Germany

Ranman and DostoevskyDostoevsky and His Wife's Fateful Journey: Travels in Western Europe of Madness and Love

On whether Keiko Kotobuki of "Ranman," who fought off debt collectors, and Dostoevsky's wife, Mrs. Anna, may look alike.

When I saw Jueko-san, who successfully turned away a debt collector in this week's NHK morning drama "Ranman," I couldn't help but think of Dostoevsky's wife, Madame Anna.

Mrs. Anna also supported Dostoevsky, who had no livelihood, and even helped him clean up his manuscripts, publish them, and even fight off debt collectors.

In this article, we will discuss their similarities and the unexpected aspects of Mr. and Mrs. Dostoevsky.
Discovering Buddhism in BritainBuddhism in India

F. C. Almond's "The Discovery of Buddhism in England" - Buddhist Studies was born from a desk in England! The roots of Mahayana Buddhism criticism come from here.

In this work, a shocking fact is told. In "New Asian Buddhist History 02 India II: The Formation and Development of Buddhism," which was previously introduced in this blog, the problems of Western-derived Buddhist studies are discussed, and this book is truly a work that can be called a work in its own right.

Reading this book, it is easy to understand why critics say, "Go back to primitive Buddhism. It is easy to understand why some critics say, "Go back to primitive Buddhism, Japanese Buddhism is corrupt. I have never been able to understand the criticisms of Mahayana Buddhism until now, but now I can understand why some people say, "Oh, I see! I see! I see!" I am discovering more and more about the criticisms of Mahayana Buddhism that I had never been able to understand before. When you follow the background of these criticisms, you will discover some extraordinary facts. This is a very exciting book. It is a tremendous work. Please read it! I am sure you will be shocked.
Rome and DostoevskyTravels in Rome" - Charms of the Theater City of Rome and Pilgrimage to Bernini

(42) What does Dostoevsky, who criticized Roman Catholicism, think of Rome, the temple of beauty and theater city?

We have updated our Rome travelogue 41 times so far.

As I reported in the introduction to this travelogue, I toured Rome with the question, "Although Dostoevsky hated Roman Catholicism, could he not be captivated by St. Peter's Basilica, its main temple, and Bernini's stage art in Rome?

For me, I did not forget Dostoevsky for a single moment during my stay in Rome. I was always with Dostoevsky during my stay in Europe.

So what did Dostoevsky actually think of Rome during his stay?

The truth is that we do not know as Dostoevsky left nothing behind. But even so, I have come to the conclusion that Dostoevsky would have liked but disliked Rome.
The Man Who Fought CapitalismMarx Engels Writings and Related Works

Minoru Sasaki, "The Man Who Fought Capitalism: Hirofumi Uzawa and the World of Economics" - Recommended biography of one of Japan's leading economists!

Hirofumi Uzawa discusses American-style neoliberalism, environmental issues, and inequality from the perspective of "social common capital. He is not a theoretical thinker, but a man who went to the Minamata Disease site and continued to fight against the reality of the disease.

I was also struck by the way he continues to practice in the field despite being an economist.

It should not be overlooked that his experiences at a Zen temple as a young man influenced him throughout his life.

Anyway, the scale is so huge!

I too am confused as to what to tell you. It is such an intense life.

It is a masterpiece of a masterpiece that I hope as many people as possible will read. I am sure that reading this book will spark a spark in your mind. You will be surprised to know that there is such an amazing person in Japan!
A Taste of Goethe, Germany's Great Poet

Shinichi Hoshino, Goethe: Person and Thought 67 - A recommended introduction to Goethe's life and the characteristics of his thoughts and works!

Goethe is a human being on so enormous a scale. His works, especially "Faust" is a very difficult work to read by itself. However, if you read it after learning about Goethe's life and thought, you will appreciate it more and more.

I am also someone who failed "Faust" many times. But thanks to various reference books, I now love "Faust".

Therefore, we strongly recommend reading these introductory and reference books when reading Goethe's works.

This work is highly recommended as an introductory book. We encourage you to pick up a copy.
A Taste of Goethe, Germany's Great Poet

Kenji Takahashi's translation of "Goethe's Aphorisms" - Enjoy the gems of the great German poet! "That's what a great teacher Goethe is! This is a book that will make you want to roar!

To my surprise, this book has been a huge bestseller with over 127 printings. It has certainly been read by more people than "Faust".

The fact that such a large number of people have received this book is probably due to the appeal of Goethe's words. Moreover, unlike the full-length works, this is a collection of aphorisms. It is very easy to read. You can savor each short sentence at your own pace.

We invite you to experience the words of the great all-powerful poet Goethe. His words will surely help us.
Reading PragueDiary of a Monk

24 novels recommended by book-loving monks - a quick look at recommended works at each level from introductory to advanced!

In this article, we will introduce novels that we highly recommend for each level of readers, from beginners to advanced readers.

Basically, the books introduced here are all great books that I recommend with confidence. All of them are extremely interesting works, so please take a look at the linked pages for the books that interest you, regardless of whether they are categorized as introductory or advanced.
The Industrial Revolution and British and European Society

A. Warner, "Victorian London and Sherlock Holmes in Photographs" - A recommended book to learn the secrets of Holmes' popularity and historical background!

This book explains everything about Sherlock Holmes and why he became so popular. The book is easy to read and visualize as it is explained with many photos and documents.

I originally picked up this book to learn about the historical background of Marx's life, and as I had hoped, it was also very useful in learning about the social situation in late Victorian England.

I would highly recommend this work!