Tao Te Ching [Text Only]

Rating:
Summary: very nice
Review: A lot of people seem to adore this translation. I think it's nice, but there are several I like better. The unusal thing about this one is the very terse, unelaborated language used, which seems to charm a lot of people, but just puts me off. Long-winded translations can go astray, but they don't have to, by any means. (The alleged advantage of using fewer words seems to be based on some pseudoscientific language fetish I'll never understand [see below reviews].)

Of course, let's not forget to mention Needleman's terrible introduction. Absolute garbage. He shows no knowledge of Chinese history or philosophy, and you can just see the square (Eastern) blocks being forced into round (Western) holes as he tries to expound on Taoist philosophy. Henricks does a much better job in his intro, with fewer words, and sounds less presumptuous in doing so.

Just ignore the Needleman, though, and you'll probably appreciate this translation, perhaps more than any other.

Rating:
Summary: Interesting overview for a beginner...
Review: As an intermittent student of Taoism and other Eastern philosophies, this is a fascinating read. It's fit for most peoples' sensibilities, a lot of it is similar to the sentiments expressed by Sun Tzu (although it's been a while since I've last looked at him).

This is a simple text, simple translation, but very profound. It's easily read in one night, but to truly understand it, I think, takes much longer.

Rating:
Summary: Interesting overview for a beginner...
Review: As an intermittent student of Taoism and other Eastern philosophies, this is a fascinating read. It's fit for most peoples' sensibilities, a lot of it is similar to the sentiments expressed by Sun Tzu (although it's been a while since I've last looked at him).

This is a simple text, simple translation, but very profound. It's easily read in one night, but to truly understand it, I think, takes much longer.

Rating:
Summary: clean tao
Review: Feng and English have done a good job of making the Tao Te Ching accessible to the average reader. It is easy to read and has a good introduction as well. The only thing lacking here are linguistic footnotes; any one who wishes to study the Tao Te Ching in a scholarly way will probably need another edition, such as that by Lin Yutang. Nevertheless, it is a good edition of a crucial work in eastern philosophy.

Rating:
Summary: An Accessible Translation of the Tao Te Ching
Review: Over time I have found people treating this translation as the "definitive" TTC translation. Though I think no translation is ever perfect, this version is overall accessible, useful, and clear. It also lacks some of the pretention and New-Ageiness of other translations, which is a welcome relief.

Some people are not happy with Needham's commentary, but I myself largely don't read commentaries beyond translation notes. It's a must-have for any person who wants a good copy of the TTC.

Rating:
Summary: Uninteresting Translation
Review: The primary reason anyone would want this particular edition of the Tao Te Ching is that is that it is compact. It's small, portable, and presumably easy to read. Unfortunately the translation is dis-jointed. As if it was translated for the words, as if the underlying meaning would speak for itself if it was translated directly.

It's small size limits its value for a scholar, as it does not have much additional information. The translation is too dis-jointed to flow as poetry, so it doesn't have much value to anyone who simply wants to appreciate the beauty of the text.

Rating:
Summary: clean tao
Review: This is the translation of The Tao that woke me up, made sense to me in a way no other translation had. It doesn't have the "wrought" feeling that most poetic translations have. I didn't feel the translator behind the words, and I could picture The Old Guy, sitting on his hill, writing this down.

Moreover, the introduction by Needleman, missing in the 25-year edition , is stunning, particularly in his explanation of "virtue" as a verb, an act rather than an ideal. I'd trade the photos, however beautiful, for this introduction.

Rating:
Summary: The translation that best captures the spirt of Lao-Tzu
Review: This translation is by far the most enjoyable to read. Most of us will never experience the Tao Te Ching in the original Chinese. I think that after reading this version, most of us will feel that this is as close as we can get to the in-Chinese experience. On a personal note, verse 13 of the first chapter seems to capture the meaning of life succintly and with great beauty.

Rating:
Summary: A very readable translation of the Tao Te-Ching.
Review: This translation of the Tao Te-Ching is the best I have seen. The language is clear and the poetic nature of the work is left intact. While there are no illustrations as in the larger, earlier version, it is portable. This is a translation that does not require one to be a scholar. It gives everyone easy access to the ideas of the Tao. Hah ! Which is what the Tao is about. For example, here is part of verse Eleven: Thirty spokes share the wheel's hub; It is the center hole that makes it useful. Shape the clay into a vessel; It is the space within that makes it useful... The book also contains a precise 27 page introduction which may be read or ignored.If you are at all interested in understanding the essence of Taoism you will not be disappointed by this translation.