I picked up Watching the Tree while bumbling through the self improvement section of my local library. I figured its worth it to myself to brush up on Chinese culture… I mean, most people are Chinese as it turns out.
The book gives a solid overview of Taoism, Confucianism and Buddhism… I appreciate the author’s personal narrative… her overlapping experience in China and the US. I would recommend it without reservation.
(The title of the book is based on a story wherein a boy goes out into a forest to hunt. He is surprised when a hare runs into a nearby tree, knocking itself out. The hunter has made his catch. The next day, he goes out to the same tree… and watches it. The story basically warns us not to a fool who doesn’t understand that change is the only thing that doesn’t change. No tree watching here… only life long learning.)
