Reading Laozi Today
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Summary
I studied history in university, spent my career in foreign trade, and after retirement reread the Laozi, which gave me fresh insights—hence this record. Limited by my narrow learning, shallow study and scant experience, errors are unavoidable; I welcome readers' corrections.
Editor's review
Who it's for
A good fit for
- Readers interested in the Daodejing but daunted by the original text, seeking a modern interpretation as an entry point
- Professionals in management, education or psychological counseling looking for inspiration from Eastern wisdom
- Explorers at a turning point or under pressure in life, eager to find inner calm and strength in philosophy
- Readers in the humanities and social sciences who enjoy cross-disciplinary thinking that combines historical and contemporary perspectives
Not a good fit for
- Pure textual scholars expecting rigorous academic research and collation of editions
- Pragmatists seeking quick success formulas or concrete step-by-step guides
Reading tips
- Read quickly through once to grasp the author's overall interpretive framework and style; do not get bogged down in details
- As you read, connect the book's ideas with your own experience or social phenomena you have observed, and reflect on them
- Read alongside passages from the original Daodejing to appreciate the differences and resonances between ancient and modern perspectives
About the publisher
China International Culture Press Limited, headquartered in Hong Kong, is a comprehensive publisher serving Chinese-reading communities worldwide. Its publishing covers classics, art, literary appreciation, modern poetry, documentary literature and cultural studies. Representative titles include Gleaning Delights in the Sea of Art, Notes on Reading Zhuangzi, Studies in Rubbings and Appreciation of Fine Rubbings, Research on Mahler's Symphonies: Genre, Symbol and Intertextuality, An Appreciation of Mao Zedong's Couplet Collection, A Cool Stroll through a Mountain Village, A Cultural History of the Imperial Examination in the Late Imperial Period, and Moving Beyond Intergenerational Trauma from the Family of Origin, with authors such as Xu Jiaqiang, Lin Zhengong, Sun Honglin, Wu Ning, Liu Chunyong, Niu Qiushi and Jin Shang. The books in its catalogue show a balance between art appreciation and cultural scholarship, serving both general readers and specialized research. As public information is limited, other publishing features are not detailed here.
Contents
- 版权信息
- 作者简介
- 前言
- 今读《老子》
- 一
- 二
- 三
- 四
- 五
- 六
- 七
- 八
- 九
- 十
- 十一
- 十二
- 十三
- 十四
- 十五
- 十六
- 十七
- 十八
- 十九
- 二十
- 二十一
- 二十二
- 二十三
- 二十四
- 二十五
- 二十六
- 二十七
- 二十八
- 二十九
- 三十
- 三十一
- 三十二
- 三十三
- 三十四
- 三十五
- 三十六
- 三十七
- 三十八
- 三十九
- 四十
- 四十一
- 四十二
- 四十三
- 四十四
- 四十五
- 四十六
- 四十七
- 四十八
- 四十九
- 五十
- 五十一
- 五十二
- 五十三
- 五十四
- 五十五
- 五十六
- 五十七
- 五十八
- 五十九
- 六十
- 六十一
- 六十二
- 六十三
- 六十四
- 六十五
- 六十六
- 六十七
- 六十八
- 六十九
- 七十
- 七十一
- 七十二
- 七十三
- 七十四
- 七十五
- 七十六
- 七十七
- 七十八
- 七十九
- 八十
- 八十一
- 今文《老子》
- 一
- 二
- 三
- 四
- 五
- 六
- 七
- 八
- 九
- 十
- 十一
- 十二
- 十三
- 十四
- 十五
- 十六
- 十七
- 十八
- 十九
- 二十
- 二十一
- 二十二
- 二十三
- 二十四
- 二十五
- 二十六
- 二十七
- 二十八
- 二十九
- 三十
- 三十一
- 三十二
- 三十三
- 三十四
- 三十五
- 三十六
- 三十七
- 三十八
- 三十九
- 四十
- 四十一
- 四十二
- 四十三
- 四十四
- 四十五
- 四十六
- 四十七
- 四十八
- 四十九
- 五十
- 五十一
- 五十二
- 五十三
- 五十四
- 五十五
- 五十六
- 五十七
- 五十八
- 五十九
- 六十
- 六十一
- 六十二
- 六十三
- 六十四
- 六十五
- 六十六
- 六十七
- 六十八
- 六十九
- 七十
- 七十一
- 七十二
- 七十三
- 七十四
- 七十五
- 七十六
- 七十七
- 七十八
- 七十九
- 八十
- 八十一
FAQ
Is the interpretation academic or popular?
What distinguishes this book from other interpretations of Laozi?
Can I understand it without a philosophy background?
Comments
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About the author
Ma Ningsheng is an author about whom little public information is currently available; the only work of his included in the library is Reading Laozi Today. Judging from the title and its usual classification under Eastern philosophy, the book offers an interpretation of the Daoist classic Laozi, belonging to the kind of writing that rereads classic texts for contemporary readers. Since his dates of birth and death, nationality, and educational background are not reliably documented, no further speculation about his life is appropriate here. What can be established is that Ma Ningsheng comes to readers' attention through Reading Laozi Today, and that his approach leans toward explicating and clarifying ancient thought rather than purely academic textual criticism. His writing appears aimed at suiting modern reading habits and helping readers grasp the essentials of Laozi's thought. For readers taking a first look at Daoist philosophy, such a work may serve as an introductory reference. Other information about the author awaits further public documentation.
