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Mythbusting the Cult of Confucius What the Chinese Really Are How to Understand Them and Why We Need to Wayne Deeker 9781626520011 Books

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Mythbusting the Cult of Confucius What the Chinese Really Are How to Understand Them and Why We Need to Wayne Deeker 9781626520011 Books

Mr. Deeker covers his subject very well. Other than having spent five years in Shanghai, apparently mostly as a teacher, his academic credentials are not clearly stated. Although he repeatedly denies it, Deeker seems to write in a sort of mean-spirited way. I spent many years in China as a teacher of English, and this long and repetitive book addresses many questions about Chinese culture and the behavior of (primarily) big-city students and business people. I recommend "Mythbusting" to people who anticipate a long exposure to Chinese culture. Ernie Danek, professor emeritus of English, Zhoukou Normal University, Henan province.


Tags : Mythbusting the Cult of Confucius: What the Chinese Really Are, How to Understand Them and Why We Need to [Wayne Deeker] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. China is ever-more important to western countries, yet remains shrouded in myth. This book is the first to part those myths and demystify the realities of Chinese ways. Western people need to know because Chinese traits and values,Wayne Deeker,Mythbusting the Cult of Confucius: What the Chinese Really Are, How to Understand Them and Why We Need to,Mill City Press, Inc.,1626520011,Asia - China,Confucianism,Eastern,History : Asia - China,HistoryAsia - China,Oriental & Indian philosophy,PHILOSOPHY Eastern,Philosophy,PhilosophyCriticism,Religion : Confucianism,ReligionConfucianism,TravelAsia - China

Mythbusting the Cult of Confucius What the Chinese Really Are How to Understand Them and Why We Need to Wayne Deeker 9781626520011 Books Reviews

This book is a rough diamond. It's all it claims to be, including a very interesting and practical guide to Chinese culture for foreigners to China, plus an engaging documentary of China-issues that matter to the rest of the world (like education, trade). However, it's also far more. There's so much in this book, it's hard to summarize or classify. Even if you have no interest in China you will still find something valuable in this book.

It uses Chinese culture as a platform from which to make generalizations about all cultures. How many authors have ever been able to say something universal and timeless? Exceedingly few, it seems to me, but I also think that's an indicator of real literary value. It's also at times funny and profound.

I especially liked the discussion of childishness and developmental levels. It's a bit confronting at first, but made me re-examine my situation. It clarifies much about the world, and now I am seeing examples all around. From this book I learned something about myself and I have grown up a little thanks to it. The book also made me rethink my relationships and what kind of parent I am. Seeing the results of Chinese parenting inspire us to do better.

The book contains a really interesting re-interpretation of Chinese history from the Han dynasty. It's very alarming what religions do to control people another timeless generalization. I think most scary is the explanation of the title, and why Chinese society is a cult. I'm convinced.

There's a lot more I could add about this very rich and deep book. The chapter about the Chinese school brainwashing system is at once touching, tragic and worrying.

I don't agree with Ernest Danek, a previous reviewer. There is no malice in this book. It's obviously intended to help, both the Chinese people and others. It's hard to understand where Mr Danek is coming from. It's just wrong, this book in not mean-spirited. Honesty and meanness are completely different things.

It is very honest, and some folks won't like that, but too bad. It's bold, and not at all politically correct, and all the more refreshing for that. Very few books rock boats these days, but more should. This book takes a stand. It also points out many foolish things western governments do concerning the Chinese. We should all take heed of what this book says.
Having spent a relatively short time in China (one month), I can verify the accuracy of most of the authors observations concerning the behavior and mentality of the average mainland Chinese person. However, I think he is mistaken to assign the bulk of the blame to Confucianism.

The author appears to be a freethinker who is hostile to any form of received tradition or authority; this no doubt naturally prejudices him against Confucianism. As another reviewer mentions, it seems as if he has not fully read and/or appreciated the meaning and ethical profundity of the core Confucian texts.

In his blog posts he gives a very shallow and prejudiced analysis of Confucian beliefs. His blog post "Confucianism for beginners" is indicative of his basic misunderstanding of the core tenets of Confucianism; most of the things he thinks are characteristically Confucian are in fact directly opposed to Confucian orthodoxy. For example, the statement "gain as much as you can by any means" is used by the author to be indicative of Confucian reasoning. This statement is really indicative of the greedy, unrestrained capitalism advocated by the Chinese government since 1978. The true Confucian position is completely opposed to such greedy profit seeking. In the Analects Confucius said “The gentleman understands rightness, whereas the petty person understands profit."

Confucianism's fundamental stress is upon ethical cultivation of the individual. However, this individual does not stand alone. He is always seen as part of a greater whole. Ethical individuals make good families, good families produce good communities, and good communities produce good governments. Confucianism advocates humane, ethical conduct from the individual all the way to the highest levels of governance. Conversely, a good government can help improve communities, which in turn improves families, which in turn improves individuals. Either way, from the top down or from the bottom up, ethical conduct promotes beneficial changes in ourselves and those we are socially connected with. Obviously the Chinese (and most of humanity) fail to live up to such a standard.

For some reason the author expects the behavior of China and the Chinese to actually accurately represent Confucian principles and behavior! This is a remarkably idealistic, naive mistake. This is analogous expecting the behavior of a nominally Christian country and its citizens to accurately represent the doctrines and behavior advocated by Jesus. Expecting the majority of people to live up to the ethical ideal of a religion or philosophy is naive and foolish. Only the exceptionally good and/or intelligent minority truly comprehend and attempt to live up to such rigorous standards. The majority of those who claim to be Christian, Confucian, or anything else have little real understanding of what they speak of. Even if they do understand the basics well enough, most prefer to remain comfortable hypocrites, rather than attempting to better themselves through attempting to practice what they profess.

Moral of the story Don't expect the average person (a lifelong, unthinking hypocrite) to practice what they profess. In reality it is often the opposite! The mainland Chinese are one of the best examples.

To sum up The author gives a good behavioral profile of the mainland Chinese. However, his hatred of Confucianism springs from a surprisingly poor understanding of its core doctrines. The reason the mainland Chinese are the way they are is a complex combination of many factors that cannot be oversimplified in the way the author has attempted to do.
Superficial book by a person who harbors a deep dislike for the Chinese people and their culture. His knowledge of Confucianism was garnered from encyclopedias and mass market paperbacks by hack translators. One wonders, if, as this writer insists, Confucianism held the Chinese back so horribly why it is the Tang Dynasty had massive cities with a level of progress far beyond that of their equivalent in the west....the Dark Ages. But apparently the author's deep knowledge of the history culled from several books he got at an airport kiosk did not go into enough depth to cover actual history.
I absolutely enjoyed it, purchased two copies because it is original, entertaining (I actually read the whole book and enjoyed the real-life stories) and insightful. The author takes his own expériences, while deconstructing Confucianism in a critical way so that misconceptions are revised. I would recommend this to anyone who is interested in Chinese culture - it présents a very unique looking glass and I have read no other book alike on the topic.
Mr. Deeker covers his subject very well. Other than having spent five years in Shanghai, apparently mostly as a teacher, his academic credentials are not clearly stated. Although he repeatedly denies it, Deeker seems to write in a sort of mean-spirited way. I spent many years in China as a teacher of English, and this long and repetitive book addresses many questions about Chinese culture and the behavior of (primarily) big-city students and business people. I recommend "Mythbusting" to people who anticipate a long exposure to Chinese culture. Ernie Danek, professor emeritus of English, Zhoukou Normal University, Henan province.