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(REL 223 World Religions: East and West)

Book Review on Confucius Lives Next Door

The first Book Review is based upon required course readings that offer contemporary accounts of the lived experience of Confucianism and Islam. The reviews call for you to consider the contemporary expressions of these faiths and to reflect upon their relevance to your own and our collective societal experience--To consider how central teachings, principals and practices of these faith traditions could be introduced and implemented into your own life, experience and American culture so as to lend to your personal and our collective edification. In light of the above description from our course syllabus, your review of T.R. Reid’s book, Confucius Lives Next Door: What Living In The East Teaches Us About Living In the West, ought to consider the following: Reid and his family’s experience of Confucianism/the Confucian ethos during their residency in Japan in the 1990’s—An experience which he describes as East Asia’s Social Miracle. How Confucianism/the Confucian ethos is expressed in contemporary Japanese culture—Including, when relevant/pertinent, consideration and assessment of central Confucian tenets operative in and experienced by the Reid’s during their residency in contemporary Japan, e.g., evidence of the 5 Confucian Virtues (jen, yi, li, chih and hsin); the 5 Confucian Key Relationships and corresponding 10 Appropriate Attitudes; the Confucian Doctrine of the Mean; Rectification; etc. What lessons we can take from the Confucian/Japanese experience that might contribute to a better social experience in our culture and to the improvement of ourselves as individuals. Additionally: Allow the review to be an occasion by which you reflect upon and consider aspects, anecdotes and aspects of the book and the experience of the Reid’s which particularly struck you in some way—positively and/or negatively—and critically engage and assess why this was the case. This may lead some to gravitate on issues relevant to education or crime or social analysis or economics or cultural rites of passage or interpersonal relationships or…In short, there is freedom for you to pursue points of particular interest to you and/or relevant to your major.

Book Review Scoring Rubric

This course calls upon you to write a number of journal entries. Book Reviews ought to evidence the following:

 Required elements in the Syllabus and in “Book Review Guidelines” (Addendum 4 to the syllabus).

 Reflection of how the contemporary expressions of these faiths related in the characters’ lives are relevant to personal or collective societal experience.

 Consideration of how the central teachings, principles and practices of these faith traditions could be introduced and implemented into your own life, experience and American culture, for personal or collective edification.

 Double-spaced, 12-point font, approximately 5 pages in length.

SAMPLE BOOK REVIEW

Book review 1: Confucius Lives Next Door - What Living in the East teaches us about Living in the West.

When it comes to learning about Confucianism and Islam there are many ways one is able to learn about each religion. One in about to check out a book from public and/or store library, enter a book store, taking a university course, researching online resources, viewing new reports on the given topic of Confucianism and Islam. Now on the other hand to really be able to understand the religion of Confucianism and Islam one would have to truly attempt to try and grasp the culture and faith and that could only happen if one were given the chance to experience the religion first hand. Not everyone is given the opportunity to be able to experience the Confucianism and Islam religion taking some time out to read the true stories such as Reid direct family experience while living in Japan.

The first chapter of “Confucius Lives Next Door” – “The Other Miracle” for me it seemed that it was presented with more of the fact about the country which I felt as if I wasn’t able to find myself getting into the book. In chapter one T. Reid discussed the rising and on-going crime issues such as the kidding of women and children, the murders, rapping, assaulting, robbery, mugging, and even theft in almost of parts of the Asian countries would shows as a lower percent rate over the world in general. The direct facts in which T. Reid presented in Chapter one I would have to say were not one that were hard to believe due to the Asian countries being ran in a manner with extremely strict rules and guideline individuals must follow. The chapter one it also goes into detail about family and the importance of marriage in who the union of two individual makes the union a family and the likelihood of divorce wasn’t on the table. Divorce was a topic that wasn’t really discussed and if an union were to be broken with it leading to a divorce it was ashamed upon and many Asian family would just stick together over being judge and ashamed of getting a divorce. With the aspect of divorce that didn’t push in the importance of children in the Asian culture if a union were to separate and file for divorces I was looked at as something that should not affect the children in any manner because children were an even more important factor. The study completed by the U.S. Department of Education, “Pursuing Excellence” report showed that the public school/education in east Asian was almost the best on the earth, and the equality of wealth seemed to be one of the poorest.

Chapters two “Eastern Flavors” was another chapter I wasn’t much into; I have to say that it great to be able to understand the culture flavors but for a whole chapter really wasn’t necessary. The chapter went to example that T. Reid gave his family an over view on what they would begin to see when they arrived. T. Reid also discussed how there were location in which one was able to grab the comforts of American food such as Mc Donald’s, Mr. Donuts, or even Pizza hut. He continues to example how restaurant came in to play and the education behind them which for me was great but just way to his history in which I felt wasn’t needed. Chapter three “Pine Tree by Rice Padding” goes to example the people he met starting with Mr. Matsuda in which he met the first day in Tokyo and learned to realize after a visit at this door he was his neighbor. He goes to explain the living condition of the area he lived in along with the history behind historical situation that occurred for example the site for Pearl Harbor that T. Reid was able to visit.

Now on to chapter four called “Master Kung” goes to explain who “Kung Chiu” is and how this Confucius would come to share global stature such as Jesus, Muhammed, Gandhi and other great teachers would. The chapter does also experience the background behind the Confucian culture and how was raised with direct tradition that would always be implemented and followed. In chapter five “Yadobashi No. 6” T. Reid goes into detail about how he has to explain to his daughter that they were going to be attending a Japanese elementary school and to say the least they both were not happy at all. Both of T. Reid daughter express the fact that they were wanting to attending a school in which they had to attended classes all summer vacation long which in the Asian culture that wasn’t the case. The Asian culture when by the Confucius tradition when it came to the children education, and with that being said that meant that the younger generation would be required to attend school all year around. T. Reid discusses the detail on the Japanese’s education system and how they study languages, mathematic, and even when technology such as a keyboard was put into place. Chapter 6 “Continuing Education” is simple what the chapter is called it goes into addition detail on a student continuing their education and what happens after a children finish school or college. Details provided explain that once a child graduates from that day they are working to start their career in which on April 1st of every year millions of graduates are starting their first day at their new job to begin their new career.

Chapter seven “The Secret Weapon” explains how the main focus in Asian countries were to keep individuals employed as long as possible. T. Reid explain how far too many countries spend far way too much more money, time, and even energy on combating crimes, drugs, and family decay over what Japan spent (Reid 188.). All Japanese employees were paid in the same form as American such as weekly or monthly basis but a plus they have was focused on the payout of bonuses to employee which was four or five month of salary paid. As for American would potential receive a bonus based on tons of requirements being met first and foremost. Employee were paid out for expenses connected to their job from travel tickets, clothing, and even lunches. The chapter goes on to explain different many in which the country made it money and how operations were being ran.

Chapter eight “To Much Freedom” was a really eye catching chapter because I feel as an American in this country there is way too much freedom being given and nothing seems to be changing in a manner. The American culture is seen in many lights with the many one being in a negative manner, from letting our children talk back, to having our children get pregnant at a young age and not have to take responsibility for their actions, to the acts of their crimes. Chapter nine called “Atogaki: What’s Wrong with the Thesis of This Book” is a very eye opening chapter as most author would reflect back into what they have been stating over in the previous chapter that isn’t what is going on with chapter nine. It seems that T. Reid was to give his reflection on the Asian culture along with the rest of the world he expressed his opinion on different topics and simply gives his reflection on the world today. T. Reid if anything gives a quick history overview in chapter nine which was for was important I believe that a lot can be expressed with a chapter but it doesn’t need to be all about one topic but more about different situation to keep your readers interested.

Now on to the last and final chapter which is chapter ten “Our Own Miracle” it’s a chapter that expresses how East Asian has done a better job than most western democracies when it comes to building a stable and civil communities. Chapter ten goes into expressing how Japan handle situation different they aren’t afraid to complete to another because they know they follow the Confucius tradition and do everything well by the book. T. Reid expresses a great example in chapter ten that states how Japan how holidays such as flag day, mother’s day, and even thanksgiving but they don’t uses these day to over eat or over gift but use the day for a more meaningful reason. (Reid 246.). These holidays should be used in a more meaningful manner of doing something good such as civic ceremonies to allow people the chance to value the underlining of our society as a whole. Chapter ten was simple written in a clean a simply format to which I would have to say I feel is one of the most important chapter in the whole book, and I feel as if chapter ten wasn’t provided it would leave the reader wondering what was T. Reid ending insight on how something situation are just really taken for grant and it really doesn’t seem to bug many.

Conclusion

After reading over the book “Confucius Live Next Door” I would have to say I am able to take a great understand and respect of the Asian Culture. For the Asian Culture to come from so little and treat what they have as something that is not worth losing it a beautiful insight. The Asian culture believes in their tradition and try not to steer far from them in which the religion in one I believe has a guidance that can’t be broken. All of this has thought me that we made need to educate ourselves a bit more and learn to appreciate what we can on large level of life rather than just being bitter and self-centered. My best piece of advice would be that everyone should take the time to read over this book in general because it is indeed an eye opener.

Work Cited

Reid, T. R. Confucius lives next door: what living in the East teaches us about living in the West. New York: Vintage , 2000. Print.