My Country and My People - Lin Yu Tang

[Dani_man]

Hi there

I just bought this title after my friend recommended it to me.

It suppose to be a depiction of Chinese life, society and culture, by a Chinese writer that was one of the few people that could write in English and Chinese.

Has anybody read it before?

What did you think about it?

Or do you have any other interesting information about the author?

[gato]

The book was originally written in English for a Western audience and was later translated into Chinese. I've read most of the English version and thought it was just ok.

Lin Yutang might have been prompted by "Chinese Characteristics" by Arthur Smith to write it. Smith was an American missionary to China. I thought Smith's book contained a lot of stereotypes. Lin might have thought so as well, but I thought Lin might have done a little too much to try to defend Chinese culture and veered away from objectivity.

[wushijiao]

Personally, I loved "My Country and My People", and I have read it at least twice. However, it is vital to understand that Lin Yutang was describing the China of the 1920's and 1930's, and so, in many ways, the book is very dated. So, it is best to read the book as a historical document, and not as an objective understanding of modern China.

When I first read this book, I had already read quite a few books by Westerners who has lived in China in the 1980's and 90's, and I had lived in China for a few months. I suppose that Lin's book gave me a better undestanding of China, from a Chinese point of view, especially because it was written pre-1949, after which Chinese culture changed dramatically.

[gougou]

One of my Chinese classmates gave this book to me in their effort to sinicize me. I started reading it and was able to learn some things from it. But once I got to the chapter on smoking, where Lin says something along the lines of "nonsmokers infringe upon the rights of smokers", I put the book down in disgust and have never again wanted to read anything else by Lin Yutang.

[billybot]

People I have talked to, Chinese and foreigners, seem to be pretty polarized by Lin Yutang. Some say he captures the essential character of his people, others seem him as fluffy and overly humanistic.

I personally think he is a great writer and even though he did write before liberation, the essence of his writing remains intact and his ideas remain incredibly persuasive. IMHO of course.

I enjoyed the Importance of Living more actually.

[gato]

Here is a review of the book.

http://culture.163.com/editor/031017/031017_78725.html

读林语堂《吾国吾民》

A online version of the book, which may make it easier for electronic dictionary lookups.

http://book.sina.com.cn/nzt/lit/mycountrymypeople/

《吾国与吾民》

You might also try another book on the same topic by Bo Yang, another famous and probably more controversial Chinese writer.

http://book.sina.com.cn/nzt/1099295539_chouloudezhongguoren/index.shtml

《丑陋的中国人》

[wushijiao]

Lin Yutang's writings also have a tone that is a bit similar to, say, Mark Twain's. I think Lin has a mellow, laid-back, but semi-sarcastic tone that may be hard to pick up on. I agree that his stuff wouldn't appeal to everyone.

I've always thought that one's reading ability and critical thinking really improves when you find your favorite author- someone who you feel like is talking to you personally. Sure enough, Lin has some of the same thoughts in "The Art of Living".

[thph2006]

Is there a book in English anyone can recommend that gives a true sense of the Chinese people today, their values, culture, daily life, generational changes happening today, etc.? I'd like to avoid the bias of someone with an agenda (other than to show what Chinese life is really like). What might be interesting would be a sort of voyeuristic view of a Chinese family's life together in the 21st century.

Thanks!

[gato]

I have been reading a lot of good things about John Pomfret's "Chinese Lessons." He used to be Washington Post's chief correspondent in China.

http://www.johnpomfret.net/

http://www.amazon.com/Chinese-Lessons-Classmates-Story-China/dp/0805076158

Chinese Lessons: Five Classmates and the Story of the New China

http://www.pekingduck.org/archives/002016.php

John Pomfret speaks on China, and he doesn't disappoint

You might also try Peter Hessler. He came to China to teach English with the Peace Corps in the mid-1990s. He's written many good articles about China.

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_b/002-1102119-6528015?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=hessler&Go.x=0&Go.y=0&Go=Go

River Town: Two Years on the Yangtze (P.S.) by Peter Hessler

Oracle Bones: A Journey Between China's Past and Present by Peter Hessler

http://www.time.com/time/asia/2003/journey/china_fuling.html

Changing Course

Peter Hessler journeys back to the Chinese river town of Fuling, the setting of his first book, and finds that his characters are writing a whole new story

http://www.newyorker.com/archive/2003/07/07/030707fa_fact

Underwater

The world's biggest dam floods the past.

by Peter Hessler

[liuzhou]

Lin Yutang's novel "Moment in Berijing" is well worth reading.