Confucius: The Golden Rule

by Russell Freedman

Book Overview

America's premier biographer for young people illuminates the remarkable life and far-reaching influence of the famous Chinese philosopher. Born in China in 551 B. C., Confucius rose from poverty to... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0439139570
• ISBN13: 9780439139571
• Release Date: September 2002
• Publisher: Arthur A. Levine Books
• Length: 48 Pages
• Weight: 0.84 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 8.3" x 10.3"
• Age Range: 10 to 13 years
• Grade Range: Grades 5 to 8

Customer Reviews

A most fantastic achievement

A most remarkable work. I've read several book about Lincol, but none have given a better personal and in depth of his intimate life. Gove Vidal's historic novel, Lincoln, give the historical picture, but in Eosteins book, we get a very close and intimate details of life in the 1850's. thus far never available. I give great prise to Epstein for his remarkabel researh. The "quote" and the everyday accounts of Lincols and Mary's life together and apart.Quite a remarkable undertaking indeed.

Interesting but short

Interesting. I bought this book to read and learn about Confucius. This book is short and gives you a good idea about Confucius but if you are very interested in the subject get a more detailed book. This one is very short.

Excellent

This book, while non-fiction, read like a story, keeping it interesting yet providing fact, thought, questions, myth busters, and acknowledgment where facts are unclear or uncertain. Best of all, an entertainment with great messages for living a good quality, vituous life. I enjoyed this one as an adult, and looking forward to sharing it with the children & teens in my life, as well as other adults.

Confucius: The Golden Rule

Confucius was a minor government official who desperately wanted to change the government of China. But because of his radical ideas, he was never given the opportunity. He became a scholar who taught his pupils to think. Many years after his death, his ideas were written down and have survived for thousands of years. Tidbits of Confucius's wisdom have even made their way into American fortune cookies. Because little is known of the fifth century B.C. scholar, Freedman makes an effort to establish what information is believed to be fact and what is more likely legend.The book's beautiful antiquated illustrations complement the text. They are as mysterious as the life of Confucius. I especially like the little details in this book: the quotes from the Analects on the endpapers, the author's note detailing his observations of the celebration in China held for Confucius each year, and the annotated bibliography.

The Life and Times of Confucius.....

"More than 2,500 years have passed since Confucius walked the dusty country roads of China, chatting with his disciples, yet his voice still rings clear and true down through the centuries. Those who knew him never forgot him. Those who came after handed down his sayings from one generation to the next, right up to our own time..." So begins Russell Freedman's brilliant and engaging biography of Confucius, a minor government official who desperately wanted to be a political force in ancient China. "Though he offered many bold ideas for reform, his advice was ignored by the rulers of the day. For this reason, he spent much of his time teaching and discussing his ideas with his students." His simple, yet profound thoughts about government, education, and religion were shared with his followers through conversations and dialogues, and finally written down, many years after his death, in a book that has come to be known as the Analects. "This slim volume is the one source where we can most clearly hear the unique voice of the real, living Confucius." Mr Freedman's well researched story is written in an easy to read, conversational style and filled with history, mystery, intriguing biographical details, quotes from the Analect, and fascinating fun facts. Frederic Clement's elegant and evocative Chinese-style illustrations look ancient and authentic, and are rich in emotion, color, and detail. Together word and art bring the great philospher and his times to life on the page. With an enlightening Author's Note, and informative sources and suggestions for further reading included at the end, Confucius: The Golden Rule is an entertaining and inspiring introductory biography that is sure to whet the appetite of kids 10 and older, and send them out looking for more. "And so, after twenty-five centuries, the pros and cons of what Confucius said or didn't say are still being debated. The reason isn't hard to find. He trusted people to think for themselves. He was always ready to offer suggestions, but he insisted that each of us must find answers for ourselves. And he admitted that he himself did not know the truth, only a way to look for it..."