"In addition to conveying the paradigm of the scholarly Chinese worldview, Fischer reminds us of a global-mindedness that concerns the comparison between different communities worldwide, and the necessary reinterpretation of the contemporary applicability of ancient authoritative texts. In sum, this sophisticated and user-friendly work is highly recommended to those concerned with early Chinese religions and philosophy as well as comparative studies." -- Religious Studies Review "Although there is a long tradition of self-cultivation in China and East Asia, this is the first book-length work to discuss this important issue in Chinese cultural history, thus offering a unique contribution to our understanding of early China. Fischer combines sophisticated scholarly research with an accessible introduction to a multilayered audience, including scholars in the field, undergraduate students, and general readers." -- Jianjun He, translator of Spring and Autumn Annals of Wu and Yue: An Annotated Translation of Wu Yue Chunqiu.