Tao Te Ching by Stephen Mitchell Summary and Reviews
|
List Price: Our Price: $5.57 You Save: $5.42 (49%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $5.00 (click here) Category: Book See more book details and other editions |
|---|
Book Reviews of Tao Te Ching
Book Review: Don't waste your money on this trash.
Summary: 1 Stars
This may be a best seller, but don't waste your money. It is New Age dross, with Lao-tzu flaunting concepts that were politically correct in California in the 90's. Mitchell is totally ignorant of all religious and philosophical aspects of Taoism, and admittedly cannot read Chinese. Loosely based on other versions, Michell ad libs whenever he fancies. Where the Chinese texts literally says: "not competing so no blame," Mitchell interprets: "When you are content to be simply yourself and do not compare or compete, everybody will respect you." Even fortune cookies read better.Tao Te Ching describes a peace-loving country that gives saddle horses the mundane task of hauling manure. In contrast, the people in the war-mongering country raise warhorses outside the towns. Mitchell boldly substitutes this with contemporary images: When a country is good "factories make trucks and tractors," and when a country is bad "warheads are stockpiled outside the cities." He has turned Tao Te Ching into... manure.
Book Review: Excellent translation
Summary: 5 Stars
I've read many different versions/translations of the Tao Te Ching, which is a difficult book to translate. It appears as though many authors loose the original intentions and meanings while trying to get their ideas across... Stephen Mitchell does an outstanding job! He does not take away the simple, elegant meaning of Lao Tsu's masterpiece. I recommend this book to EVERYONE!Book Review: Excellent translation
Summary: 5 Stars
This has to be one of the best translations of the Tao Te Ching I have read.Book Review: Fantastic Little Book!
Summary: 5 Stars
This little book serves as a great guide for life's everyday challenges. Very insightful and thought provoking chapters really made me evaluate how I live day to day. Recommended highly to anyone interested in Taoism, meditation, or conscious living!Book Review: Fingers pointing at the moon
Summary: 5 Stars
I don't think Lao Tzu intended his words to be taken as a Bible of rigid truths; a list of canons describing "The Way." Taoism transcends all words, that's the point! These words are indeed "Fingers pointing at the moon; if you watch the finger, you can't see the moon!" Give the author the latitude to express the feelings of Tao, even if the entire word-for-word translation is not given. I would like to believe the Old Master would be delighted by this translation!