The Way of Life: Tao Te Ching: The Classic Translation (Signet Classics) [Paperback]

Lao Tzu (Author), R. B. Blakney (Translator)

Editorial Reviews

Language Notes

Text: English (translation)
Original Language: Chinese --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 136 pages
• Publisher: Signet Classics (January 9, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0451527941
• ISBN-13: 978-0451527943
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 4.2 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #375,143 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #80 in Books > Religion & Spirituality > Bible & Other Sacred Texts > Tao Te Ching

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Traditional Translation!, December 23, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Tao Te Ching: The Way of Life (Mentor) (Paperback)

Beutifully translated version of the Tao Te Ching! This version, compared to others, seemed to be a little more tradidionally spoken and a little more difficult to understand. However, there are paraphrases written by the translator to explain the meaning of each chapter. I would greatly recommend getting this translation of the Tao Te Ching over others because it also explains the history of Lao Tzu, Taoism, Confucious, and much more. I have not seen such information in any other version.

Enjoy!

15 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Junk, December 1, 2004

By 

S. Bitticks (Madison, WI) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Way of Life: Tao Te Ching: The Classic Translation (Signet Classics) (Paperback)

In recycling Blakney's translation from the 1950's, Signet is trying to get something for nothing, namely, your money for a lousy out-dated translation. Not only does Blakney misread the Chinese grammar in several places, his interpretations are both under-thought and under-written. If an inexpensive translation is what you're looking for, Penguin has a $5 D.C. Lao translation that isn't all that bad. If, however, you want really excellent translations, here's my advice: For a more interpretive Neo-Taoist reading, pick up Victor H. Mair's. This is a good place to start reading the Tao Te Ching, in my opinion. If, however, you want a truly excellent translation, Philip J. Ivanhoe has done quite nicely. Moss Robert's translation is just as good overall, but also includes notes on the differences between the MaWangDui and Guodian texts compared to the Wang Bi (which is what he and everyone translates), so that'd be my ideal choice. Don't buy this book, it's a cheap way for the publishing house to try and score some sales from nothing at all.
I'm currently working on a research piece on translations of P'u in the English texts, so these critiques come as the result of my working with all these books.

5.0 out of 5 stars A Transformative Read, December 28, 2011

By 

Laura Gaddy - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Way of Life: A New Translation = Tao Te Ching (Paperback)

I think Dr. Gary Arnold's book translation, The Tao Te Ching, can have a profound transformative effect on the reader. Dr. Arnold's translation is a fresh interpretation of reality. It showed us how a wise person looks at their experience is one of many possible experiences depending on how they choose to interpret it.

It effortlessly weaves the complex metaphysical concepts into easy to understand information about mysticism.

The books full color illustrations by a New Orleans Artist are beautiful.

I believe you will love this book! It will make you think. It will make you ask profound questions. It will help you wake up and `get it'.