Tao Te Ching by Stephen Mitchell Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Tao Te Ching
Book Review: An unsettling comfort
Summary: 5 Stars
In December of 1996 I drove over 500 miles to have Christmas with my recently widowed mother. The paradoxes of my father's death were shapeless in my mind. A friend gave me a cassette tape of Stephen Mitchell reading his translation of the Tao Te Ching and it helped me understand the light that comes from dark, the wisdom that comes from not knowing. I then bought the print version. When teaching a course in the literary genre of comedy, a literary genre focused upon wholeness and healing, I read from Mitchell's translation of the Tao each day to open class, until my students had heard the entire book by the end of the course. When dealing with contrariety in comedy, with paradox, with mirth and its healing, its unifying strength, I thing the Tao worked in a sublime way to help my students more deeply understand the comic dimensions of their lives and the world around them. I am deeply indebted to Mitchell's work.Book Review: Arrived Quickly - Great Little Volume!
Summary: 5 Stars
I did not look at what size it was when I ordered this book for a class, but the littler size was perfect because if fit into my pocket! It was in fabulous shape and I got it very quickly. Thanks for a great experience! This is kind of an experience is why I buy online through Amazon!Book Review: Awful botchup
Summary: 1 Stars
This is not so much a translation of the Tao Te Ching but rather a new-agish interpretation of such. By incorporating input from Buddhist and other traditions into his interpretation Mr Mitchell misses the difference between the Way and the other forms of eastern religions. Taoism, for lack of a better label for it, is entirely native to the east, as opposed to Buddhism and Hinduism which are both outgrowths of an Indo-european system of beliefs. His efforts then become such a mishmash of ideas that they bear no resemblence to either the Tao Te Ching or the philosophies underlying it. One chapter in the book he even deliberately ignores the meaning of the chapter in order to argue for embracing death. Frankly anyone who uses this translation in an attempt to understand the Way might as well use the Bible, the Koran, the Bagavad-Ghita or the Torah. It would be just as easy to find the writings in them as in his work.Book Review: Beautiful Intro to Taoism
Summary: 5 Stars
I have read numerous translations of the Tao Te Ching. Stephen Mitchell's is beautiful, modern, and accessible. If you're looking only for an academic perspective on Taoism, this isn't it. If you're looking to bring the essence of Taoism into your life, Mitchell's book may be the key.Book Review: Best English Translation I've Read So Far
Summary: 5 Stars
The title of the review speaks for itself, Mitchell's translation of the Tao Te Ching is the most lucid, penetrating, and beautiful english translation of this book I have ever read. I was introduced to this book about five years ago and have read many translations of this one book and Mitchell's comes closest to the beauty which the Tao Te Ching is meant to convey. For the average reader no other translation beats Mitchell's.