Rating: 
Summary: The Gate to all Mystery
Review: I first encountered this translation in college as part of a comparative Chinese/Western philosophy course. At the time it went completely over my head; I preffered Confucius' "Anelects" and "Mencius." While I would highly recomend both of those to anyone interested in Eastern philosophy, it's impossible for me to describe the profound effect that the Tao Te Ching has has on my life. When I picked up this book again a few years after college I was stunned by it's simple beauty and staggering relevance and depth. A rare and priceless book, it touches on all aspectes of human existence- from metaphysics, to ethics, to the completely mundane. I've had the chance to check out a few different translations but this one is by far the most effortles and poetic. Not wordy or didactic It allows the reader to "experience" Lao Tsu's words and to draw their own conclusions. (along with some helpful notes by the translator) This is essential in conveying the words of a thinker who "Teaches without teaching" and, in itself, is more true to the elusive "Tao" than versions that attempt to explain Lao Tsu's words. At the same time this ellegant translation is both clear and accesible. The bottom line is that anyone interested in this work, whether they are aproaching it from a scholarly, aesthetic, religious, philisophical, or purely personal perspective, whether they are new to these words or not, will find far more than they expect in these pages.
Rating:
Summary: The Gate to all Mystery
Review: I first encountered this translation in college as part of a comparative Chinese/Western philosophy course. At the time it went completely over my head; I preffered Confucius' "Anelects" and "Mencius." While I would highly recomend both of those to anyone interested in Eastern philosophy, it's impossible for me to describe the profound effect that the Tao Te Ching has has on my life. When I picked up this book again a few years after college I was stunned by it's simple beauty and staggering relevance and depth. A rare and priceless book, it touches on all aspectes of human existence- from metaphysics, to ethics, to the completely mundane. I've had the chance to check out a few different translations but this one is by far the most effortles and poetic. Not wordy or didactic It allows the reader to "experience" Lao Tsu's words and to draw their own conclusions. (along with some helpful notes by the translator) This is essential in conveying the words of a thinker who "Teaches without teaching" and, in itself, is more true to the elusive "Tao" than versions that attempt to explain Lao Tsu's words. At the same time this ellegant translation is both clear and accesible. The bottom line is that anyone interested in this work, whether they are aproaching it from a scholarly, aesthetic, religious, philisophical, or purely personal perspective, whether they are new to these words or not, will find far more than they expect in these pages.
Rating:
Summary: The Gate to all Mystery
Review: I first encountered this translation in college as part of a comparative Chinese/Western philosophy course. At the time it went completely over my head; I preffered Confucius' "Anelects" and "Mencius." While I would highly recomend both of those to anyone interested in Eastern philosophy, it's impossible for me to describe the profound effect that the Tao Te Ching has has on my life. When I picked up this book again a few years after college I was stunned by it's simple beauty and staggering relevance and depth. A rare and priceless book, it touches on all aspectes of human existence- from metaphysics, to ethics, to the completely mundane. I've had the chance to check out a few different translations but this one is by far the most effortles and poetic. Not wordy or didactic It allows the reader to "experience" Lao Tsu's words and to draw their own conclusions. (along with some helpful notes by the translator) This is essential in conveying the words of a thinker who "Teaches without teaching" and, in itself, is more true to the elusive "Tao" than versions that attempt to explain Lao Tsu's words. At the same time this ellegant translation is both clear and accesible. The bottom line is that anyone interested in this work, whether they are aproaching it from a scholarly, aesthetic, religious, philisophical, or purely personal perspective, whether they are new to these words or not, will find far more than they expect in these pages.
Rating:
Summary: To Christianty via Tao
Review: I first received this book for Christmas many years ago. I've collected quite a few translations since then, but this remains my favorite. It was a number of years before I began to get some concept of what Lao Tzu was talking about, but eventually I realized this was possibly the most succinct, accurate, and useful description of how things work ever written. Not a hint of religion here...just nuts and bolts. Space will not allow me to describe here how Tao led me back to the practice and belief in Christianity, but it did indeed. Further, I was able to see the fundamental harmony of all the great and ancient religions of Earth. It may lead you to the Buddha, to the Vedas, to Islam, or just to an enlightened agnosticism, but I assure you it will lead you somewhere if you give it a chance!
Rating:
Summary: Transforming
Review: I found this book one summer in the early 1970s in a little bookstore in a mall, shortly after it was published. I stood there for half-an-hour or so puzzling over the text and admiring the calligraphy and the photography, then, realizing it was getting late, set it back on the shelf and left. As I emerged from the mall, I noticed a tree growing in the parking lot that the mall developers had spared. It was a maple, and I still retain an almost photographic image of it in my mind, so vivid was the impression it made on me. I was sure I'd seen this tree before, but now it was as if I was "really" seeing it. Don't ask me what that means, I don't even know myself. But I had a pretty good idea why I was suddenly seeing it in that heightened way. I turned around, went back into the mall and bought the book. Since then, I've read and heard comments by many other people about the transforming effect this particular book had on them. There are people who own three and four copies of it -- one for the house, one for the office, one for the car. Some people carry it from room to room just to have it near them. There are people who seem to feel almost embarrassed about their attachment to it, as if it were something to feel guilty about. If I had to guess why this particular edition has had such a magical effect on so many readers, I would say it is the combination of the mysterious yet elevating text, the calligraphy by Gia-fu Feng, the photographs by Jane English, and the spacious art-book layout. It is a potent combination. I hope you will buy this book and then find a tree of your own to look at.
Rating:
Summary: If I could only have one book...
Review: I fully agree about the quality of this translation. In comparison to other translations, not only is nothing lost--nothing is ADDED! Chinese does not share our verb structure fixation with time. Some translations impart verb tenses that distort the meaning.
Rating:
Summary: Essential Tao Te Ching..
Review: I had read this version of the Tao Te Ching previously on the web before deciding to buy the book. The way the text flowed together made me decide to purchase this edition and I just recieved the book today and it's gorgeous. First off, it's large. About the size of a magazine and all the pages are printed on smooth almost glossy type of paper. Each verse (for lack of a better word) gets it's own page accompanied by pictures depicting various scenes of nature. A real compliment to the writing allowing you visualize what's being read. One of the neatest things is that the original Chinese writing is also included on the page facing the English text. Very nice touch. All in all, if you're looking for a beautifully rendered version of the Tao Te Ching and a great format that will look good on the bookshelf for years to come, you can't go wrong with this one.
Rating:
Summary: The best translation to date...
Review: I have compared many translations of this simple masterpiece. Many have merely complicated the original text by fluffing it out. The concept of elucidation is somewhat annoying. This is easy to read. Yet causes reflection due to Jane English's uncomplicated, yet profound photography. I am now trying to find a pocket version...Enjoy!
Rating:
Summary: Most Poetic with Black and White Images for Thought
Review: I have studied Taoism for over 20 years. This is the most impressive and beautiful translation possible for the Western mind to fade into the beauty of Tao. I have studied with the Chinese on Taoism and I am no longer able to pick up another book on the discussion since I have realized the dream. Other books on the topic are now just clutter. Less is more and this is it. At the end of the day it is not an intellectual discussion but merely a poem.
Rating: 
Summary: ...Wow....
Review: I picked up this book two years ago, when I was a sophmore in High School...I felt so alone, because all my friends had turned thier backs on me, calling me a monster who wanted to blow them all away in the school yard. I spent a long time depressed, until the day my family decided to move to a different school district.
While cleaning out my Father's bookshelves, we found an old copy of this book from the 1970's. I flipped through it, and found the one poem in here that has comforted me the most by disaster... "What do you mean by "Accept misfortune as the human condition"?
Misfortune comes from having a body.
Without a body, how could there be misfortune?" I asked him if I could keep it, and he allowed it. I am a much better person now, no longer so mopey as I once was. This book is awesome. The simple pictures seem to provide scenery in your mind for when you think about these poems. The caligraphy is beautiful...and out of the many other translations of the Tao Te Ching I've seen, the old book from my father's college days is the one I keep with me every day.
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