Lin Yutang (1895-1976) was a renowned Chinese intellectual, philosopher, teacher, author and inventor (he invented a Chinese typewriter and lesser things like a toothbrush which dispensed toothpaste). This book published in the middle of the Second World War became quite controversial because it broke with the tone of his earlier English writings by criticizing Western racism and imperialism. As he said in the 'Preface to Myself': "The purpose...