WORDS DON’T COME EASY
Primer Look at:
Any PDF on Blackboard — my chosen story is a page from ‘The Importance of Living’ by Lin Yutang. I chose this because I loved the concept of the text, and of the book when I researched it ….
“The Importance of Living is a wry, witty antidote to the dizzying pace of the modern world. Lin Yutang’s prescription is the classic Chinese philosophy of life: Revere inaction as much as action, invoke humor to maintain a healthy attitude, and never forget that there will always be plenty of fools around who are willing-indeed, eager-to be busy, to make themselves useful, and to exercise power while you bask in the simple joy of existence.At a time when we’re overwhelmed with wake-up calls, here is a refreshing, playful reminder to savor life’s simple pleasures.”
I am guessing the story is set in England and he talks about Quails, Partridges, Oriles, Magpies, Pigeons, and Woodpeckers. He refers to where she used to hear bird songs, “in the mountains in the south”.. I am assuming from the information I have gathered that he is Chinese and is referring to where he used to live in China. The mood is calm as seems the general concept the book is trying to convey, when referring to birdsong and prompting us to imagine the songs along with the setting of the morning it sets the mood of laying in bed waking up peacefully. I was drawn to the fact it quoted a poet, who was addressing the issue of man interrupting nature and becoming a threat to wild life.
I have found out that the book was originally written in the 1930’s.
“Read this to live well. To gain an insight into the Chinese culture and philosophy” - This also interests me a lot, what is Chinese culture and philosophy?
