search for books and compare prices
Zen and the White Whale: A Buddhist Rendering of Moby-Dick
Price
Store
Arrives
Preparing
Shipping
Jump quickly to results on these stores:
The price is the lowest for any condition, which may be new or used; other conditions may also be available.
Bibliographic Detail
Publisher
Lehigh Univ Pr
Publication date
October 19, 2015
Pages
215
Binding
Paperback
Edition
Reprint
Book category
Adult Non-Fiction
ISBN-13
9781611461664
ISBN-10
1611461669
Dimensions
0.75 by 6 by 9 in.
Weight
0.78 lbs.
Availability§
Publisher Out of Stock
Original list price
$39.99
Other format details
university press
§As reported by publisher
Summaries and Reviews
Amazon.com description: Product Description: In this book, Herman argues that Herman Melville may have been aware of Buddhist thought far earlier than previously considered. Scholars have long known of Melvilleâs interest in Buddhism in the final decades of his life (seen in the short poem âBuddha,â and perhaps even the surname of his final protagonist, Billy âBuddâ). But as early as 1847, Melville had knowledge of âthe grand lama of Thibet,â mentioning him in that yearâs Omoo. And the five years directly preceding the composition and publication of Moby-Dick (1844â1849) coincided with the period during which interest in Buddhism turned from an obscure curiosity among American intellectuals to formal research among religious scholars in the United States.
In Moby-Dickâs wide philosophical musings and central narrative arch, Herman finds a philosophy very closely aligned specifically with the original teachings of Zen Buddhism. In exploring the likelihood of this hitherto undiscovered influence, Herman looks at works Melville is either known to have read or that there is a strong likelihood of his having come across, as well as offering a more expansive consideration of Moby-Dick from a Zen Buddhist perspective, as it is expressed in both ancient and modern teachings. But not only does the book delve deeply into one of the few aspects of Moby-Dickâs construction left unexplored by scholars, it also conceives of an entirely new way of reading the greatest of American booksâoffering critical re-considerations of many of its most crucial and contentious issues, while focusing on what Melville has to teach us about coping with adversity, respecting ideological diversity, and living skillfully in a fickle, slippery world.
In Moby-Dickâs wide philosophical musings and central narrative arch, Herman finds a philosophy very closely aligned specifically with the original teachings of Zen Buddhism. In exploring the likelihood of this hitherto undiscovered influence, Herman looks at works Melville is either known to have read or that there is a strong likelihood of his having come across, as well as offering a more expansive consideration of Moby-Dick from a Zen Buddhist perspective, as it is expressed in both ancient and modern teachings. But not only does the book delve deeply into one of the few aspects of Moby-Dickâs construction left unexplored by scholars, it also conceives of an entirely new way of reading the greatest of American booksâoffering critical re-considerations of many of its most crucial and contentious issues, while focusing on what Melville has to teach us about coping with adversity, respecting ideological diversity, and living skillfully in a fickle, slippery world.
Editions
Hardcover
from Lehigh Univ Pr (May 1, 2014)
9781611461565 | details & prices | 215 pages | 6.25 × 9.25 × 1.00 in. | 1.05 lbs | List price $70.00
Paperback
The price comparison is for this edition
Reprint edition from Lehigh Univ Pr (October 19, 2015)
9781611461664 | details & prices | 215 pages | 6.00 × 9.00 × 0.75 in. | 0.78 lbs | List price $39.99
About: In this book, Herman argues that Herman Melville may have been aware of Buddhist thought far earlier than previously considered.
About: In this book, Herman argues that Herman Melville may have been aware of Buddhist thought far earlier than previously considered.
Pricing is shown for items sent to or within the U.S., excluding shipping and tax. Please consult the store to determine exact fees. No warranties are made express or implied about the accuracy, timeliness, merit, or value of the information provided. Information subject to change without notice. isbn.nu is not a bookseller, just an information source.