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Zen is an overrated book. Having said that, to say that "I have absolutely no idea why people like this book" when you haven't read it (and 25 pages does not co
by zb 16y ago
Zen is an overrated book. Having said that, to say that "I have absolutely no idea why people like this book" when you haven't read it (and 25 pages does not count) sounds completely absurd. I do recommend you actually try reading it, even if for no other reason then to find out what everyone else is on about.
- jemfinch 16y agoI wouldn't call Zen overrated, at least insofar as it's a relatively easy read which makes some good points. Those points, IMO, are not the author's main philosophical contention, but his presentation of philosophical introspection intertwined with everyday life. Would that more Americans realized they could contemplate metaphysics even while going about their everyday lives.
- zb 16y agoBy "overrated" I don't mean that it's bad. It's overrated in the same way that The Mythical Man Month is the most overrated software engineering book, or Sgt. Pepper is the most overrated album. Those are important works, but they don't live up to the level of hype around them. In fact, I don't think anything could. I agree with your point, though. (But not sure why it only applies to Americans? ;)
- jemfinch 16y agoI can only speak authoritatively about Americans, because I've only lived in America. Residents of other countries may be different :)