In this blog post, we will examine a particular work and its author, based on the premise that late 19th- and early 20th-century Britain and modern society share common ground regarding the question of how to live one’s life.
Although late 19th-century and early 20th-century Britain and modern society differ significantly in many respects, it can be said that they share many commonalities in their acute awareness of the question of how to live one’s life.
Great works possess an eternal vitality that transcends borders and eras. Nineteenth-century Britain, emboldened by the success of the Industrial Revolution, was dominated by an ideology that prioritized the economy. As a reaction to this trend, a spiritual revolution gradually took hold from the latter half of the 19th century, and this book was born against the backdrop of precisely such historical circumstances. Therefore, this work will be of great help to modern people who are economically expanding but spiritually adrift.
While this work could be categorized as a practical guide to life, it would be more accurate to view it as a work that pursued a true “philosophy of happiness.” Rather than a systematic philosophical treatise, it is closer to a treasure trove brimming with life wisdom drawn from experience. In fact, this book contains numerous quotations of apt expressions and witty phrases, drawn not only from Greek and Roman classics but also from Eastern classics such as Confucius and proverbs from various countries. However, to preserve the original charm of the text, the sources have not been cited individually.
Given its nature as a book of life philosophy drawing from various fields, it may seem somewhat lacking when judged by the strict standards of a theoretical treatise. There were also difficulties involved in translating foreign languages written in archaic forms. Nevertheless, if readers approach this book with a broad perspective and an open mind, they will gain wisdom about life through it.
The author, John Lubbock (who was later known as Lord Abbery after becoming a baron), was not only a banker and politician but also active in various fields as an anthropologist and archaeologist. However, it was thanks to this book that his name became widely known to the general public.
This is similar to the case of the famous sculptor Benvenuto Cellini (1550–1571, an Italian sculptor of the late Renaissance), who became even more famous through his autobiography.
La Boecci was born in England in 1834 and attended the prestigious Eton School, but left at the age of 15 to join the bank run by his father. He soon demonstrated a genius for banking, astonishing those around him, and by the age of 22, he had become a senior executive at the bank. At 32, he succeeded his father as bank president and inherited the title of baron.
As a financier, he served as an advisor to the government on matters such as coinage and fiscal policy, and he even proposed and secured the passage of the Bank Holiday Act. From 1870 to 1890, he served as a Member of Parliament, dedicating himself to public works, and also held positions such as Vice-Chancellor of the University of London and President of the London Chamber of Commerce.
Although he was active as a banker and politician, his heart was always drawn to scholarship and the arts. In particular, his friendship with Charles Darwin, who had moved in as a neighbor during his childhood, had a profound influence on him. Lubock was deeply impressed by Darwin’s theory of evolution, which sparked his interest in various fields such as biology, geology, ethnology, and folklore.
As a result, he devoted his life to the natural sciences and archaeology, leaving behind a substantial body of work. The terms “Paleolithic” and “Neolithic,” which we use today, were first introduced in his book ‘The Origin of Civilization and the Primitive State of Mankind’. He advanced archaeological research by dividing the Stone Age into the Paleolithic and Neolithic periods, and he is also famous for laying the foundation of British anthropology by arguing that to understand Paleolithic culture, one must study the lives of existing primitive peoples. He also played a pioneering role in the field of experimental research on the morphology of insects, plants, and animals.
His works include archaeological and scientific texts such as ‘Prehistory’ (1865), ‘The Origin of Civilization and the Primitive State of Mankind’, ‘The Origin and Variation of Insects’ (1882), and ‘The Senses, Instincts, and Intelligence of Animals’ (1888), which were used as textbooks in archaeology; as well as philosophical works on life such as ‘The Good Use of Life’, ‘The Pleasures of Life’, ‘Marriage, Totem, and Religion,’ and ‘Peace and Happiness.’
Furthermore, drawing on his extensive reading, he published ‘A Hundred Masterpieces,’ a collection whose excellent selection of books ensured its continued popularity well into the 20th century.
Finally, I would like to note that, considering the historical context in which this book was written, I have provided brief footnotes for as many proper names as possible to aid the reader’s understanding.
If, after reading this book, you are able to make the most of your life, use it for good, and achieve self-renewal to become a true human being, that will be the joy and reward for the reader of this book.
