The Importance of Living - Lin Yutang
I’ve been reading the essays of Ivan Illich lately and, for some reason, I was reminded of Lin Yutang. It’s been years since I last read his words, but his philosophy is still relevant to our contemporary society (maybe even more so). My first encounter with Lin Yutang was in 1990, while I was living in Taiwan, and a friend gave me a photocopied version of this book (from the Lin Yutang Memorial Library) as a parting gift.
“This is a personal testimony,” Mr. Lin writes, “a testimony of my own experiences of thought and life. It is not intended to be objective and makes no claim to establish eternal truths. In fact I rather despise claims to objectivity in philosophy; the point of view is the thing.”
I feel like the Art of Living is gradually being replaced by the Science of Living. Much in the way that Michael Pollan writes how “… over the last several decades, mom lost much of her authority over the dinner menu, ceding it to scientists and food marketers …” I feel the same thing is happening with our overall approach to life. And, like Pollan, I’m not convinced that it’s a good thing.
You’ve got to appreciate a book which chapter (sub)titles include “On Growing Old Gracefully”, “On Lying in Bed”, and “The Importance of Loafing”. Reading this book will prompt you to question whether or not you’re really living.
