Product Description

Lao-tzu's Tao Te Ching, or Book of the Way, is the classic manual on the art of living and one of the wonders of the world. In eighty-one brief chapters, the Tao Te Ching llods at the basic predicatment of being alive and gives advice that imparts balance and perspective, a serene and generous spirit. This book is about wisdom in action. It teaches how wo work for the good with the efforless skill that comes from being in accord with the Tao (the basic principle of the universe) and applies equally to good government and sexual love, to childrearing, business, and ecology.

The Tao Te Ching is the most widely traslated book in world literature, after the Bible. Yet the gemlike lucidity of the original has eluded most previous translations, and they have obscured some of its central ideas. Now the Tao Te ching has been rendered into English by the eminent scholar and traslator Stephen Mitchell. Mr. Mitchell's Dropping Ashes on the Buddha is a modern Zen classic, and his translations of Rilke and of the Book of Job have already been called definitive for our time.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #228693 in Books
• Published on: 1988-10-01
• Released on: 1988-11-23
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 128 pages

Review
"Beautiful and accessible; the English, as 'fluid as melting ice,' is a joy to read throughout." -- -- The New Republic

"I have read many translations of this ancient text but Mitchell’s is by far the best." -- James Frey, author of A Million Little Pieces

Language Notes
Text: English, Chinese (translation)

About the Author
Stephen Mitchell attended Amherst, the University of Paris, and Yale. His many books include The Book of Job, Tao Te Ching, Parables and Portraits, The Gospel According to Jesus, A Book of Psalms, Ahead of All Parting: The Selected Poetry and Prose of Rainer Maria Rilke, and Genesis.

Customer Reviews

BEWARE OF CLUELESS REVIEWERS!
The naysaying reviewers did not bother to read this book through. Nowhere does it claim to be a literal translation, and following the lessons are the author's notes, explaining exactly what he did or didn't add, and why, as well as references to what was replaced from the original -- much of which is as wonderful as the lessons themselves. There is so much beauty and depth in this "new version" that this reviewer can see no reason for the downright fury it seems to provoke in these other readers. Perhaps they should keep reading the Tao -- ANY version.

Best Translation Ever.
So for those that are unaware, The Tao Te Ching is one of the simplest and easiest religious/philosophical writings to read through and this translation by Stephen Mitchell is probably going down as the penultimate version of the book.

The Tao consists of formulaic scriptures, to know is to accept not knowing, there is no love with out hate, and the like. It talks about balance within yourself and balance with nature to find happiness. Many of the metaphors are simple, but greatly resonate with almost anyone.

Most translations try to make this book more poetic and flourish the lines with pretty little metaphors. That is all fine and good, but what Stephen Mitchell did here was strip all of that poetic crap away and find the root in each word. Find what the writer, which is attributed to Lao Tzu, was attempting to say in it's purest form. By doing this, Stephen also found the real poetry, the real beauty in the simplicity. This was not the first Tao I have read, but by far is my favorite and I can hardly stand reading other versions now.

This is a book that is good for people who study philosophies and religions, but also for the lay man, even someone that is not looking for a religion or a new way of thinking, just as a beautifully written piece.

If you are tired of dogmatic writings, tired of being forced with guilt, and just want something that makes sense to most, even while debating interpretations, this is the version of the Tao to go with.

Worth every penny.

Tao Te Ching
If you buy this book and accept the knowlege bestowed upon you, it will transform you life forever.