Tao Te Ching: A New English Version

Written by Stephen Mitchell and Lao Tzu

Narrated by Stephen Mitchell

In 81 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.

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperCollins
• Release date: Apr 17, 2007
• ISBN: 9780061449529

Stephen Mitchell

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.

Reviews for Tao Te Ching

[George Marin · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A wonderful modern translation. Clear and to the point, a great way to familiarize oneself with the Tao The Ching.

[Soma · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Excellent, very enjoyable translation of a timeless writing. Great work.

[Prometheus Worley · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A brightly shimmering pathway towards enlightenment, the Tao Te Ching shines supremely as an ancient roadmap for accessing true source energy....the Tao.

[Tarlan Fisher · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A very good translation, and very well read by the author. Highly recommended.

[piovac · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Like every ancient philosophy book, it should be read many time, to really absorb it's wisdom. But be aware, pure harmony is just an illusion, so never take the teaching literally. Harmony exists only over chaos which gives it meaning, like signal over noise. The only thing we can do then is to improve the signal-to-noise ratio, maximize the harmony over chaos. That is the way I see Taoism.

[Deryk Martinsen · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Solid contents, very insightful. However I have an active loathing of ASMR voice and I wish it was less present in this field.

[John Winger · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Timeless and classic the narrator as an eloquent job at his name, the true spirit of Lao Tzu’s writing. I especially appreciate the use of both feminine and feminine phrasing as this truly represents the neutrality of the Tao.

[Simon Siaw · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I like the narrative style. It's so easy to listen ?

[matthew · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Great introduction and easy to listen to voice, enjoyed and learnt.

[Viktor · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The book has many translations, ant his one is really good! And the book itself has a lot of new ideas, especially for the western mindset.

[Stephen Mwendwa · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This piece is absolutely game changing! I have integrated a few components into my life and I have found the real me.

[Tyrone Martin · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

It is full of love and wisdom much needed in life

[Lyndon Turner · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This is interesting if you are curious about eastern thinking. It claims to be written 500 BC but mentions electrons, galaxies, tractors, government subsidies, and advanced weapons.

[ace ethiopia · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

If the world could only live by these words, how different the world would be

[Antoine Victor · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Wow this book opened my eyes up in a deep wisdom kind of way

[Ted Sweeney · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Wisdom everyone could live by. Thoroughly enjoyed listen to.

[Modestus Lorence · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A must read for every human being!! I enjoyed listening the book. I wil do it again and again.

[Carl · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Great book ! Great interpretation of the TAO. Accurate and well narrated.

[Runashi · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

loved to see how much of this wisdom is timeless

[Ian Vann · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

You can feel the authors opinions through the translation. Useless for contemplating this work on your own.

[John Purba · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I like the meditative simplicity of the wisdom. Thank you.

[ω ι η τ ε г г ε ι s ε Η ε Ι δ г ο τ τ · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

I must say I find this translation quite distasteful. Performance is good, however.

[Yap Heng Hee · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Very good translation. The original Chinese version uses very difficult ancient grammar that is too hard to understand, and all the modern Chinese version that I read so far don't give justification to the real meaning, some even correlate it with communism which is simply ridiculous. Accidentally stumbled upon this and the translator did a really good job!

[Stephen · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

<3 very good to read over and over again ?

[Trevania Anderson · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

If this could replace basic math and history in schools

[Radu Revnic · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

It is a never ending and a complete work. So grateful …

[Divyang Kumar · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Enjoyed this one. i would recommend this book to others.

[ANWAR EHSANULLAH · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Book makes you think and observe the people, world, events, government, organisation etc from diametrically opposite angle. The book subconsciously influences the way one thinks..

[Silverio Suárez McAuliffe · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Simple, yet magnificent. Empty yet fully Impersonal universal
Adventorous yet not wandering. Free yet intimate
Mind changing certaily a great oppotunity
Being before existing
Dying and yet birthing

[ari santa · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A sensitive narrator reads this beautiful, deep and clear translation of one of the greatest texts of mankind. I’m listening to this totally transforming wisdom in great awe, one sentence at a time, pausing, going back again to let it wash my being from deep down, opening my darkness to its origin, the eternal light - eternal energy of the universe.