NationStates Jolt Archive


Greed and Death's book of the month club.

greed and death
19-03-2009, 08:02
Well I was out of booze after Saint Pat's day. And I wondered what it would be like if i didn't just post on NSG as drunken arguer.
Well I figured the best way would be to discuss books I am reading and others have read or might be interested in reading.

So the book I have selected is Through Chinese Eyes Tradition, Revolution, and Transformation. by Edward Vernoff and Peter Seybolt.

I find the book to be a very in depth look into Chinese culture before, during, after the communist revolution.
A teaser quote To the Chinese social work always looked like meddling with other peoples business. A man enthusiastic for social reform or in fact for any kind of public work always looks a bit ridiculous. We discount his sincerity. We cannot understand him. What does he mean by going out of his way to do all this work? Is he courting publicity? Why is he not loyal to his family and why does he not get an official promotion to help his family first? We decide he is young , or else he is a deviation from the normal human type. (Vernoff, 32)
Galloism
19-03-2009, 08:03
It's weird to see you sober and I'm drunk.
Kahless Khan
19-03-2009, 08:06
That's an interesting book. Are there any passages on "Jesus-speaks"?
greed and death
19-03-2009, 08:18
It's weird to see you sober and I'm drunk.

Sadly I drank up all my alcohol on saint Patrick's day, and I am broke. So, after going through some nasty DTs, I decided to pass my sobriety as productively as I can. I am doing this by finding something to discuss I don't just get mad and drunk about.
greed and death
19-03-2009, 08:20
That's an interesting book. Are there any passages on "Jesus-speaks"?

Considering that the Christian missionaries only converted about .5% of the Chinese by the 20th century I have a feeling not.
However, it might have something similar to that during the Taiping revolution.
I am only about 1/3 through the book myself.
Naturality
19-03-2009, 09:11
It's weird to see you sober and I'm drunk.

me too har!
Naturality
19-03-2009, 09:22
What does he mean by going out of his way to do all this work? Is he courting publicity? Why is he not loyal to his family and why does he not get an official promotion to help his family first?




What does it mean when it says he is not loyal to his family? Not spending time at home?
Naturality
19-03-2009, 09:30
I figured he passed out on the keyboard.. sure he's sober? heh
greed and death
19-03-2009, 09:36
What does he mean by going out of his way to do all this work? Is he courting publicity? Why is he not loyal to his family and why does he not get an official promotion to help his family first?




What does it mean when it says he is not loyal to his family? Not spending time at home?

This is time frame of pre-communist revolution.
As I have read the chapter it seems to be work for your family/clan and not for society. It doesn't seem to fit in with the concept of Filial piety to do something for someone other then family and friends. The next page there is a quote that criticizes a married man for jumping into a river to save a child he doesnt know. Another pages praises the virtues of a government official stealing/accepting bribes for millions of dollars worth of silver to take care of his family for generations to come.
greed and death
19-03-2009, 09:36
I figured he passed out on the keyboard.. sure he's sober? heh

reading the book actually/ now off to bed for a few hours.
Pissarro
20-03-2009, 02:18
Wow absolutely fascinating. I will have to read this book.
Straughn
20-03-2009, 08:06
I'm 'twixt books and magazines right now (not much time for it of late)
Discover Magazine's Top 100 Science Stories ...

http://discovermagazine.com/2009/jan/098
http://discovermagazine.com/2009/jan/033
http://discovermagazine.com/2009/jan/041
http://discovermagazine.com/2009/jan/042
http://discovermagazine.com/2009/jan/049
http://discovermagazine.com/2009/jan/053
http://discovermagazine.com/2009/jan/063
http://discovermagazine.com/2009/jan/071
http://discovermagazine.com/2009/jan/076
http://discovermagazine.com/2009/jan/090
as well as Richard Dawkins' The Ancestor's Tale,

as well as The Worst Case Scenario Survival Guide's Guide to Life,

as well as Back In The Day by Michael Powell,

also Skeptic Magazine's Dawkins special issue,

and The Intellectual Devotional by Kidder & Oppenheim.

There's plenty to quote if anyone is interested.
Marrakech II
20-03-2009, 08:39
Sadly I drank up all my alcohol on saint Patrick's day, and I am broke. So, after going through some nasty DTs, I decided to pass my sobriety as productively as I can. I am doing this by finding something to discuss I don't just get mad and drunk about.

you already went through the house and drank all the mouthwash, perfume and rubbing alcohol?
Lackadaisical2
20-03-2009, 08:46
Am I the only one who imagined G&D as Oprah?

Incidentally I am also out of booze, thankfully I'm not broke, so I'll probably get some tomorrow :)

Oh yea, the book sounds interesting I feel like I've heard that quote, or part of it before actually.
greed and death
20-03-2009, 11:44
you already went through the house and drank all the mouthwash, perfume and rubbing alcohol?

yes...
greed and death
20-03-2009, 11:45
Am I the only one who imagined G&D as Oprah?

I am Oprah.

Incidentally I am also out of booze, thankfully I'm not broke, so I'll probably get some tomorrow :)

Oh yea, the book sounds interesting I feel like I've heard that quote, or part of it before actually.

It is a very good book I am about half way through it now. Taking a break for the timing being as I got to work on some other school stuff.