Zhuangzi: The Complete Writings (English Edition)

I'm a little sad such a beautifully designed book is a paperback but at the same time it's a well designed wealth of knowledge for a great price. My favorite is the size of the text it's just the right size for studying, it's not all cramped together to try and fit as much on a page as possible.

Zhuangzi: The Complete Writings (2020) Brook ZiporynIt's good. I like so much about it. I've been an academic and a spiritual practitioner for 35 + years. I'm kinda cynical.The inner chapters are terrific, but purposely ambiguous, so one must read lightly but carefully. Thank god for the glossary and leading sections before the chapters. The footnotes are helpful (and yes of course especially academic). I like when people are careful and hesitant. I got bogged down for an unknown reason toward the end of the outer chapters. The final chapters are very specific (if one hasn't gotten the message by then). I've been sitting with the book and the author's write-up online as to what he thinks Zhuangzi is saying (as best he can) for a couple of months, re-reading. I gotta say that the more radical spiritualists are all pointing to the same thing. For me, it's very postmodern philosophically, and that's where I'm living these days.I appreciate a good academic rendition on reality. There are so many and so many fascinating ones. It's fun, and for some of us, it's like surfing with never-ending waves.Thanks, Brook. Good job, buddy.

The author, BROOK ZIPORYN, IS A COLLEGE PROFESSOR. He has an excellent understanding and interpretation of the ZHUANGZI. The book would make a good college text book. Small print; a lot of detailed information on each page; no pictures in the book. The author includes a lot of historical information in his interpretation of the ZHUANGZI; which he must find to be important to present the ZHUANGZI in a correct way. I found the author's incredibly detailed college text book writing style quite boring for me. Too much elaborated detail going on, and on, and on, and on; giving example after example on each point that he makes. I kept thinking; alright already; I get the main point; you don't need the other 10 examples to make your main point. It took ZIPORYN 10 pages to explain why he translated and wrote the book the way he did. You will need a dictionary by your side as you read this book to interpret many of the words that the author uses in his writing style. I found the book by VICTOR H. MAIR, WANDERING ON THE WAY : EARLY TAOIST TALES AND PARABLES OF CHUANG-TZU, a lot more enjoyable to read. MAIR also has an excellent understanding and interpretation of the ZHUANGZI; which Mair calls the CHUANG-TZU. You will also need a dictionary by your side to interpret many of the words in MAIR'S version. Like BROOK ZIPORYN, VICTOR H. MAIR IS ALSO A COLLEGE PROFESSOR; so his book on the CHUANG-TZU would also make an excellent college text book. I just found MAIR'S writing style more enjoyable than ZIPORYN'S writing style. The ZHUANGZI , also called the CHUANG-TZU; has been interpreted many different ways by many different authors. ZIPORYN'S INTERPRETATION AND MAIR'S INTERPRETATION are two of the best interpretations of the ZHUANGZI / CHUANG-TZU.

Great copy of the complete chuangtzu, even aesthetically pleasing to look at lol. The book itself is a masterpiece for looking at the world.

Great quality and condition, but for such a long transit I'd love some sort of wrapping.

Amazing. Just read the book and ignore the numerous footnotes until done w chapter or book, makes for more enjoyable read. Plan on re reading this book likely forever.

Great translation and explanation compared to other versions.

This is a brilliant translation, and the notes are quite detailed. It’s like having a world-class lecture on the subject.

L'edizione di B.Ziporyn è un notevole esempio di come sia possibile rendere verosimile in lingua occidentale, rigida e schematica, un testo che per propria natura e linguaggio, tocca livelli elevati prediligendo la sfumatura e persino l'evanescenza.

Zhuangzi's writings are insightful and take you on a journey through the uncertainty of everything. He was known as the sage of uncertainty in ancient China, well worth reading and understanding!