Rating: 
Summary: Stephen Mitchell captures the essence of the Tao
Review: Stephen Mitchell's translation of the Tao Te Ching is the best I've read so far. Stephen Mitchell did not translate it from the original Chinese text but read many versions and wrote his own version. His translation says the same things as other translations but better sounding with such beauty, simplicity, and flow. I can only imagine that is how it was originally intended. Stephen Mitchell, from his training in Korean Zen Buddhism, shows a slight influence of it in the text. This is okay because "Taoism" and Zen are closely linked together in thought. While other books try to analyze and make something concrete out of The Tao Te Ching labeling it as "Taoism," I feel that goes completely against the meaning of the Tao Te Ching. It is best just to read it and enjoy it in itself. Stephen Mitchell has done what he says in the introduction, "If I haven't always translated Lao-Tzu's words, my intention has always been to translate his mind"(xii).
Rating:
Summary: This book conveys the wisdom and spirit of Taoism
Review: If you choose only one Tao te Ching translation... this shouldn't be it.BUT.... if you choose 2 or 3, this should definantly be among them :)
It is also the best for introducing a Westerner not familiar with Taoist thought to Taoism. There have been complaints by many Taoists about this translation, and I understand their complaints, BUT some people are not interested in Taoism as a Dogma or "religion" or a history lesson.... but in the *WISDOM* of the Tao, which is what this book conveys perfectly.
Though it is not literal I do not find it to be in any way inconsistant with the spirit or wisdom of Lao Tzu's teaching. The language, poetry, and insight in this book as well as the utter simplicity make it a WONDERFUL read... and the "liberties" help make Taoism more accessable to those not accustomed to interpreting the meaning of the literal translation and giving it modern application.
This is one of 2 Tao Te Ching translations I know by heart, I highly recomend it.
Rating:
Summary: GREAT INTERPRETATION
Review: I THINK THIS IS A GREAT INTERPRETATION OF "THE WAY" AND "TAO." IT'S SIMPLE...DIRECT....AND NOT "I'M GOING TO USE BIG WORDS TO MAKE YOU THINK I'M SMART". JUST PLAIN, SIMPLE, DIRECT ENGLISH TRANSLATION. THIS BOOK WILL TEACH YOU A LOT ABOUT WISDOM, PSYCHOLOGY, AND OBSERVANCES IN EVERYTHING FROM WORK, TO RELIGION, AND ESPECIALLY EVERYDAY LIFE! IT'S ALMOST LIKE IT CONNECTS YOU WITH YOUR FIRST INSTINCTS ON THINGS. I RECCOMMEND THAT YOU BUY THIS.
Rating: 
Summary: Only the first step.
Review: Stephen Harrison's book is not so much a translation of Lao-tzu's TAO TE CHING, as a poetic rendering of the Chinese original. Because he does not know Chinese, Harrison acknowledges in the book's Foreward that, in addition to working from dozens of literal translations of Lao-tzu's "Book of the Way," he completed "a fourteen-year-long course in Zen training," which brought him "face to face with Lao-tzu" (p. x). Despite the fact that Harrison has taken great liberties in paraphrasing, expanding, interpreting and reworking the text of Lao-tzu's original, he has nevertheless created a Tao-inspired poem that stands on its own when read as such. "If I haven't always translated Lao-tzu's words," Harrison explains, "my intention has always been to translate his mind" (p. x). Lao-tzu's words speak to those searching for a meaningful way of life in a society where values are degraded by ecomonomic, military, and modern interests. In its emphasis of mastering oneself, Harrison has done a good job in capturing the Tao essence of Lao-tzu's book. "Knowing others is intelligence," we're told; "knowing yourself is true wisdom" (Chapeter 33). Harrison follows the classic 81-verse format of Lao-tzu's original, which teaches simplicity, patience, and compassion. For those readers new to the TAO TE CHING, just as "the journey of a thousand miles starts beneath your feet" (Chapter 64), Harrison's rendering should be considered only the first step toward the Tao. It has been said that understanding the TAO TE CHING is the journey of a lifetime. For those interested in taking another step, I recommend the more literal and more challenging translations of the TAO TE CHING by Red Pine, Robert Henricks and Moss Roberts. G. Merritt
Rating:
Summary: Absolutely excellent!
Review: This book was a gift from a great friend of mine about fifteen years ago. I still read it from time to time because it gives me a different message each time I read it. These passages touch our hearts in different ways depending on where we are in my life. I cherish this book just like I cherish the friendship I have with the great person who gave this to me. This same friend also gave me a different book a while ago called "The Ever-Transcending Spirit" by Toru Sato. I really really love it too! This book is more concrete in its explanations but the central message is the same. Appreciate the life you are given. Love, care for, and respect everyone and everything around you. The most respectful person is the person who can keep his or her heart open no matter what happens. Enjoy the wonders of life!
Rating:
Summary: Wisdom and Poetry Divinely Intertwined
Review: I have only read one other version of the Tao Te Ching. The other was very pretty and well respected. It also made very little sense, was sexist, and had little if anything to do with my life. Stephen Mitchell, after 14 years of Zen training, has brought this amazing and beautiful work into our times. With non-sexist language and beautifully illustrating examples, he shows the modern westerner how to truly comprehend and embrace this wise and simple philosophy. Mitchell sometimes strays from the literal translation, but always for the better, and never without letting the reader know. His notes in the back are amazingly insightful and include the literal translations of the few parts he's changed. I read from this amazing and beautiful book every day.
Rating: 
Summary: I am very confused as to how exactly this book got Published
Review: My copy of the Daodejing is a wood-block print edition from China in traditional characters, thus, I don't really bother with buying new English Translations, especialy ones prepared for hippy wannabees by scholars with no credentials playing off of New Age fantasies and pop-culture. Still, a freind of mine was given this book and brought it to me for evaluation, and honestly, I am very confused. I am confused as to why someone who does not speak Chinese would translate a book that is, even to Chinese speakers, elusive and dificult. I am confused as to why a person would seek to rephrase a work that has already been translated inumerable times when they have nothing new to offer in it's study. Rephrasing other English language works is not typicaly something people pay for... other wise I will get right to work on rephrasing the works of Ernest Hemingway, and we'll see if the same publisher would pay me to do it. I am confused as to why it is so hard for someone to get published if they have degrees and years of study in Chinese philosophy when apparently this novice can waltz in and publish something that isn't even good. I swear, I want his agent. He could probably sell snow to an eskimo. I am confused as to why so many people would seem to get their study of philosophy from sources no more sophisticated than a shopping mall or a quote of the day calendar. New Age spirituality in America is very confusing to me, because it is taken so serriously, but it is so superficial. Anyone who had their 'mind totaly blown' by this book, or who gained a deep reverence for the ways of the east after reading it should realy realize they know nothing about what they are talking about, even if it does impress their friends at the coffeeshop. Finaly, I am confused and so is Mr. Mitchell. He explains that he is qualified to make his marginal contribution because he spent a lot of time in Zen training. I'm a scholar of religions, so I don't want to make this too technical, but Zen is a form of Japanese Buddhism (it's Chinese counterpart is Chan) and the Daodejing is a work of Chinese Taoism. If he came face to face with Lao Zi during his Zen training, then I would hope his Roshi hit him really really hard with his Zen Stick. Zen is Buddhist, the Daodejing is Daoist. Buddhist pracitioners venerate the Buddha, Daoist venerate the Dao, hence the names. Although there is some question of the integration of early Taoist principles into Chinese Chan Buddhism, the overlap is a concern for accademic scholars at best, and certainly, no Zen monastery keeps a copy of the Daodejing or a picture of Lao Zi around. Can we presume that Mr. Harrison was not paying enough attention during his Zen training to realize that modern Japanese Zen Buddhism and Chinese Taoism have nothing to do with eachother? What kind of training did he have? In the end, I am just confused as to why someone would pay money for this book when there are others much better out there, others that are, for instance, actual translations.
Rating:
Summary: Liberal translation of an ancient classic
Review: Stephen Mitchell's translation of the Tao te Ching is a refreshing departure from most literal translations of such works. The fact that he attempts to translate the meaning as opposed to the language of the text is what makes it refreshing as well as suspect. The reader must rely upon Mitchell's spirtual background to have faith that they are reading a book by Lao Tzu as opposed to Stephen Mitchell. This is a good book for a reader seeking an easy to read Tao. More serious readers should consider reading a more standard translation prior to reading this book. Despite this caveat, I found this to be an excellent second book and read it more often that the more literal translation that I also own.
Rating:
Summary: GREAT INTERPRETATION
Review: I THINK THIS IS A GREAT INTERPRETATION OF "THE WAY" AND "TAO." IT'S SIMPLE...DIRECT....AND NOT "I'M GOING TO USE BIG WORDS TO MAKE YOU THINK I'M SMART". JUST PLAIN, SIMPLE, DIRECT ENGLISH TRANSLATION. THIS BOOK WILL TEACH YOU A LOT ABOUT WISDOM, PSYCHOLOGY, AND OBSERVANCES IN EVERYTHING FROM WORK, TO RELIGION, AND ESPECIALLY EVERYDAY LIFE! IT'S ALMOST LIKE IT CONNECTS YOU WITH YOUR FIRST INSTINCTS ON THINGS. I RECCOMMEND THAT YOU BUY THIS.
Rating: 
Summary: Modern Version of an Ancient Classic
Review: Tao Te Ching is ancient, now a couple of millenia in print. Stephen Mitchell has not translated this classic, but rather has paraphrased it -- as he admits in the Foreward. But he is a Zen student of a couple of decades and has good insight into the Zen of the Tao (Zen Buddhism is Buddhism heavily dosed with Taoism). Mitchell's version of the Tao Te Ching is very, even extremely, modern. Perhaps to the point of being "politically correct." However, he does have a way with words and this is a very readable version of the Tao. To show how modern it is, let's take an example and compare his version of the beginning of chapter 46 with two other versions: - Mitchell
"When a country is in harmony with the Tao,
the factories make trucks and tractors.
When a country goes counter to the Tao,
warheads are stockpiled outside the cities." - Victor Mair
"When the Way prevails under heaven,
swift horses are relegated to fertilizing fields.
When the Way does not prevail under heaven,
war-horses breed in the suburbs." - Addiss & Lombardo
"With TAO under heaven
Stray horses fertilze the fields.
Without TAO under heaven,
Warhorses are bred at the frontier." Obviously, there were no factories, trucks, tractors, or warheads in ancient China. So, Mitchell is providing a modern interpretation of the Tao Te Ching, while Mair as well as Addiss & Lombardo are closer to a literal translation (which is not possible however, because the Chinese language and the English language are so completely different from one another.) None of this is to find fault with Stephen Mitchell. This is just to say that his book cannot be definitive, because it is less literal and not really a translation. However it is good, compelling reading, and honestly makes no pretense of being a literal translation. If you like Mitchell's approach, get one of the more literal translations too. I bet Stephen Mitchell himself would like you to have both.
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