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Tao Te Ching: A New English Version (Perennial Classics) Paperback – September 5, 2006
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The bestselling, widely acclaimed translation from Stephen Mitchell
In eighty-one brief chapters, Lao-tzu's Tao Te Ching, or Book of the Way, provides advice that imparts balance and perspective, a serene and generous spirit, and teaches us how to work for the good with the effortless skill that comes from being in accord with the Tao—the basic principle of the universe.
- Print length144 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherHarper Perennial Modern Classics
- Publication dateSeptember 5, 2006
- Dimensions5.31 x 0.32 x 8 inches
- ISBN-109780061142666
- ISBN-13978-0061142666
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“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
From the Back Cover
In eighty-one brief chapters, Lao-tzu's Tao Te Ching, or Book of the Way, provides advice that imparts balance and perspective, a serene and generous spirit, and teaches us how to work for the good with the effortless skill that comes from being in accord with the Tao—the basic principle of the universe.
Stephen Mitchell's bestselling version has been widely acclaimed as a gift to contemporary culture.
About the Author
Stephen Mitchell's many books include the bestselling Tao Te Ching, Gilgamesh, and The Second Book of the Tao, as well as The Selected Poetry of Rainer Maria Rilke, The Gospel According to Jesus, Bhagavad Gita, The Book of Job, and Meetings with the Archangel.
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Product details
- ASIN : 0061142662
- Publisher : Harper Perennial Modern Classics; Reprint edition (September 5, 2006)
- Language : English
- Paperback : 144 pages
- ISBN-10 : 9780061142666
- ISBN-13 : 978-0061142666
- Item Weight : 4 ounces
- Dimensions : 5.31 x 0.32 x 8 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #8,859 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #4 in Taoist Philosophy
- #4 in Taoism (Books)
- #6 in Tao Te Ching (Books)
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Reviewed in the United States on September 23, 2016
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In one portion of this "tao de ching: A New English Version" ("Version" is the key word) the author chooses to translate "When the Tao is absent in a country,/ war horses are bred on the borders" to "When a country goes counter to the Tao, Warheads are stockpiled outside the cities". This author has written his "modernized" version of the Tao Te Ching and he claims to have been open in this fact, supposedly by him using the terms "A New English Version". When one reads further one in the notes you see the author admitting he does not even know Chinese (so his interpretation of the Tao is from other translations - and how he thinks the lines should read for poetics sake, or P.C. sake, etc).
At first I thought I would not write a review on this book. But when seeing the author admit to what I had suspected it made me feel like I really got ripped off. If you are looking for a translation of the Tao Te Ching do not get this author's book. The author respects the Tao but this is not the real deal. I will be purposefully losing this book and looking for a better translation.
One and a half hours later I had finished the book entirely, along with my coffee, and I immediately knew upon completion that I would read this book many, many more times in my life.
It was a highly profound, dare I say life changing read that dramatically impacted my perspective towards my own happiness and how I interact with others. Written as a collection of very short, almost poem-like chapters, often each occupying less than a single page, this book is a masterfully crafted guide to find real happiness and fulfillment in your life. It is a tome that empowers you, humbles you, and leads you around the pitfalls that so many humans fall into throughout their lives.
It is not a modern self help book with life-hacks, habit forming tips, or other such articulations, but rather a fundamental, deep, and moving look at what makes up a fulfilling life.
If you are someone who has discovered mindfulness, explores meditation, or ponders philosophy, then this book is, without question, a must-read.
And if you are more of a go-getter. A driven entrepreneurial type who is looking more or straightforward advice on building your business, achieving goals and finding ‘success’, then I encourage you more-so than anyone else to pick this book up.
It has helped me make difficult business decisions, cut through the unimportant details and roadblocks, optimize my time, and improve my relations with my clients and really everyone else in my life for that matter. It is a book for the true winners, who understand that karma is practical, and that compassion is the path to real success.
It is a book that I will cherish for the rest of my life, and I feel indebted to the author and translator for bringing its wisdom into the world.
The author, as others have mentioned, has admitted to going to great liberties to make the translated text sound more "poetic" to the modern reader, along with adding his little spice of he and she references just to balance out the gender appeal (the original text doesn't even mention gender). The truth is, if you read other versions of the Ching (even online), it's easy to see that the doing so distracts from the true message of the text, and that the best versions don't even need to use specific pronouns to get the message across.
While reading this I literally almost puked at how many contractions there were, and how desperate the author at trying to make this already profound text sound "hip." I almost felt like I was reading a self-help book or something. So I went online and looked up some other versions, and lone behold, there are versions that had none of that crap in it.
I just don't get why authors do this...like do they think we are dumb? Do they have ANY understanding for the profoundness of the texts they altering to make them more "palatable" to a modern audience? I saw "Perennial Classics" edition so I thought I'd buy it because I trust them, but not so much anymore, especially when it comes to books like this.
DO NOT BUY. If you want a good version, search up "Tao Ti Ching on wussu.com." That version is much better and better captures the philosophical nuance of the text without putting in all this modern mainstream he/she/contraction BS.
Top reviews from other countries




This book is really beautiful. Before buying it, I thought it might be too plain, or utilitarian when I saw the gray cover. Upon getting the book and opening it, I was very pleased. The pages are a creamy colour with beautiful numbering of the 'chapters' in red at the top of each page. The spacing of words and verses in the book make it very attractive and accessible for a short reading session or reading through the entire book in a single sitting.
Ultimately, my notes above are rather irrelevant to why you might enjoy this book. The Tao Te Ching is a wonderful work of wisdom. It's lessons are beautiful and resonate with one's inner nature. The Tao is one of many sources to draw spiritual instruction and refreshment from. I suggest reading it through many times and meditating on certain parts and see where that takes you.
The Tao is priceless, this copy of the Tao Te Ching is excellent value for the price.
