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Category Archives: Book reviews: other

The Dawn of Modern Korea

20-Jul-08

The Dawn of Modern Korea

Andrei Lankov - The Dawn of Modern Korea EunHaeng NaMu publishing, 2008 Stern(7,g) This entertaining book has, paradoxically, taken me a devil of a long time to finish. That’s not because it’s difficult. It’s because it’s the opposite. The book is co-branded with a series of articles that Andrei Lankov has been writing for the Korea Times since 2002. Very interesting articles lasting on average three or four pages. The sort of feature article it's a pleasure to read on a lazy weekend, if you can find it the the pull-out section among the glossy advertisements. But these are individual articles none the less, with very little joining them together. The book could have done with some editorial oversight – twice in the same article ...
Also filed in Book reviews: History | Tagged | Comments (0) »

Words of inspiration

24-Feb-08

Words of inspiration

NO RIVER TO CROSS: Trusting the Enlightenment that's Always Right There Zen Master Daehaeng Wisdom Publications, Boston US$14.95 Stern(10,g) The title refers to the idea that you don't have to make a grand pilgrimage to find your Buddha nature, as it's already inside you, and this approachable book offers plenty of inspiring thoughts. It starts with a lovely biographical account of Daehaeng Kun Sunim, who rejected formal teaching and wandered alone for years in the wilderness to find out what life was all about. The book proceeds to offer an introduction to Buddhist ideas -- often profound and challenging, but arranged in short and stimulating pieces to meditate upon. Beautifully produced, it's not a book to read in one sitting, but to digest slowly ...
Also filed in Book reviews: traditional culture | Tagged | Comments (0) »