Rating: 
Summary: PRETTY GOOD BOOK
Review: THE ANALECTS IS A GOOD BOOK FOR ANYBODY WHO WANTS TO UNDERSTAND CONFUCIAN PHILOSOPHY. THE TRANSLATION IS CLEAR AND UNDERSTANDABLE, EASY TO READ, BUT IT DOESNT EXPLAIN WHAT EACH ANALECT MEANS AND BEGGINERS ON THE SUBJECT COULD MISUNDERSTAND THE MEANINGS. GREAT REFERENCE BOOK FOR PEOPLE WHO ALREADY KNOW CONFUCIANISM OR A LITTLE OF CHINESE HISTORY.
Rating:
Summary: PRETTY GOOD BOOK
Review: THE ANALECTS IS A GOOD BOOK FOR ANYBODY WHO WANTS TO UNDERSTAND CONFUCIAN PHILOSOPHY. THE TRANSLATION IS CLEAR AND UNDERSTANDABLE, EASY TO READ, BUT IT DOESNT EXPLAIN WHAT EACH ANALECT MEANS AND BEGGINERS ON THE SUBJECT COULD MISUNDERSTAND THE MEANINGS. GREAT REFERENCE BOOK FOR PEOPLE WHO ALREADY KNOW CONFUCIANISM OR A LITTLE OF CHINESE HISTORY.
Rating: 
Summary: One of the best translations of this classic!
Review: The _Analects_ is a collection of sayings attributed toConfucius and some of his disciples. For more than 2,000 years, ithas been one of the great classics of Chinese civilization. Lau's is one of the better translations, and this edition includes an informative introduction and helpful appendices.Other good translations of the _Analects_ include those by Arthur Waley and James Legge. The best overall study of the life and thought of Confucius is probably still Herrlee Creel's _Confucius: The Man and the Myth_.
Rating:
Summary: Fabulous book at a fabulous price
Review: This book contains the essential antiquities of ancient learning that fostered the development of the philosophies in the west in a clear, easy to read format. I was amply impressed by the organization and translation, and doubly impressed by the fantastic price. I would highly recommend for anyone just curious about philosophy, or for anyone doing scholarly research on this subject. 5 stars
Rating:
Summary: A pretty good edition
Review: This is a great intro into the philosophy of Confucianism. See what the sage had to say on filial devotion, how to run a state and his views on virtue. However, the Analects are a bit difficult to understand as many of them are short, seemingly disconnected sayings many of which require the knowledge of backstories of Chinese history (if you want longer more cohesive narratives illustrating the principles try Mencius). Luckily this edition has sufficient footnotes to get the basic grasp. Don't expect a marvel of profundity when reading the Analects - they are but sayings compiled by his students and do not reflect the whole of his philosophy. The text also seems to be corrupt in a number of places - but do expect a book containing much wisdom. I'm sure there are better translations but this one seems good in itself
Rating: 
Summary: Strange, strange choices
Review: This is not the translation by Arthur Waley (which is very good) but the one by D.C. Lau. Since Lau's translation was first published, a number of advances have been made in the field of Warring States Period scholarship which render a fair amount of the supporting material obsolete (see "The Original Analects" by Brooks and Brooks for the latest). As for the translation itself, it's rife with awkward and mystifying word choices -- for instance, in a passage in chapter 11 in which the disciple Zilu (Tzu-lu, in Wade-Giles romanization, which Lau uses) gets the better of Confucius in an argument, Waley translates the Master's retort, "It is remarks of that kind that make me hate glib people," and the Brookses and Huang Chichung make similar choices; but Lau renders it, "It is for this reason that I dislike men who are plausible." Similar mishandlings of connotation appear throughout the book. For an old-fashioned translation, Waley's is a hundred times better.
Rating:
Summary: Inspiring read
Review: This should be required reading for everyone by adulthood. It gives you a unique perspective which no educated person should be without.
Rating:
Summary: Inspiring read
Review: This should be required reading for everyone by adulthood. It gives you a unique perspective which no educated person should be without.
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