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Tao Te Ching Hardcover – Deckle Edge, September 28, 1988

Chinese Edition by Lao Tzu (Author), Stephen Mitchell (Author)

4.6 311 ratings

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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

Publisher ‏ : ‎ HarperCol; 1st edition (September 28, 1988)
Language ‏ : ‎ English, Chinese
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 108 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0060160012
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0060160012
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 11.2 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.5 x 0.75 x 8.75 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #931,780 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #258 in Tao Te Ching (Books)
- #356 in Taoism (Books)
- #628 in Taoist Philosophy

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4.6 311 ratings

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4.6 out of 5

311 global ratings

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Hubert A. Drake

Where else can you find the Tao on cd???

Reviewed in the United States on April 20, 2024

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Love it, love the translation. I put it on my cd player when I am in bed resting.

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New Jersey, USA

Best original spirit translation, not literal translation.

Reviewed in the United States on December 7, 2006

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I have read a few different versions of translation of Tao Te Ching including translations by some Chinese and Korean scholars. Evem I am not a Chinese scholar, I studied and used Chinese characters over twenty years in Korea like most Korean students. I agree that Stephen Mitchell's book is not the best if you are looking for literal translation of the original ancient Chinese Toa Te Ching. But the literal translation often does not make sence to me and to the most readers in English speaking countries. Even among Chinese scholars there are many different opinions about the true meaning or interpretations of the original Tao Te Ching because it was written more than a thousand years ago in ancient Chinese.

Tao Te Ching is written by "Noza". In Chinese character "Noza" means an old man. "Old men" in oriental countries are very respectable. But in America "Old men" is not as respectable as in China. So how could you interepret "Noza" in English? Tao Te Ching is written by an old man literally. But better translation could be: "Toa Te Ching" is written by an "Old Wise Man", "Sage", or "Master" instead of (senile) old man.

If you, as a serious student, are looking for the literal translation of the original Tao Te Ching, you'd better read a few different translations by Chinese scholars. But if you are looking for a book to learn Tao Te Ching's intent and spirit, I have not found any other English translation smoother than Mitchell's.

185 people found this helpful

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Larry S.

A book comprized of

Reviewed in the United States on October 22, 2019

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I ordered this H/C format because I couldn't locate my soft covered book. Every so often I need to return to the basics, read this book and contemplate the wise, succinct teachings on life. It brings me back to centre. I am once more reminded of what is most important in life, where priorities should be, and how to be content with simplicity.
It is Stephen Mitchell's astute translation of Lao Tsu's teachings, which are bare bones, no frills, few words that dcover the most important things in life. A must have book to refer to over and over again, to bring us back to reality in this fast paced, competitive, highly technological world filled with information overload.

20 people found this helpful

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K. J. SMITH

I'd buy it again.

Reviewed in the United States on December 2, 2016

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I found this version to be satisfying and enlightening. If I were doing an audio book, I'd hire a professional voice-over guy (or gal) to read it. Though I have heard from some friends who have published books, that hiring voice talent can absorb your entire promotional budget and practically all of your profits unless you have a runaway hit on your hands. The reading is fine, though---completely adequate. Also I'd pick a gender for the Master and stick with it. Having it bounce back and forth is off-putting and distracting. I do love the material, and have listened many times.

You might say of me, "Who is he to critique Lao Tzu?" And I might think the same myself, but . . . I listen to CD 1 a lot and to CD 2 not so much because, by the time we get to CD 2, the material is getting a bit repetitious and we're starting to belabor a point here and there. I get the message and I love it, but I think it is well laid out and adequately covered in the verses on CD1.

It is worth far more than the very reasonable price I paid for it. Get one, too.

2 people found this helpful

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Paula

Great reading material

Reviewed in the United States on March 24, 2023

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Very interesting reading material

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Tessa Skinner

This book was written in a kind of riddle, some may think so but you can understand it.

Reviewed in the United States on December 18, 2019

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I love this book, it is an awesome help to all humanity right now, even though Lao Tze lived in the 6th century BCE, what he said back then is related to what is happening right now. I love the statement at the back of the book that said: LOVE IS THE KEY TO ALL OF LIFE. INSIDE, IN THE CORE OF YOUR BEING, IN EVERY CELL OF YOUR BODY, IN EVERY OUNCE OF THE UNIVERSE, THERE IS LOVE. Lao Tze

One person found this helpful

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John Copps

This is not bad, but I have read other versions of the ...

Reviewed in the United States on March 7, 2018

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I have read other versions of the Tao. This is not bad, but I have read other versions of the Tao that were better. The Author tried to modernize it too much. Example bringing in modern millitary equipment in place of weapons used 2500 years ago. Using she or her, to offten. Came off as attempting to be politically correct. There is nothing wrong with westernizing or updating the language to some extent. However there is a charm about Lao Tsu and meaning of the Tao long ago. It resonates by itself, without having to over modernize it, or drag in political correctness. If you never read any other version this might be fine for you. I would recommend Wayne Dyer. He did a straight writing of the Tao and wrote a marvelous book called Change your thoughts, change your life. It was a great interpretation of the Tao and for me a real life changer.

27 people found this helpful

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Jonathan Sevy

Inspiring Scripture for Anyone

Reviewed in the United States on December 10, 2019

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As a lifelong and (I hope) devoted Christian, I love the Tao te Ching for the different light it throws on many Bible scriptures. Diamonds of truth are illuminated from a different direction, revealing new facets that I had not seen before. I have parallel Bible and Book of Mormon verses scribbled in margins all through my copy.
This translation is not word-for-word, but feels like an inspired effort to bring Lao Tsu's intentions to the western awareness.

9 people found this helpful

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Top reviews from other countries

Alexander

Doing not doing is awesome.

Reviewed in Canada on March 3, 2019

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Bought two copies... It's that epic.

Desmond Robinson

The Tao Te Ching Kindle and Audio editions

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 8, 2016

Verified Purchase

This is a very good translation; the language is 'colourful' and poetic reminiscent of the Victorian English of Charles Dickens. Amazon does not say who the actual translator is, I imagine it could be Paul Carus, or at least strongly based on his version, which has been very popular with Taoist scholars for many decades. This Kindle version shows that a 'Free Audio book' version is also available, though it does not mention who the reader is; I tried unsuccessfully to download this. However, fortunately I was able to purchase a word-for-word audio MP3 version by Emma Topping from the amazon.co.uk Digital Music store for only 99p ... this is very good, Emma Topping has a very pleasant voice and is an excellent reader. I am very happy with this Kindle version, especially as I have quick reference to Kindle's dictionary facility for those 'lesser-used' words that appear here and there in the book. The book and MP3 are excellent value at very nice price.