New Entries :

I found your website a couple of days ago as I was beginning my search for the book, "The Importance of Living". I googled 'Lin Yutang' and yours was the second entry... Anyway, I thought you might get a chuckle out of this story. I had an appointment today, and I left with PLENTY of time to make the appointment and stop at a used bookstore along the way, to see if they had the book. They didn't, though looking for it took somewhat longer than I thought it would. As I left the bookstore there was some road construction that prevented me from getting back to the road I'd been on, so I took what I thought was going to be a shortcut. After a series of wrong turns and seemingly hours-long waits at EVERY traffic light on the way, I finally arrived at my appointment about three minutes late and VERY stressed out. As I parked, I checked my appearance in the mirror and took a couple of deep breaths and then was struck by the significance of the hour just past..... you probably see where this is going.... Considering that the following was one of the quotes that drew me to the book, I just had to laugh:   "The three great American vices seem to be efficiency, punctuality, and the desire for achievement and success. They are the things that make the Americans so unhappy and so nervous." TJ, USA, 30 Aug 2007

G'Day David, I was chuffed to read your info on Lin Yutang -- The Importance on Living has been, and is for me, the most useful and wise book aside from the Tao Te Ching, well, it's much more useful really.  Who else could explain smoking, or the importance of when and where to drink tea so well? It's amazing how his work magically turns up ! My copy came from an op shop (thrift shop/charity shop) in New South Wales, Australia, and has even survived a few years of homelessness in the late 90s with me.  I picked it up because I liked the title, it seemed so reassuring.  It makes me laugh and is comforting at the same time. All my Aussie Aboriginal mates agree with him too, which is possibly not surpising. I posted part of his yarn about smoking at our Indig peoples website 'Jinta Jungu' by request, so you can drop in there and natter about him if you like.  It's amazing more people don't know of his work really. This weekend, my husband bought me something special, he works Saturdays in a little antique shop in a small country town called Casino in NSW.  He found a copy of Lin Yutang's The Vermilion Gate (only published in the UK and this edition from the early 50s -- how did it get to where he found it? no name on the fly leaf, no former library card, no hint at all, must be magic!), the first of his novels I have come across.  I was sitting reading it in a hammock, under a mango tree, with a perfect cup of tea and a good smoke and thought he'd approve of how I was enjoying the book context-wise. Anyway, it's sad you had to shut your guestbook because I imagine a bunch of Lin Yutang fans would be lovely yarning. keep well Best wishes Willow Aliento Mummulgum Australia (received 26 Feb 2006, with thanks, David)

I purchased PEKING AUGENBLICK UND EWIGKEIT in Switzerland on a second hand market, being a translation from Moments in Peking, written by Lin Yutang and translated by L. Rossi. I really enjoyed reading. It gives a cogent story of some families in China around the year 1900. It is not a philosophical book, but I would like to encourage everybody who wants to get an impression of Chinese life in this period to read it. Apart from telling family histories it pays much attention to the developments in China in the period around 1890-1910. I would appreciate if you add this to your guestbook. I was pleasantly surprised to find your information regarding the writer on internet. Kind regards Tom Thalhammer (received 5th Jan 2006)

Thank you so much for starting a Lin Yutang page on your website.  I, too, have been deeply changed by reading his book "The Importance of Living" and some of the other books.  I thought I was alone in my opinion of how great a philospher he was as I have never heard of him before in school, magazines, etc... and found his book completely by accident - or maybe by a cosmic appointment.  I never thought I could refer to an author whom I have never met as a spiritual mentor and guide but I think he may just be that for me, too.  Who would have thunk it?    Thanks for sharing his infor with the world on your site. JiYoung (received 4 March 2005)

Hi there, I got a copy of "The Importance of Living" from a second hand bookshop in Oxford, UK about 15 years ago.  Only now have I read it through a couple of times properly.  A really great book.  Very wise.  Thought I'd check the net to see if there was anything on this guy - a bit reluctant in case I'd find info that would detract from the book.  Good to find your page.  Surprised to find that he lived for so long ... I had imagined him to be older when writing it, and surprised to find he ended up being a Christian. Regards, Piaras Kelly New Zealand  (received 5 Feb 2005)