本書是林語堂旅美專事創作後的**部書，也是他繼《吾國與吾民》之後再獲成功的又一英文作品。該書於1937年在美國出版，次年便居美國暢銷書排行榜**達52周，且接連再版四十餘次，並譯成十餘種外國文字。

FORWARD
PREFACE
Chapter One THE AWAKENING
I.APPROACH TO LIFE
II.A PSEUDO-SCIENTIFIC FORMULA
III.THE SCAMP AS IDEAL
Chapter Two VIEWS OF MANKIND
I.CHRISTIAN, GREEK AND CHINESE
II.EARTH-BOUND
III.A BIOLOGICAL VIEW
IV.HUMAN LIFE A POEM
Chapter Three OUR ANIMAL HERITAGE
I.THE MONKEY EPIC
II.IN THE IMAGE OF THE MONKEY
III.ON BEING MORTAL
IV.ON HAVING A STOMACH
V.ON HAVING STRONG MUSCLES
VI.ON HAVING A MIND
Chapter Four ON BEING HUMAN
I.ON HUMAN DIGNITY
II.ON PLAYFUL CURIOSITY: THE RISE OF HUMAN CIVILIZATION
III.ON DREAMS
IV.ON THE SENSE OF HUMOUR
V.ON BEING WAYWARD AND INCALCULABLE
VI.THE DOCTRINE OF THE INDIVIDUAL
Chapter Five WHO CAN BEST ENJOY LIFE？
I.FIND THYSELF: CHUANGTSE
II.PASSION, WISDOM AND COURAGE: MENCIUS
III.CYNICISM, FOLLY AND CAMOUFLAGE: LAOTSE
IV."PHILOSOPHY OF HALF-AND-HALF": TSESSE
V.A LOVER OF LIFE: T'AO YUANMING
Chapter Six THE FEAST OF LIFE
I.THE PROBLEM OF HAPPINESS
II.HUMAN HAPPINESS IS SENSUOUS
III.CHIN'S THIRTY-THREE HAPPY MOMENTS
IV.MISUNDERSTANDINGS OF MATERIALISM
V.HOW ABOUT MENTAL PLEASURES?
Chapter Seven THE IMPORTANCE OF LOAFING
I.MAN THE ONLY WORKING ANIMAL
II.THE CHINESE THEORY OF LEISURE
III.THE CULT OF THE IDLE LIFE
IV.THIS EARTH THE ONLY HEAVEN
V.WHAT IS LUCK?
VI THREE AMERICAN VICES
Chapter Eight THE ENJOYMENT OF THE HOME
I ON GETTING BIOLOGICAL
II.CELIBACY A FREAK OF CIVILIZATION
III.ON SEX APPEAL
IV.THE CHINESE FAMILY IDEAL
V.ON GROWING OLD GRACEFULLY
Chapter Nine THE ENJOYMENT OF LMNG
I.ON LYING IN BED
II.ON SITTING IN CHAIRS
IIl.ON CONVERSATION o
IV.ON TEA AND FRIENDSHIP
V.ON SMOKE AND INCENSE
VI.ON DRINK AND WINE GAMES
VII.ON FOOD AND MEDICINE
VIII.SOME CURIOUS WESTERN CUSTOMS
IX.THE INHUMANITY OF WESTERN DRESS
X.ON HOUSE AND iNTERIORS
Chapter Ten THE ENJOYMENT OF NATURE
I.PARADISE LOST?
II.ON BIGNESS
III.TWO CHINESE LADIES
IV.ON ROCKS AND TREES
V.ON FLOWERS AND FLOWER ARRANGEMENTS
VI.THE "VASE FLOWERS" OF YUAN CHUNGLANG
VII.THE EPIGRAMS OF CHANG CH'AO
Chapter Eleven THE ENJOYMENT OF TRAVEL
I.ON GOING ABOUT AND SEEING THINGS
II."THE TRAVELS OF MINGLIAOTSE"
Chapter Twelve THE ENJOYMENT OF CULTURE
I.GOOD TASTE IN KNOWLEDGE
II.ART AS PLAY AND PERSONALITY
III.THE ART OF READING
IV.THE ART OF WRITING
Chapter Thirteen RELATIONSHIP TO GOD
I.THE RESTORATION OF RELIGION
II.WHY I AMA PAGAN
Chapter Fourteen THE ART OF THINKING
I.TIlE NEED OF HUMANIZED THINKING
II.THE RETURN TO COMMON SENSE
III.BE REASONABLE
CERTAIN CHINESE NAMES
A CHINESE CRITICAL VOCABULARY
WADE-GILES TO PINY1N CONVERSION TABLE
WORKS IN ENGLISH BY LIN YUTANG