that emerges.
February 8, 2018
A fine approach to the Analects and its core ideas. LaFleur really emphasizes the teaching dynamic built into this text (i.e. the best way to read it is to see a teacher teaching his students). He also covers the afterlife of the Analects while discussing the development of Confucianism (and Neo-Confucianism) through the centuries of Chinese history.
April 22, 2025
I really liked this book. I think this course is an excellent way to learn the analects. Certainly, reading the analects is a terrible way to learn the teachings of Confucius. I do not know how relevant the teachings of Confucius are at helping to understand the differences in thinking of the eastern mind, but I think I can see where at least China runs very much by the teachings. I also think there is a lot that is really positive in incorporating the teachings into one’s life.
The Analects of Confucius are nothing like other books on philosophy. Confucious was a teacher, and his aim was to make his student think. Instead of directly answering questions of his students he would give them a story to make them think about what the answer should be.
Among the tenants are the support of culture in that he expresses the need to always support rituals. He also feels that a leader should be like a father in a family, that sort of support for the people. He also advocates remonstrance—the junior is supposed to tell the senior when he is wrong. Central to his philosophy is book learning, and then to reflecting on what was learned. There is much else but I think those are the key points, and I think that everyone of these a very important point.
The instructor has spent a lot of time in Taiwan and the People’s Republic over the decades. He states that decades ago there was emphasis on Confucius in Taiwan, but little in the People’s Republic. Now it has reversed. He seems to feel that the People’s Republic has incorporated them to better control the people, but I look at the Chinese government, and I feel that the government really does incorporate the teachings. One policy I think the Communist government make a critical mistake in was the cultural revolution. Trying to change the culture is a bad idea because culture can help bind a people together. China now goes does work to preserve culture. There are a lot of propaganda out there about Chinese discriminating against its ethnic groups, which may be part to what the instructor sees. But I do not think that is true! The problem is that the Han ethnic group, which is the vast majority of the Chinese, really has many cultures (and languages) that are different. The Chinese government did spencer adding the Uyghurs and other minorities to the UNESCO World’s Intangible Heritage and regions with large minority populations are in autonomous regions that have more independence than provinces.
So, which of these cultures is the Chinese culture? I also see that the Chinese government much more so than western cultures, is working hard to improve the quality of life in China. It has had great income disparity, but that was needed to allow China to bootstrap itself to prosperity. In fact any success in the fight against poverty is because of China and other East Asian countries, as it is getting worse in the rest of the world. Now the income disparity in China is much better than countries like the US (which keeps getting worse). It is well understood that China has lifted hundreds of millions out of poverty, which poverty seems to be getting much worse in the rest of the world.
I really think this is a good course to learn about the Analects of Confucius and that his teachings may have the most significance in the field of philosophy of any philosopher.
The Analects of Confucius are nothing like other books on philosophy. Confucious was a teacher, and his aim was to make his student think. Instead of directly answering questions of his students he would give them a story to make them think about what the answer should be.
Among the tenants are the support of culture in that he expresses the need to always support rituals. He also feels that a leader should be like a father in a family, that sort of support for the people. He also advocates remonstrance—the junior is supposed to tell the senior when he is wrong. Central to his philosophy is book learning, and then to reflecting on what was learned. There is much else but I think those are the key points, and I think that everyone of these a very important point.
The instructor has spent a lot of time in Taiwan and the People’s Republic over the decades. He states that decades ago there was emphasis on Confucius in Taiwan, but little in the People’s Republic. Now it has reversed. He seems to feel that the People’s Republic has incorporated them to better control the people, but I look at the Chinese government, and I feel that the government really does incorporate the teachings. One policy I think the Communist government make a critical mistake in was the cultural revolution. Trying to change the culture is a bad idea because culture can help bind a people together. China now goes does work to preserve culture. There are a lot of propaganda out there about Chinese discriminating against its ethnic groups, which may be part to what the instructor sees. But I do not think that is true! The problem is that the Han ethnic group, which is the vast majority of the Chinese, really has many cultures (and languages) that are different. The Chinese government did spencer adding the Uyghurs and other minorities to the UNESCO World’s Intangible Heritage and regions with large minority populations are in autonomous regions that have more independence than provinces.
So, which of these cultures is the Chinese culture? I also see that the Chinese government much more so than western cultures, is working hard to improve the quality of life in China. It has had great income disparity, but that was needed to allow China to bootstrap itself to prosperity. In fact any success in the fight against poverty is because of China and other East Asian countries, as it is getting worse in the rest of the world. Now the income disparity in China is much better than countries like the US (which keeps getting worse). It is well understood that China has lifted hundreds of millions out of poverty, which poverty seems to be getting much worse in the rest of the world.
I really think this is a good course to learn about the Analects of Confucius and that his teachings may have the most significance in the field of philosophy of any philosopher.
July 30, 2024
These 24 lectures take you on an adventurous exploration of the Analects, shedding light on its profound impact and enduring relevance. Far from dry ancient philosophy, the Analects is filled with passages as powerful as any great Socratic dialogue. The lectures provide rich historical context, close readings of key passages, and insights into the cultural trends that shaped Confucius' teachings. You'll also meet the notable students, critics, and statesmen who contributed to the millennia-long story of this book.
Grounded in the life and career of Confucius, the course delves into central themes like remonstrance and effective rule, highlighting their significance in Chinese social and political life. Whether you're new to Eastern philosophy or looking to deepen your understanding, these lectures offer an intellectually rich and rewarding journey into Confucian thought.
Grounded in the life and career of Confucius, the course delves into central themes like remonstrance and effective rule, highlighting their significance in Chinese social and political life. Whether you're new to Eastern philosophy or looking to deepen your understanding, these lectures offer an intellectually rich and rewarding journey into Confucian thought.
April 3, 2021
Pairs nicely with a reading of the actual Analects, naturally. It was a bit simplistic, but the professor clearly intends this to be an introductory course so I can't fault him too much. I more or less got what I wanted out of this after reading the original text. Robert did a good job filling in the missing context and explaining the most egregious shortcomings in the translation from Chinese. While the course was a bit long, I still recommend this. My biggest complaint was actually with his narration. This is a studio recording, so I don't know why the numerous stutters and self-corrections weren't fixed in the editing process; this should have been easy since he was clearly reading from a script. Additionally, while I can't comment on his Mandarin, the bad mispronunciation of Korean terms like 실학 (at least I'm pretty sure that's what he was trying to say) was a bit startling.
August 18, 2023
I was ignorant of the history of China in general and the philosophy of Confucius in particular, so this course was an eye-opener. The key elements of Confucianism: employing consummate conduct and ritual conduct to behave as an exemplary person were expertly explicated in a detailed analysis of the text of The Analects. An understanding of the development and centrality of collectivism in Chinese culture makes both their past and modern society make much more sense to me now.
February 17, 2018
Wonderfully done. This is perfect for preparing the reader for the Analects. Without it I might find the Analects interesting but I certainly would have lost most of the message since I am not familiar with the nuances of that world and era.
December 7, 2018
Impressive scholarship. The lectures synthesize thousands of years of scholarship on The Analects. I especially appreciated how Prof Lafleur incorporated the work of an earlier French anthopologist, Genet (sp). I will need to read The Analects, listen to this lecture series again.
December 20, 2024
This isn’t The Analects itself, nor so much a discussion of passages in The Analects. It’s more of a study of matters surrounding The Analects—its history, development, cultural context, and its influence. It was ok, but nothing that prompted me to take notes.
May 1, 2022
These lectures introduce a very difficult subject, translation hurdles, and hundreds of years of public policy. I have a greater respect for all of it now.
May 4, 2024
This isn't the Analects... it's a commentary. I actually liked it, I just wish someone had the actually Analects in audiobook 🥲
February 22, 2017
Solid introduction and good pacing. Concept ordering was good though the section covering Mencius fell a bit flat.
February 3, 2017
An excellent introduction. Gives a lot of background on the book, the underlying principles and the history of its profound impact on East Asian history and culture. I give it 4 stars because it skirts some of the contemporary criticism of Confucianism's basic principles, particularly those from a feminist perspective.
July 10, 2024
He is a terrible narrator -- way too "flowery" in his speech.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews