Tao Te Ching

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Summary: This is by far my favorite translation of the original.
Review: Stephen Mitchell succeeds in bringing the words of Lao Tse to life better than any other author I have read. It is probably not the most accurate translation word for word , but the liberties that he has taken in translating one of the best collections of wisdom is obviously inspired. Where other interpretations leave the reader hung out to dry on some of the passages , this book presents each one in a plausible way that makes sense in present day english. I recommend it to anyone , anyone at all , you can only benefit from reading this book.

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Summary: A version that speaks to the Westerner...
Review: It's pretty irrelevant to me whether this is a "proper translation" of the Tao. The key is that it spoke to me as a modern Westerner. Perhaps in time I may read other versions. But Mitchell has made a palatable version that can move and touch many of us with little or no exposure to Eastern culture or thought. This is a moving book of wisdom that anyone can benefit from. Give it a try!

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Summary: This book captures the spirit of Tao and leads the way
Review: to the very heart of the Way. When a person sets up a premise for a creation, in my opinion he may truly only be evaluated on how closely he has come to his mission. I have 4 versions of the Tao te Ching. Mitchell uses his ability to craft a piece of work using the Tao te Ching as his guideline. He makes it clear from the get go what his intentions are. Many have missed the point to criticize the work on the pros and cons of it's translation. The merit of the work is in the effectiveness of bringing a person to the Way in the simplest strokes. His gift is to bring the work alive in a way that touches the emotions as well as the mind. He inspires us because of his ability to reach us and bring us closer to our true nature. In many translations the direct or closest literal translation does not meet the western individual where we can A) understand it and B) assimilate it into our daily lives. His work reaches those places. Perhaps as a literal translation of the original it does not hold up to scrutiny, and those critics can have that one and walk proudly into the sunset saying, "Well I was RIGHT about that one." The Tao is not about being right, it's about who and what we are. The Tao is a spiritual philosophy meant to be integrated into daily life, not a quest for some clinical academic pontification of words and ideas. The Tao is a living breathing way of awareness and conduct and it cannot be contained in even the most brilliant of translations. The very first lines of the first poem tells you that (in anyone's translation). If a piece of art, writing or performance touches you to the core of your being then all criticism is really obsolete. Stephen Mitchell's book is a work of amazing beauty, whatever it lacks in artistry and cultural complexity, and for me it lacks none, it makes up for in it's honest and direct route to the spirit. Anyone would be making a great mistake not to have this "interpolation" in their collection of the Tao te Ching

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Summary: American Zen interpretation of the Tao
Review: I could forgive Mitchell for simply comparing translations (apparently never looking at the original text at all!) in this interpretation. I could even forgive what are sometimes gross, totally unjustified alterations of the meaning of words or entire passages. The business of personal interepretations of classics is not new.

But this is *not* a good introduction to Taoism or the Tao Te Ching. What it is is a highly personal, biased, American Zen interpretation of the Tao Te Ching.

As such, it does work in its own way, though I found the notes garbled, unhelpful, and sometimes misleading, and I've seen more poetic translations. But as a good, bias-free introduction to *Taoism*, it's a miserable failure. The reader is *not* being given straight Taoism here. That's especially disturbing because it's the most popular translation in print. For an equally elegant, more accurate (that is, Taoist) rendering, check out Henricks' translation.

I repeat: You may like the poetry, you may like the ideas and the philosophy, but it's impossible to like the Taoism, because it simply isn't there.

Rating:
Summary: beautiful
Review: this book moved me more than anything ive read in my field of (mostly jewish} mysticism. i dont think its required of one to know a language to to a good translation- the late harry behns (of peter pauper press) rendering of japanese haiku are better than r.h.blyths,former teacher of the current emperor-and gershon scholem was never able to have a mystical experience of any kind.

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Summary: This is the ONE book my wife kept nearby while she was dying
Review: When my wife Sandy was diagnosed with terminal cancer, this is the ONE book she kept nearby at home and in the hospital. She found great comfort in it words and wisdom.

When she died I picked it up and began to read. Several passages fell right open (8 & 16). These were the passages that she must have been reading the most. So I read those passages at her funeral. I'm still reading this book and finding something new with each reading. Even if a passage may not make sense on the first or second reading, it may become clear by the fifth or sixth. Or maybe it will take years.

Sandy was a poet and teacher who studied many translations of the Tao, but this was her favorite. It may not be the most literal translation, but it surely is the most poetic. If this translation was good enough for her, then it's good enough for me.

In fact, this book is so good, I've given away at least 8 copies in the two months since her death. This book has helped me deal with and survive the most difficult time in my life. I'm much wiser and more open having read this book. My friends to whom I've given copies agree and are sharing it with their friends.

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Summary: Despite ruthless reviews, this is a good one!
Review: This version of the Tao Te Ching may not be the very most correct translation, but Mitchell does a great job of making the passages moving and easier to understand for the beginner. This one is infinitely quotable and an enjoyable read. If you've never read the Tao Te Ching, give this one a shot.

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Summary: Takes 30 Minutes to Read, but a Lifetime to Understand
Review: I have read many translations of the Tao and this one is my favorite. Stephen Mitchell has given this age-old manuscript 20th century meaning without losing its original intent. It is without a doubt the most important book I have ever read. It takes 30 minutes to read, but a lifetime to understand.

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Summary: translation?
Review: a poet like mitchell certainly has the right to write whatever he likes if he does not refer to his text as a "translation" of tao te ching. i understand that in our age translations can be free, and ancient texts are required to be brought up to date. one is tempted to view this as a peculiarly american phenomenon, but whatever it means, mitchell's translation, it seems to me, conveys little of the original. translation is of course a tricky matter, and i don't intend to discuss it in any detail here. all i can say is that it wouldn't hurt anyone if mitchell takes some time off tolearn the chinese language first, and to seriously study some chinese philosophy. this is not easy to do, i admit, especially in the west--and certainly not as easy as a free and poetic rendering of the tao te ching w/o understanding chinese. even pound, let us remember, knew a little bit of ancient chinese, and however intuitive his understanding was, he was a real poet w/ considerable resources, translating mainly poetry, not philosophy. i don't think mitchell is much of anything, but sir, please learn a little more about another culture before preceding to translate it for our time. the last thing we want is some sort of ultra-hip californian interpretation of lao tze. a free translation is exceedingly difficult, demanding utmost care and genuine acquaintance w/ the original language and culture. for someone as lacking in learning as mitchell is, the best way is to be as literal as possible, which means 2-3 yrs of class time in chinese first. and one last note--his translation of rilke is good, but not as good as most say it is. even there his rather free rendering often ignores the spirit of the original, probably due to his uncertain grasp of german.

Rating:
Summary: A flawed, but modern translation
Review: The Tao Te Ching isn't easy to translate, and despite the praise some people have made of this book, it's really not that spectacular. The translation seems to be so-so, and though it tries to be modern and thus relevant, some of the attempts to be modern fall flat and untrue. The commentary at the end is virtually useless and far too "Western."

However, this is a useful "e-z-read" Tao Te Ching if you have read other versions and thus know where the author got fanciful. The spirit of the original does shine through, but only if you know where to look.