Rating: 
Summary: Outstanding
Review: Although I have not read this particular translation, I have read about six others, and I must say that I absolutely love Confiucius and the Analects, and regard COnfucius with the utomst respect and admiration.When I first heard about Confucianism, it did not seem like my type. I thought it was just about ritual and goodness and family, and that didn't seem to interesting to me. But as I began reading the Analects, I became Conficus's biggest fan. He was really an exemplary person who conducte himself like a "chun tzu" (which in the scope of Confucianism refers to the concept of the ideal / developed / balanced / advanced / virtuous person) Confucius was just so concerned about character and self-development, and he had an incredible love for learning. He was also a very genuine person, and who according to the Analects was "pleasant yet dignified, authoritative yet not overbearing, and respectful yet relaxed." He also lived a satisfying life, and "in his leisure time, Confucius was relaxed and enjoyed himself." The Analects gives you a look at Confusicus through many of his sayings and mannerisms. Unlike some other works by other ancient philsophers, in the Analects you can really know and understand the person behind it and makes you feel his personality. It all comes together to form a man who really is "The Master." (Note: The Anaelcts also contains some sayings of a few other Confucian scholars) A few of my favorite Analects passages: Confucius said: "Isn't it a pleasure to consistently study, and apply what you have learned?" (1:1) Confucius said: "See a person's actions. Observe his motives. Examine in what things he rests. How can a person conceal his character? How can a person conceal his character?" (2:10) ...[Confucius said:] "At first, my method with others was to listen to what they said, and expect them to act accordingly. Now, my method is to listen to what they say, and then observe what they do." (5:10) Confucius said: "When I am with others, they are my teachers. I can select their good points and follow them, and select their bad points and avoid them." (7:22) Confucius said: "To make a mistake and not correct it--that, indeed, is a mistake." (15:30)
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This is just the tip of the iceberg, however. The Analects should be read, reread, and put into practice, just like Conficus did as he illustrated virtuous actions, lived a genuine life, and set a great example. I highly recommend the Analects. I also enjoyed the Hsun Tzu very much and recommend it. The Mencius is also decent, but I did not find it that great. One of my favorite translations and selections of passages from the Analects and other Confucian writings is in the book A Collection of Wisdom, which puts them in a very clear modern English translation.
Rating:
Summary: The wisdom of Confucius speaks for himself
Review: D.C Lau's Translation of Confuciuan Philosophy and "The Analects" is perhaps the best I've ever read. Lau brillantly enuciates the most important tenets of Confucian thought in a clear and concise manner, while at the same time not forsaking any of the intellectual or scholarly integrity that often happens with certain translations of Confucius. Lau 's introduction gives a wonderful introduction to the goldmine of wisdom that one encounters while reading Confucius and helped me to understand the teachings of Confucius better than any other translator. As for "The Analects" itself, I could write 20 pages on why it is the most beautifully constructed philosophy ever written, but I won't and will simply say this. The wisdom in "The Analects" is worth more than 10 of those so called "New Age" books that attempt to give insight but in fact only give rhetoric. Confucius wil open your eyes to the joy of living and the joy of a life of the pursuit of what TRUE wisdom, truth and virtue really are. READ THIS BOOK, IT WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE.
Rating:
Summary: The wisdom of Confucius speaks for himself
Review: D.C Lau's Translation of Confuciuan Philosophy and "The Analects" is perhaps the best I've ever read. Lau brillantly enuciates the most important tenets of Confucian thought in a clear and concise manner, while at the same time not forsaking any of the intellectual or scholarly integrity that often happens with certain translations of Confucius. Lau 's introduction gives a wonderful introduction to the goldmine of wisdom that one encounters while reading Confucius and helped me to understand the teachings of Confucius better than any other translator. As for "The Analects" itself, I could write 20 pages on why it is the most beautifully constructed philosophy ever written, but I won't and will simply say this. The wisdom in "The Analects" is worth more than 10 of those so called "New Age" books that attempt to give insight but in fact only give rhetoric. Confucius wil open your eyes to the joy of living and the joy of a life of the pursuit of what TRUE wisdom, truth and virtue really are. READ THIS BOOK, IT WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE.
Rating:
Summary: The wisdom of Confucius speaks for himself
Review: D.C Lau's Translation of Confuciuan Philosophy and "The Analects" is perhaps the best I've ever read. Lau brillantly enuciates the most important tenets of Confucian thought in a clear and concise manner, while at the same time not forsaking any of the intellectual or scholarly integrity that often happens with certain translations of Confucius. Lau 's introduction gives a wonderful introduction to the goldmine of wisdom that one encounters while reading Confucius and helped me to understand the teachings of Confucius better than any other translator. As for "The Analects" itself, I could write 20 pages on why it is the most beautifully constructed philosophy ever written, but I won't and will simply say this. The wisdom in "The Analects" is worth more than 10 of those so called "New Age" books that attempt to give insight but in fact only give rhetoric. Confucius wil open your eyes to the joy of living and the joy of a life of the pursuit of what TRUE wisdom, truth and virtue really are. READ THIS BOOK, IT WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE.
Rating:
Summary: one of the wisest
Review: I am writing this based on a different translation of "Analects." Nevertheless, Confucius is undoubtedly one of the wisest men ever to live. There is noone that won't benefit by reading his book. The wit and wisdom of his writings are a rarity today. With people spending all of their time trying to acquire knowledge, they are overlooking the importance and value of wisdom. This book should be more widely read.
Rating:
Summary: one of the wisest
Review: I am writing this based on a different translation of "Analects." Nevertheless, Confucius is undoubtedly one of the wisest men ever to live. There is noone that won't benefit by reading his book. The wit and wisdom of his writings are a rarity today. With people spending all of their time trying to acquire knowledge, they are overlooking the importance and value of wisdom. This book should be more widely read.
Rating: 
Summary: Not As Good As Its Reputation
Review: I had heard much about the Sayings, but after actually reading them, I can only say they left me quite unimpressed. There is very little in the book besides exhortations to be steady, sincere and to obey one's parents and tradition. Nothing at all is said about any sort of internal transformation as one finds in Lao-Tze. I can't read Chinese, so I can't say how accurate the translation is, but if this is what Confucius was all about I just don't see what all the fuss is about.
Rating: 
Summary: Easily read, an excellent translation
Review: I have to preface my review with the fact that I don't really like Confucius' underlying themes and messages. As a religon or a philosophy, Confucius tends to leave me unfulfilled. However, this translation by Arthur Waley and the introduction by Robert Wilkinson are excellent. Easily the best of the translations that I have seen, this book is a must have for any serious study of Confucius.
Rating: 
Summary: Surprisingly Relevent
Review: I was surprised to find that I was often very interested in the topics within this book and Confucius' handling of said themes. Having read Plato only a short time ago, Confucius seemed like a breath of fresh air. His concerns are how to live a virtuous life and achieve benevolence. Unlike much ancient philosphy, many of the sayings have their impact undimished by time. In each book (consisting usually of about 3 pages) there would generally be at least two or three sayings that struck me as truly meaningful and pertinent. Naturally, there were also some that seemed out of place or irrational, but that is to be expected in any text which is so old. If one is able to mine the gold from the rocks, Analects of Confucius can be quite a rewarding experience. However, I found the introduction and essays in the back of the book to be superfluous and felt that they did not shed much additional light on who Confucius was or what his teachings meant, choosing instead to focus mostly on minutue that was mostly uninteresting to me. This book is not a long read, and almost certainly worth a curious person's time.
Rating:
Summary: The brilliance of humility.
Review: If, when you think of "eastern philosophy," yourheart goes pitter-patter for esoteric revelations from AscendedMasters, stories of Jesus practicing magic in Tibet as a youngster, oreven the mind-expanding wit of Zhuang Zi, you may find Confuciusboringly prosaic. His wisdom lies in a different direction, and ismore subtle. The Analects is like a bowl of Chinese dumplings, or attheir most flavorful dim sum, that you pick out one at a time andlearn the taste and value of. Few of his sayings are brilliant, butrather the kind of mundane and kindly profundity that the war-wearyChina of the late Zhou found so filling. In modern China, too, I havefound that Confucius is very popular, probably more popular than thewitty Lao Zi. Confucius said his teachings were connected by asingle thread. While a disciple gave a slightly different solution,the thread I suggest you follow through this otherwise ratherdisjointed collection of teachings and observations is humility. Bythat I don't mean self-abnegation or loss of individuality in thecollective, but an ability to see clearly in all directions -- above,towards superiors (ultimately God), below, compassion for the needy,within, ("To know what you know, and know what you don't know,this is knowledge") and without, to take an interest in the worldaround you. (Confucius became China's "first teacher"because he himself was "eager to learn.") To me, this kindof integrated humility is the starting point for any worthwhilephilosophy of life. The Analects can also be of value to peopleinterested in the critical study of the New Testament, by the way.This book greatly resembles the Gospels in terms of genre. Bothconsist of sayings and actions of a teacher who traveled with a bandof disciples, as recorded by the early community of followers. Fewscholars doubt the historical character of the Analects, whilecontroversy about the Gospels makes headlines on a regular basis. Itis interesting to me that the same internal arguments scholars likeCreel and Lau use to prove the Analects, apply even more strongly tothe Gospels. If you do read the two sets of documents together, youmight try the further experiment of comparing Confucius' ideal person,sage or "Savior" as Confucian scholar Chen Jingpan describeshim, to the central character of the Gospels. Remember that Menciussaid a sage would appear once every 500 years, and Confucius lived in500 B.C. As a Christian I respect Confucius not only as a great moralteacher, but also sometimes think he might have been a kind ofprophet. Five stars for Confucius; one lost in translation.Soothill seems accurate, as far as I can tell, and the price is right,but his language is a bit archaic at times. Also, be sure to get aversion with notes. Author, True Son of Heaven: How Jesus Fulfillsthe Chinese Culture ...
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