Michael Puett Books
Michael Puett is a professor of Chinese history at Harvard University, known for his popular course on classical Chinese philosophy.
Known for: The Path: What Chinese Philosophers Can Teach Us About the Good Life
Books by Michael Puett
The Path: What Chinese Philosophers Can Teach Us About the Good Life
In this book, Harvard professor Michael Puett and writer Christine Gross-Loh reinterpret the teachings of ancient Chinese philosophers such as Confucius, Mencius, Laozi, and Zhuangzi. They argue that these thinkers offer practical wisdom for modern life, challenging Western notions of authenticity and self-expression. The authors show how small, deliberate actions and rituals can transform one’s relationships, work, and sense of purpose, leading to a more fulfilling and ethical life.
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Confucius and the Power of Ritual
Confucius taught that rituals—li—were not empty customs or formalities but practices of transformation. In a world of chaos and moral disorder, Confucius believed that humans could cultivate goodness by engaging in deliberate acts of respect, kindness, and order. When we bow to another person, when ...
From The Path: What Chinese Philosophers Can Teach Us About the Good Life
Mencius and Human Nature
Mencius deepened Confucius’s insight by asserting that humans are innately inclined toward goodness. He used vivid metaphors to describe moral growth, comparing the heart’s moral sprouts to tender shoots that require nurturing. Just as a sprout grows only if water and sunlight reach it, goodness blo...
From The Path: What Chinese Philosophers Can Teach Us About the Good Life
About Michael Puett
Michael Puett is a professor of Chinese history at Harvard University, known for his popular course on classical Chinese philosophy.
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Michael Puett is a professor of Chinese history at Harvard University, known for his popular course on classical Chinese philosophy.
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