Access a growing selection of included Audible Originals, audiobooks, and podcasts.
You will get an email reminder before your trial ends.
Audible Plus auto-renews for $7.95/mo after 30 days. Upgrade or cancel anytime.
Books That Matter: The Analects of Confucius  By  cover art

Books That Matter: The Analects of Confucius

By: Robert André LaFleur
Narrated by: Robert André LaFleur
Try for $0.00

$7.95 a month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $25.00

Buy for $25.00

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

Publisher's summary

Compiled centuries before the birth of Jesus, the Analects of Confucius is anything but dry ancient philosophy. Many of its passages hold the same power as any great Socratic dialogue. Which makes trying to get to the heart of the Analects - and its importance - a challenging and undeniably exciting intellectual pursuit.

With these 24 accessible lectures, enjoy an adventurous exploration of one of the world's most important philosophical texts. Filled with rich historical context, detailed close readings of key passages, expert interpretations of larger cultural trends, and stories of Confucius and his most notable students (and critics), these lectures are required learning for anyone who wants a solid understanding of Eastern philosophy - and the ways a single book can cross cultures and go on to inspire an entire world.

After grounding your approach to the Analects with a look at what we know (and don't know) about Confucius' life, career, and teaching philosophy, you'll examine some of the book's most powerful, central themes. Among these are remonstrance (an idea at the heart of Chinese social and political life) and effective rule (which, for Confucius, required a grounding in morality and integrity).

As you illuminate your understanding of key passages in the Analects, you'll also meet the students, philosophers, and statesmen who, in their own ways, contributed to the millennia-long story of this enduring book - by recording Confucian thought, critiquing it, building on it, pillorying it, and resurrecting it for the modern age.

As with all great philosophical experiences, the Analects is a work whose intellectual richness and insight remain with you long after you've heard the final passages. So, too, will these lectures, which will help internalize Confucian teachings - and make them work in your own life.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your Library section along with the audio.

©2016 The Great Courses (P)2016 The Teaching Company, LLC

More from the same

What listeners say about Books That Matter: The Analects of Confucius

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    240
  • 4 Stars
    70
  • 3 Stars
    26
  • 2 Stars
    9
  • 1 Stars
    11
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    208
  • 4 Stars
    62
  • 3 Stars
    19
  • 2 Stars
    8
  • 1 Stars
    10
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    196
  • 4 Stars
    66
  • 3 Stars
    22
  • 2 Stars
    10
  • 1 Stars
    9

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

Not very good....

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

No. Surprisingly little coverage of the actual Analects of Confucius. Not sure what the real goal of the lecture series was, very meandering.

Would you recommend Books That Matter: The Analects of Confucius to your friends? Why or why not?

No.

What didn’t you like about Professor Robert André LaFleur’s performance?

Delivery was meandering and self-indulgent. Too many tangents which did little to help me understand the source material. Professor was more interested in telling his favorite stories than providing analysis of the text itself.

Was Books That Matter: The Analects of Confucius worth the listening time?

No. Would not listen to again.

Any additional comments?

Should not be titled "Books That Matter: The Analects of Confucius" when relatively little of the lecture series is dedicated to study of the book itself. Archaeology stories related to different historical texts, uninteresting anecdotes from years as a teacher, travelogue, etc. Would be better if it was called "My playful musings and favorite stories after years of teaching and researching Chinese history". At least then I would have skipped it.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

21 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

Weak content

This audiobook is like listening to a giant table of contents. After a while I skipped around to find real content from Confucius, but it is scarce. There is more content on my Zen calendar daily sayings.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

20 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Love it

I had studied Confucius and Mencius for years. This lecture series gave me so much good food for thought and reinvigorates my ardor to reread the original writings with a new sense of wonder and inquiry. I highly recommend these lectures to anyone interested in Asian thought, human wisdom, and the enduring and rising power of China.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

13 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

More a course on Confucianism then the analects

Great course that makes Confucianism accessible. I was expecting more on the text itself. Overall worth it.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

11 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A Truly Enlightening, Engaging Intro

I am incredibly glad I listened to this course before picking up the Analects! It gave me much more insight into the text itself and the scope of it's impact on China as a whole.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

10 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

He’s not talking about the actual subject

It’s very bad.
The author talks about whatever subjects are bothering him, but not the Analects. And as usual, that talk includes some personal stories, some anecdotes and some usual left wing BS nobody cares about. Pathetic to put it mildly.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

9 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Enlightening!!!!

A wonderful history and explanation of China's most influencial scholar, Confucius still remains relevant today.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

I misunderstood the premise for this book

I thought I was going to be listening to the actual The Analects of Confucius and
not a discussion about the work.
That is frustrating.
If the "great books' series is just that, then I am not interested.
I want the original pieces.

It was well done, must not what I had wanted.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Very inspiring Confucius learning

I loved this lecture series so much that I plan to listen to this a few more times. I have learned to distinguish false critics and blame on Confucius teaching for the backwardness in Vietnamese social progress in the 20th century.

I truly appreciate how Professor clarifies genuine Confucius teaching of life long learning and how his teaching is still very relevant today.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Somethings never change.

As I go through the series of Books That Matter, I realize we have not changed that much in over 2500 years.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

5 people found this helpful