Tao Te Ching by Stephen Mitchell Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Tao Te Ching
Book Review: A Great Translation of Lao-tzu and Taoism
Summary: 4 Stars
Taoism is a very interesting Chinese religion/philosophy. Eastern religion is very different from Western Religion. Rather than focusing on God and mans relationship with God, many of the Eastern Religions are more philosophical and advocate a way of life. This is why many people in East Asia practice elements of all of these religions and in many cases do not even know they are. It is also with this in mind that Buddhism became to popular in China and other parts of Asia. Buddhism unlike Taoism or Confucianism dealt with an afterlife.Well sorry for the lecture, in terms of Taoism I like this translation very much. I found it well presented and very easy to follow. Taoism and the whole idea of the way, Ying and Yang, balance and harmony with nature too me is one of the most interesting of the world's religions. Anyone who would like to read about this philosophy/religion would enjoy this book.
It is food for thought.
Book Review: A Really Beautiful Translation
Summary: 5 Stars
This is a really beautifully done translation that is geared towards men *and* women. Out of all the translations, I reccomend this one the highest.Book Review: A fine translation if some fine thinking
Summary: 5 Stars
A fine translation. For the new entrant, perhaps seeking that second book to follow the Tao of Pooh, or for an old friend of the Master, Stephen Mitchell's contemporary English translation get's it right. From the comfortably blended gender pronoun usage, to it's succinct but engaging notes, Mitchell's translation carries Lao-tzu's wisdom to 21st century English speakers with grace. The pocket edition is entirely sufficient to the task.Book Review: A flawed, but modern translation
Summary: 3 Stars
The Tao Te Ching isn't easy to translate, and despite the praise some people have made of this book, it's really not that spectacular. The translation seems to be so-so, and though it tries to be modern and thus relevant, some of the attempts to be modern fall flat and untrue. The commentary at the end is virtually useless and far too "Western."However, this is a useful "e-z-read" Tao Te Ching if you have read other versions and thus know where the author got fanciful. The spirit of the original does shine through, but only if you know where to look.
Book Review: A horrible translation
Summary: 1 Stars
This book is entitled "A New English Version"; it should say "A Terrible English Version". This version of the Tao Te Ching is so badly translated it isn't even the Tao Te Ching anymore. On the cover of this book it says "Tao Te Ching, by Stephen Mitchell," which is interesting because the Tao Te Ching was written by Lao Tzu, not Stephen Mitchell; why isn't the author of this book given credit on the cover for writing it?
Mitchell did not even translate the Tao Te Ching, he basically read it and then re-wrote it in his own words. This book is only his personal interpretation of the Tao Te Ching. If you want the real Tao Te Ching in Lao Tzu's actual words, check out "Tao Te Ching: The Definitive Edition" translated by Jonathan Star, or "Tao Te Ching" translated by David Hinton.