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The Analects
Written down by Confucius†pupils after his death in 479 BCE, the Analects principally concern the maintenance of good government, the self-development of the individual and the key to achieving both the cultivation of moral character.
- GenresPhilosophyNonfiction
125 pages, Paperback
Published January 1, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
January 11, 2020
It’s hard to read works like this without knowing the contexts in which they were written. If I knew more about the individuals referenced, i would have appreciated this book more. There are are many valuable insights about politics and human behavior; I plan to give the Analects a second read sometime in the future.
July 20, 2023
This was frankly a bit fo a slog for me. I read a Lionel Giles translation in this beautiful rendition with artwork, leatherbinding and thick paper. Unfortunately, that work of art was sullied by the seditious nature of Gile’s commentary and footnotes all throughout the book. Giles levied such vitriol towards Legge and previous translators, that it was a bit hard to even read the works and try to understand all of the ancient phrasing and turn of phrase.
Even though I have these gripes, I of course can’t take fault in Confucious for the sins of the translator. Unfortunately, I still didn’t find many nuggets of value in Confucious’ words. If indeed this is the most accurate interpretation of his words, I don’t find much value in his testament. It’s essentially guidance on how to be the most likeable person ever. My dissent for this message may originate from my American upbringing, but I was hoping for more conversations on dealing with external conflict and balancing this need for kindness in hand with reprimanding. I especially expected some dialogue on conflict given that Confucious might have influenced some dialogues in the Art of War, but I was left without.
I am, however, happy I did the read. In our world, and especially mine of tech, we’re increasingly integrated with Asian influence. Reading books like this and Lao Tzu can really open the American’s mind to understanding more about these people’s cultures and how we can better integrate with them. I can’t expect an Asian coworker to be super in my face and direct in communication if they are raised in a culture that says they should more model virtue and those of virtue will come to surround them. In a way, that’s a very Christian mindset as well, as we are a called to be lights unto others and to carry ourselves with a meekness.
Reading books are a personal affair, and this book didn’t really stick to my bones like Lao Tzu or the Art of War did. I’m finishing out some other Chinese Classics, but this felt the weakest among them, but mayhaps that’s because the lessons of Confucius are already so ingrained in modern society so as to seem banal to pronounce them, but I more suspect the lessons are so passive as to go against my base natures as an American, so prone to sanguine dispositions. I think a book’s job should make you feel uncomfortable, and this book did just that, so I still think it’s a read for anyone interested in Asian culture, but if you aren’t looking for general knowledge or even refinement of your own culture, I would look elsewhere.
Even though I have these gripes, I of course can’t take fault in Confucious for the sins of the translator. Unfortunately, I still didn’t find many nuggets of value in Confucious’ words. If indeed this is the most accurate interpretation of his words, I don’t find much value in his testament. It’s essentially guidance on how to be the most likeable person ever. My dissent for this message may originate from my American upbringing, but I was hoping for more conversations on dealing with external conflict and balancing this need for kindness in hand with reprimanding. I especially expected some dialogue on conflict given that Confucious might have influenced some dialogues in the Art of War, but I was left without.
I am, however, happy I did the read. In our world, and especially mine of tech, we’re increasingly integrated with Asian influence. Reading books like this and Lao Tzu can really open the American’s mind to understanding more about these people’s cultures and how we can better integrate with them. I can’t expect an Asian coworker to be super in my face and direct in communication if they are raised in a culture that says they should more model virtue and those of virtue will come to surround them. In a way, that’s a very Christian mindset as well, as we are a called to be lights unto others and to carry ourselves with a meekness.
Reading books are a personal affair, and this book didn’t really stick to my bones like Lao Tzu or the Art of War did. I’m finishing out some other Chinese Classics, but this felt the weakest among them, but mayhaps that’s because the lessons of Confucius are already so ingrained in modern society so as to seem banal to pronounce them, but I more suspect the lessons are so passive as to go against my base natures as an American, so prone to sanguine dispositions. I think a book’s job should make you feel uncomfortable, and this book did just that, so I still think it’s a read for anyone interested in Asian culture, but if you aren’t looking for general knowledge or even refinement of your own culture, I would look elsewhere.
April 4, 2025
Entertainment & Engagement:
Poor. Extremely boring—I found it difficult to stay interested unless I felt a real obligation to finish it.
Educational Value:
Okay. It offers some insight into Confucian philosophy, but I didn’t take much away from it. That said, I wasn’t reading it for a specific purpose, which may have affected my experience.
Effort, Accessibility & Aesthetic Impact:
Great. It's essentially a collection of quotations, so it's very easy to read and digest.
Practical Application:
Poor. While it seems like the ideas are meant to offer practical wisdom, I struggled to see how they could be applied in real life. Most of the content felt abstract and theoretical.
Value for Writers:
Okay. If you're writing about Confucius, ancient China, or Eastern traditions, this might be useful. Otherwise, it didn’t offer much that I could use or draw from creatively.
Poor. Extremely boring—I found it difficult to stay interested unless I felt a real obligation to finish it.
Educational Value:
Okay. It offers some insight into Confucian philosophy, but I didn’t take much away from it. That said, I wasn’t reading it for a specific purpose, which may have affected my experience.
Effort, Accessibility & Aesthetic Impact:
Great. It's essentially a collection of quotations, so it's very easy to read and digest.
Practical Application:
Poor. While it seems like the ideas are meant to offer practical wisdom, I struggled to see how they could be applied in real life. Most of the content felt abstract and theoretical.
Value for Writers:
Okay. If you're writing about Confucius, ancient China, or Eastern traditions, this might be useful. Otherwise, it didn’t offer much that I could use or draw from creatively.
November 4, 2020
Nice to learn about the context of the analects this is like a total motivational ancient book, I like the way it claims that in some way you have to understand your shadow, learning by observing ourselves and others.
“When you see a man of worth, think how to rise to his level. When you see an unworthy man, then look within and examine yourself”
“When you see a man of worth, think how to rise to his level. When you see an unworthy man, then look within and examine yourself”
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews