Trying Not to Try
The Ancient Art of Effortlessness and the Surprising Power of Spontaneity
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5.0 • 5 Ratings
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- £6.99
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- £6.99
Publisher Description
Why is it hard to fall asleep the night before an important meeting? Or be charming and relaxed on a first date? In all these cases, spontaneity is elusive. What is it about a comedian whose jokes fall flat or an athlete who chokes? In Trying Not to Try, Edward Slingerland shows us how we can harness its power and become more effective.
We've long been told that the way to achieve our goals is through careful reasoning and conscious effort, but recent research suggests that many aspects of a satisfying life are best pursued indirectly. The early Chinese philosophers knew this, and they wrote extensively about how we can achieve wu-wei (ooo-way) - an effortless, spontaneous way of being in the world.
Through stories of mythical creatures and drunken cart riders, jazz musicians and Japanese motorcycle gangs, Slingerland effortlessly blends Eastern thought and cutting-edge science to show us how we can embody a spontaneous way of being and live more fulfilling lives.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Throughout human history, successful and charming individuals have been envisioned as people who do things effortlessly, yet in modern Western thought, rational thinkers and "go-getters" are idolized. Slingerland (What Science Offers the Humanities), a professor of Asian studies at the Univ. of British Columbia, runs through historical philosophy and returns to the ancient Chinese idea of wu-wei, or "effortless action," where individuals become in tune with their bodies and exhibit de, an aura that signals trust and relaxation. Individuals in a state of wu-wei can be found in all career paths from the businessman giving an effective speech to the tennis player with an effortless swing, as well as from the presidential candidate to the artist "in the zone." Slingerland presents four different ways of achieving wu-wei, as given to us by Chinese philosophers such as Confucius and Laozi: "long-term training," "embrac simplicity," nurturing "desirable behavior," or "go with the flow." Through anecdotes Slingerland explains the scientific reasoning behind why achieving wu-wei can be difficult he evens presents a small exercise that demonstrates the feeling of disharmony in a small context. This guide is better suited to Chinese philosophy enthusiasts rather than to readers of how-to books; still, there are many insightful strategies for those studying self-improvement.
Customer Reviews
East greets West
One of the best books of its type I've read in ages. Dry and yet punchy. Poignant, thought provoking and very hard to put down. Philosophy, psychology and Eastern meets Western thought in an explosion of ideas and analogies. Awesomeness distilled.