In this most unusual book Dr. Lin Yutang has distilled the essence of life as understood and observed by the Chinese through the ages. Every reader is sure to find here, in a book planned so that it san be dipped into at leisure, a number of those treasure of literature that give both insight and understanding.Long known, both here and in his native China, as a philosopher and poet, Dr. Lin Yutang has freshly translated some one hundred of what he considers the best pieces in Chinese literature; much of this has before appeared in English. The writings include tales, poems, familiar letters, proverbs, fables, witty sayings, and, above all, essays, essays on painting, cuisine, concubines, flower arrangement, foot-binding, religion, the philosophy of life. For clearly, the emphasis in this book is on the brief Chinese essay, that amusing and wise form expressing the view of life that dwell on beauty and delicate contrasts.