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Between Tears and Laughter
Between Tears and Laughter is a collection of essays and reflections written by the acclaimed Chinese author Lin Yutang. The book offers a fascinating insight into the mind of a man who was both deeply rooted in Chinese culture and yet open to the ideas and experiences of the wider world.Through a series of witty and insightful essays, Yutang explores a range of topics, from the joys and frustrations of family life to the challenges of living in a rapidly changing world. He reflects on his own experiences as a writer, as well as on the broader cultural and political issues of his time.Despite the serious nature of many of the topics he addresses, Yutang's writing is characterized by a lightness of touch and a sense of humor that is both engaging and entertaining. His ability to combine a deep understanding of Chinese culture with a broad perspective on the world makes this book a must-read for anyone interested in the complexities of modern China and its place in the global community.Overall, Between Tears and Laughter is a thought-provoking and engaging collection of essays that offers a unique perspective on the life and times of one of China's most celebrated writers.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.
- GenresPhilosophyPoliticsChina
224 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1949
47 people are currently reading
122 people want to read
About the author
Lin Yutang
260 books343 followersProlific writer of a wide variety of works in Chinese 林语堂 and English; in the 1930s he founded several Chinese magazines specializing in social satire and Western-style journalism.
Lin, the son of a Chinese Presbyterian minister, was educated for the ministry but renounced Christianity in his early 20s and became a professor of English. He traveled to the United States and Europe for advanced study; on his return to China, he taught, edited several English-language journals, and contributed essays to Chinese literary magazines.
In 1932 Lin established the Lunyu banyuekan (“Analects Fortnightly”), a type of Western-style satirical magazine totally new to China at that time. It was highly successful, and he soon introduced two more publications. In 1935 Lin published the first of his many English-language books, My Country and My People. It was widely translated and for years was regarded as a standard text on China. The following year he moved to New York City to meet the popular demand for his historical accounts and novels. In 1939 he published his renowned English novel Moment in Peking. The Wisdom of China and India appeared in 1942.
Although he returned to China briefly in 1943 and again in 1954, Lin both times became involved in disputes stemming from his stand in favour of literature as self-expression rather than as propaganda and social education. In addition to writing books on Chinese history and philosophy, he made highly acclaimed English translations of Chinese literary masterpieces, such as Famous Chinese Short Stories Retold (1952).
Lin, the son of a Chinese Presbyterian minister, was educated for the ministry but renounced Christianity in his early 20s and became a professor of English. He traveled to the United States and Europe for advanced study; on his return to China, he taught, edited several English-language journals, and contributed essays to Chinese literary magazines.
In 1932 Lin established the Lunyu banyuekan (“Analects Fortnightly”), a type of Western-style satirical magazine totally new to China at that time. It was highly successful, and he soon introduced two more publications. In 1935 Lin published the first of his many English-language books, My Country and My People. It was widely translated and for years was regarded as a standard text on China. The following year he moved to New York City to meet the popular demand for his historical accounts and novels. In 1939 he published his renowned English novel Moment in Peking. The Wisdom of China and India appeared in 1942.
Although he returned to China briefly in 1943 and again in 1954, Lin both times became involved in disputes stemming from his stand in favour of literature as self-expression rather than as propaganda and social education. In addition to writing books on Chinese history and philosophy, he made highly acclaimed English translations of Chinese literary masterpieces, such as Famous Chinese Short Stories Retold (1952).
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
August 19, 2018
I came across this wonderful man -- and some of his work -- while reading several books about China.
He is a keen observer of human nature, and his writings are filled with keen insight, wry humor, and some grim observations about how we can so easily allow the "Dark Side" to capture even the best of us at times.
What makes this book so fascinating is that it was written during the '30s -- while Hitler and Stalin were in power, the Great Depression was still wreaking havoc, and before the outbreak of the war in Europe in 1939. (But China was already at war with Japan which had invaded Manchuria in 1930.)
So it is fascinating to hear him speak of many figures we now have fixed permanently in "the past" in the present tense. While the outcome of Hitler's regime, and Mussolini's in Italy, was not yet know, he was able to ably critique some of their notable failings, especially in the moral realm.
It is also fascinating to note his prescient criticism of "the West"-- some of its values, and some of the imperatives driving domestic and foreign policy, imperatives which, he believed, if unchanged, would clearly lead to a more dangerous world.
Though I supposed it is hardly a book "for everyone" -- if, indeed, such a book exists anyway -- for those interested in a wise commentary on the state of things as it appeared to one man deeply ingrained in, and knowledgeable, about both his own Chinese culture and that of the Enlightenment West, I think such persons would enjoy reading this very readable book nearly as much as I did.
He is a keen observer of human nature, and his writings are filled with keen insight, wry humor, and some grim observations about how we can so easily allow the "Dark Side" to capture even the best of us at times.
What makes this book so fascinating is that it was written during the '30s -- while Hitler and Stalin were in power, the Great Depression was still wreaking havoc, and before the outbreak of the war in Europe in 1939. (But China was already at war with Japan which had invaded Manchuria in 1930.)
So it is fascinating to hear him speak of many figures we now have fixed permanently in "the past" in the present tense. While the outcome of Hitler's regime, and Mussolini's in Italy, was not yet know, he was able to ably critique some of their notable failings, especially in the moral realm.
It is also fascinating to note his prescient criticism of "the West"-- some of its values, and some of the imperatives driving domestic and foreign policy, imperatives which, he believed, if unchanged, would clearly lead to a more dangerous world.
Though I supposed it is hardly a book "for everyone" -- if, indeed, such a book exists anyway -- for those interested in a wise commentary on the state of things as it appeared to one man deeply ingrained in, and knowledgeable, about both his own Chinese culture and that of the Enlightenment West, I think such persons would enjoy reading this very readable book nearly as much as I did.
April 27, 2024
"Only at a peace conference where BOTH opponents insist on fixing the guilt on ONESELF will there be a permanent peace." (emphasis mine) This work is worth 5-stars just for this line alone.
April 9, 2024
A striking example of anticolonial thought written even as WWII raged. In its critique of scientific man it demonstrates a fascinating similarity to C.S. Lewis' "men without chests" in The Abolition.of Man, published the same year. I am unconvinced by the alternative Yutang offers, but compelled by his assessment of modernity's pitfalls.
October 22, 2018
Worth the read
Written in 1943, this is somewhat dated. However, it is a well written and reasoned look at Anglo-Asian realpolitik during WWII. His point of view is one seldom seen in Western histories of this period. I recommend it.
Written in 1943, this is somewhat dated. However, it is a well written and reasoned look at Anglo-Asian realpolitik during WWII. His point of view is one seldom seen in Western histories of this period. I recommend it.
September 2, 2021
Read and re-read.
September 4, 2017
Libro escrito en 1943, en plena segunda guerra mundial, Lin Yutang analiza la situación mundial de entonces y se proyecta al futuro en varios ensayos que se encadenan para dar forma a este libro. En él critica la política de fuerza de las potencias occidentales, reprocha las acciones de Churchill y Roosevelt, a Inglaterra por mantener su posición imperialista-colonialista, que diciendo luchar por la libertad en Europa contra Hitler, en Asia eran los opresores que mantenían cautiva a la India y otras regiones, incluída Hong Kong. Y a EE.UU. por no ayudar a China en la lucha contra el Japón a pesar de que eran aliados, incluso se queja de que EE.UU. antes de Pearl Harbor haya a dado más y mejores suministros a Japón que a China. China entonces era víctima de un bloqueo de parte del Japón y también de las potencias anglófonas para mantener débil a China, y no represente una amenaza a sus intereses en Asia.
Habla de Gandhi y crítica la ideología de Hitler. Hace un símil de la situación de las potencias occidentales y la historia de la antigua Grecia de la época de Pericles, diciendo que la historia se repite y que Churchill no ha aprendido de la historia repitiendo los mismos errores. Crítica al determinismo, al materialismo y a la geopolítica que acusa de pseudociencia ya que es más política que ciencia, incluso denuncia a un geopolítico estadounidense cuyas ideas estaban haciendo escuela en EE.UU, y muchas partes de su obra parecían sacadas del Mein Kampf.
También se atreve a dar su parecer de como se reconfigurará el mundo acabada la guerra, decía que la India más pronto que tarde alcanzaría su independencia, que el colonialismo imperial se acabaría en el mundo, que China, Rusia y la India resurgirían. Que EE.UU. tomaría el liderazgo mundial, aunque decía que había dos probabilidades, que se convierta en un líder benévolo y con una política aislacionista, o que se convierta en un país que abusaría de su poder y que sería como una espada sobre el mundo.
Además hace un análisis profundo de lo qué es la paz, la libertad, la visión china sobre estas, cita mucho a Confucio y a Mencio sobre el manejo de un buen gobierno. También da su parecer acerca de como se debería llevar un gobierno mundial, de la existencia de una policia mundial, ya que lo ve como algo muy probable en el futuro. Y la inevitabilidad de una tercera guerra mundial sino se controla a las potencias que sigan haciendo uso de la política de fuerza como hacían hasta ese momento.
Uno de los puntos de Lin Yutang era que no se podía alcanzar la paz solo con brindar un cuarto de leche y un jabón a todo el mundo. Los derechos económicos eran insuficientes. Los países occidentales creen que todo es economía, pero la paz era algo que iba más allá de tener más bienes materiales, que el respeto, la libertad y el sentido de justicia debían ser tenidos en cuenta. Que había que fijar una pauta general a todos los hombres, principios que nos iguale, y por ello propone a la dignidad humana como factor igualador que nos pone a todos en un mismo nivel. "Sabio es aquel que primeramente ha descubierto lo que hay de común en nuestros corazones" decía Mencio.
Habla de Gandhi y crítica la ideología de Hitler. Hace un símil de la situación de las potencias occidentales y la historia de la antigua Grecia de la época de Pericles, diciendo que la historia se repite y que Churchill no ha aprendido de la historia repitiendo los mismos errores. Crítica al determinismo, al materialismo y a la geopolítica que acusa de pseudociencia ya que es más política que ciencia, incluso denuncia a un geopolítico estadounidense cuyas ideas estaban haciendo escuela en EE.UU, y muchas partes de su obra parecían sacadas del Mein Kampf.
También se atreve a dar su parecer de como se reconfigurará el mundo acabada la guerra, decía que la India más pronto que tarde alcanzaría su independencia, que el colonialismo imperial se acabaría en el mundo, que China, Rusia y la India resurgirían. Que EE.UU. tomaría el liderazgo mundial, aunque decía que había dos probabilidades, que se convierta en un líder benévolo y con una política aislacionista, o que se convierta en un país que abusaría de su poder y que sería como una espada sobre el mundo.
Además hace un análisis profundo de lo qué es la paz, la libertad, la visión china sobre estas, cita mucho a Confucio y a Mencio sobre el manejo de un buen gobierno. También da su parecer acerca de como se debería llevar un gobierno mundial, de la existencia de una policia mundial, ya que lo ve como algo muy probable en el futuro. Y la inevitabilidad de una tercera guerra mundial sino se controla a las potencias que sigan haciendo uso de la política de fuerza como hacían hasta ese momento.
Uno de los puntos de Lin Yutang era que no se podía alcanzar la paz solo con brindar un cuarto de leche y un jabón a todo el mundo. Los derechos económicos eran insuficientes. Los países occidentales creen que todo es economía, pero la paz era algo que iba más allá de tener más bienes materiales, que el respeto, la libertad y el sentido de justicia debían ser tenidos en cuenta. Que había que fijar una pauta general a todos los hombres, principios que nos iguale, y por ello propone a la dignidad humana como factor igualador que nos pone a todos en un mismo nivel. "Sabio es aquel que primeramente ha descubierto lo que hay de común en nuestros corazones" decía Mencio.
May 24, 2025
Halfway through now and I've stood with this book in multiple points for its ideas on the importance of freedom vs empire, pointing out how western mentality could benefit from eastern perspectives, how materialism is a false freedom, and on the importance of not viewing humanity and its health strictly through a data-informed lens. At the same time, the author self-contradicts almost every claim he throws out with this almost blind devotion to Confucianism and the idea that there is an objective right and correct way for society to be in order for peace to be possible, which ultimately depends on a strict hierarchy of social order without allowing for review of that order (while he also delights in the idea of being the liberal 'gadfly' stinging at the tyrants with his ideas of democracy?). Besides these contradictions, in some places he also seems to not have a great grasp of the science he's using for his metaphors, saying certain things are impossible to know (but of course science did quickly come to know), which then undermines his whole point on leaning into government structure focused less on data/expertise and more on vibes or the 'imponderables'. Also straight up says women would be better for creating world peace as leaders because they're bad at math (p.76).... so, if that shows his depth of understanding social structures at all.
Ultimately decided to let this one go, but it's not a bad read for the seeds of ideas.
Feels like the author is rightly overwhelmed with the realities of WWII and just venting out every thought and feeling into the void to see if any sensible solution emerges, which I can absolutely empathize with, but he's short on the actual details and how his philosophies would be implemented.
Ultimately decided to let this one go, but it's not a bad read for the seeds of ideas.
Feels like the author is rightly overwhelmed with the realities of WWII and just venting out every thought and feeling into the void to see if any sensible solution emerges, which I can absolutely empathize with, but he's short on the actual details and how his philosophies would be implemented.
February 27, 2020
You'll remember this book when most needed
Lin Yutang is a trusted friend in our journey through life. It ain't an easy travel for most of us. Listen to him while reading his experience wisely distilled in this wonderful memoir. You'll remember his tears and laughter, probably your own.
Lin Yutang is a trusted friend in our journey through life. It ain't an easy travel for most of us. Listen to him while reading his experience wisely distilled in this wonderful memoir. You'll remember his tears and laughter, probably your own.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews