Asian Philosophy - General & Miscellaneous, Religion - Asia - General & Miscellaneous

Eastern Philosophy

Name: Eastern Philosophy
Author: Kevin Burns
ISBN: 9781592700530

by Kevin Burns

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Overview

A clear and engaging presentation of history's most influential Eastern thinkers

Eastern Philosophy provides a detailed but accessible analysis of the work of nearly sixty thinkers from all of the major Eastern philosophical traditions, from the earliest times to the present day. Covering systems, schools, and individuals, Eastern Philosophy presents founder figures such as Zoroaster and Mohammed as well as modern thinkers such as Nishida Kitaro, perhaps the preeminent figure within modern Japanese philosophy. From Buddhism to Islam, Confucius to Gandhi, the systems of Indian philosophy to the Kyoto School, concepts and individuals are introduced in a lively and lucid narrative. Eastern Philosophy is a thought-provoking and stimulating exploration of fundamental ideas and an array of personalities that is sure to encourage further investigation. A comprehensive glossary, Web resources, and a bibliography further enhance the volume.

Synopsis

Taps into the ever-increasing interest in Buddhism and Islam, as well as other Eastern philosophical traditions.

Catherine Gilmore-Clough - VOYA

Burns strives to cover the breadth of eastern philosophy in one modest volume-an unlikely but mostly successful effort. He starts his work with a quote attributed to Albert Einstein: "Everything should be as simple as possible, but not simpler." That proverb seems to have given him the wherewithal to cram hundreds of centuries of philosophical thought into this first-rate resource tool. The book is divided into three parts, each focused on a different region-India, the Middle East and the Far East-and the broad range of philosophical thought found in each area. Sidebars and illustrations break up the text of most pages, but it remains a dense book. Burns's style is thorough and age-appropriate, but the nearly overwhelming amount of information about the wisdom of Zoroaster, Buddha, and Nishida Kitaro, among others, keeps this resource from being a page-turner. Used as an encyclopedia rather than philosophy primer, it will be a helpful tool for introducing concepts and significant people. The glossary is invaluable, although a pronunciation key would be an improvement. The index allows searching for specific topics and the ability to see where terms or individuals overlap traditions. For larger libraries, or where there is a strong interest in eastern philosophies, it will not replace Leaman's Key Concepts in Eastern Philosophy (Taylor & Francis, 1999) or Fischer-Schreiber's Encyclopedia of Eastern Philosophy and Religion (Shambhala, 1994), but it is an excellent introduction to the topic and a first-rate addition most collections. 2006, Enchanted Lion Books, 208p.; Glossary. Index. Illus. Photos., Ages 11 to Adult.

About the Author, Kevin Burns

Kevin Burns graduated from Oxford University with a degree in English Literature. Having worked in publishing, he is now a writer, teacher, and lecturer. He lives in East Sussex, England, with his wife and two children.

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Editorials

VOYA

Library Journal

Burns, a Briton with experience in publishing and an interest in Indian philosophy, sketches the lives and works of nearly 60 figures from major Eastern philosophical traditions. These geographically organized portraits, most accompanied by black-and-white illustrations, cover India (e.g., the Buddha, Patanjali, Nagarjuna, Shankara, Vivekananda, and Ghandhi); the Middle East (e.g., Zoroaster, Islamic thinkers, Rumi); and the Far East (e.g., Chuang Tzu, Huineng, Mao Zedong, Dogen), with brief introductions to each broad region. The clearly written text seems intended for YA readers, although with no overall preface or introduction, it's difficult to tell. The lack of allusions to recent scholarship and citations in general, plus the reference to the Encyclopaedia Britannica and the curious omission of Jewish philosophy and writers such as the first century's Philo Judaeus from coverage of the Middle East, makes this a poor addition to most collections. Not recommended. James R. Kuhlman, Univ. of North Carolina at Asheville Lib. Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.

School Library Journal

Gr 9 Up-As its subtitle indicates, Burns's text is organized around people rather than ideas or chronology. The anonymous Upanishads get their own entry, but generally, uppercase or boldface personal names introduce specific philosophical positions. "Eastern" guidebooks often overlook Zoroastrianism and Islam, but Burns devotes a quarter of the space to them. Readers reach Gandhi, Mao, and Nishida in the 20th century, but not Falun Gong. Pace, vocabulary, allusions, and complex ideas mark this as a volume for advanced students; the writing is neither clear nor lively enough to entice beginners. The absence of summaries or digests of each philosophy makes this volume most useful for those seeking the contributions of individual thinkers. The typeface is small and faint, and the index is eye-defyingly compressed. Eastern Religions (Oxford, 2005), edited by Michael D. Coogan, has more than twice as many pages and full-color illustrations.-Patricia D. Lothrop, St. George's School, Newport, RI Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.