The Tao of Inner Peace

by Diane Dreher

By showing how to apply Taoist principles to our lives and the world around us, this powerful book helps us to discover peace of mind and promote positive social change.

Genres: Philosophy, Spirituality, Nonfiction, Religion, Taoism, Self Help, Psychology

320 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1990

About the author

Diane Dreher, Ph.D., is the author of the best-selling The Tao of Inner Peace and her newest book, Pathways to Inner Peace. She has a doctorate in Renaissance literature from UCLA and a Master's degree in Counseling from Santa Clara University. She is professor emeritus at Santa Clara University and lecturer in the Positive Psychology Academy in the UK. A positive psychology and creativity coach, researcher, teacher and writer, Diane lives in the San Francisco Bay area."

Reviews

[Denice · Rating 5 out of 5]

I saw this book for a dollar at Goodwill one day while I in the beginning stages of a rut. I had always been a fan of the Tao Te Ching, so I decided to just give it a try, not expecting anything but some new age-y advice. I stayed up the entire night to read it. As a positive and proactive person, most of what the author was saying was not news to me, but I needed to hear it again. She offers cheesy exercises which I passed on, but when I came to a part about dissecting the fears that are keeping you from your goal, I did it. My life was changed that very moment and I realized very little was keeping me from achieving what I wanted. Within a week I quit my soul-sucking job, made a plan and set off to do what I really wanted in life, knowing that if my worst fear happened, it wasn't the end of the world. The truth is, the worst never happened, only the best! I would not be where I am today if I had not come across this book. If you should come across it, I definitely recommend it!

[✨Bean's Books✨ · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was great in the beginning. But after a while it got way too political for me. Considering this book was originally written in 1965 says a lot. I'm not saying that the book is dated. Just that there was a lot going on then and the book reflects that. And most of the ideals carry over into our time and space as well. So all-in-all good. Other than that the book was very good and I enjoyed it.

[Joseph · Rating 1 out of 5]

Cleaning off my bookshelves I came across this book. I do not remember when or where I got it, but until today it basically has been left untouched.

I started to read it and quickly realized something was wrong. Taoism basically sees people as being a small part of the cosmos, not the center of it. What is immediately wrong is that this is an "I" or "me, me, me" book.

The author is an English professor and 'positive psychology' coach. Not sure what that is but cannot help but think of Tony Robbins. (Hmmm, wonder if she does infomercials.)

So she has her own system of citing the Tao Te Ching and does not use any of the standard translations. Instead she makes a vague reference to a translation allegedly done by one R. B. Blakney. That translation, if it exists, is obscure. Based on that 'translation' she reformatted the Tao Te Ching ... Does she speak or read Chinese, ah, I don't think so. Rather presumptions. And, it makes it difficult, if not impossible, to check her "quotations" from the Lao Tzu. She clearly has little understanding of "the book of five thousand characters" or Chinese thought, but she does not let that get in her way.

Okay, I made it all the way to p.18, before I abandoned this sucker. She did me in when she alleged this "Lao Tzu tells us: 'Tao people never try. They do.'" This is such a ludicrous assertion. If there was indeed a Lao Tzu, he never, ever would have use the term 'Tao people.' On an even more fundamental level, the concept of "Wu Wei" so central to Taoism means that you only do what is necessary. This book is an abomination. Normally, I recycle books, but this one was so offensive I tossed it in the trash.

[Nick Blankenburg · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this book, and I regret having lost it for I have wished several times to read it again. After reading it, I came away feeling more relaxed about life and its surprises. It felt like a heavy weight was lifted from my shoulders.

I know how corny that sounds, but it's the honest truth!

After I finished reading this book, I could tell that some of the people I spent a lot of my time with noticed a difference, and I felt different around them, in a very good way. I felt it gave me a greater appreciation for their friendships, and helped me see the good side in some of the situations and hardships I found myself in with them.

This book also instilled upon me the importance of finding balance, and to see my life in a more balanced way. It helped me substantially by giving me a greater perspective in regards to others, and a greater sense of empathy for them as well. I felt more able to objectively put myself into somebody else's shoes in different situations and understand not only how I would feel in a given situation, but also a greater understanding of how they themselves must be feeling.

This is the book that sparked my interest and admiration for Taoism, which has significantly shaped my outlook on life, love, happiness, and how I treat others.

I definitely recommend this to everybody, as long as they are able to keep an open mind while reading it.

[Kevin Fuller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having read the Tao Te Ching, I wanted to further my studies on the Great Way of Things, and came upon this gem at my local Barnes and Noble.

Anchored in the Tao Te Ching, Ms. Dreher highlights how to apply it's at times arcane and seemingly difficult to understand Wisdom to us living in postmodern society.

She makes connections for example between Lao Tzu and how and when to navigate a career move or change, between Lao Tzu's teachings and how to tackle difficult people, including ourselves.

By mid-book, I am completely bowled over by the author's recommendations for exercise, movement and breathing techniques, all which should be applied day to day.

What is the difference between the Tao Te Ching, and books such as this that use it for illumination and inspiration? It's simply The Way Things Are....The Way Things Work....The Way Things Change and how to handle these three.

The Great Tao is immanent....an ever present resource and Way to acknowledge and even merge with.

This book navigates 2500 year old Wisdom, merging it with the challenges of our everyday lives to the point the transitions between the two are seamless...most, relevant.

Highly recommended, this!

[Marina Quattrocchi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Diane Dreher's The Tao of Inner Peace was published in 1990 but the wisdom here is timeless and just as applicable today. The book is divided into themes such as: Facing your Fears, Releasing Tension, Seeking Simplicity, Taoist Problem Solving, and Natural Cycles. Each chapter contains the passage or passages from the Tao Te Ching related to the theme, an explanation of the principals, and interesting real life situations to help the reader understand the concepts even further. In the first chapter we're told the Tao Te Ching has been translated more than any book, but the Bible. By the end I felt like I understood the principals in a way I never had before. Many explanations of the Tao are often cryptic and complex, but this book was quite readable and easy to understand. Lao Tsu wrote these principals twenty-five centuries ago as a handbook for leaders, and their messages are just as relevant and important today. Understanding these principals helps the reader lead a life of harmony and balance, where you're in tune with nature and your spirit.

[J.G. Mullin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Good as a self-motivation book, but not so good as way to learn taoist principles or philosophy. The author uses liberties in her application of taoist philosophy and practices for modern day life, which many may find helpful if simply looking for improvements in their everyday life, but are misleading if you're actually looking to learn about Taoist philosophy.

[Colby Brandt · Rating 5 out of 5]

I learned a lot from this book. It’s a great reference point if you’re looking to explore different ways in which to maintain your center. There are many great quotes from Lao Tzu, and many opportunities to further research some of the modern world problems the author touches on.

It paints a relevant picture of the world. I’d recommend this book to almost anyone.

[Nick Wong · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s a good introductory read for understanding the Tao. Dreher pulls on a lot of personal anecdotes and ‘current events’ (not so current anymore and many references are dated) to make her point on her interpretations of the text which greatly helps in understanding. However her interpretation is just that, her view of what the text is saying. At times I take a different meaning from the text or wonder how she had interpreted verses to discuss the use of Tao in politics. The story I tell myself is she is a ‘lefty’ on the political spectrum (references to Green Peace, the Greens etc) and wish it was written in a more neutral way, maybe staying clear of activism and ideology. I think reading the original verses of the Tao at the same time or even beforehand would be beneficial as she cites the texts verses in any order. Saying that, this books intent is good, and the teachings here are for the better of the individual as for the community to which she and readers should be encouraged.

[Zachariah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I know, I know... "It's an explanation of a book that's essentially self-explanatory." I'd even agree if its scope was as narrow as to only carry paraphrases and excerpts of the myriad Tao Te Ching translations. (Although when dealing with a concept this "un-Taoable", it's un-Tao-tibly useful to approach it from as many p.o.v's as possible. Groan.) Thankfully, this isn't the case at all.

What we find instead is a worthwhile treatise on a number of important Taoist concepts, as well as a trove of simple daily applications to becoming more at ease with a world whose nature with which we must flow.

Definitely a cobbler's guide for those still wishing to pave the world in leather. You'll need a toolbox, however, so pick up a copy of the Tao Te Ching if you haven't one already.

[Atlas · Rating 3 out of 5]

Inspiring!

Reading this book in the woods somewhere in the Poconos, gave me a renewed self-peace that elevated to a reunion with nature.

On the third month, I gave up being a vegetarian. Haha. No offense to tofu, especially "tokwa't baboy", but I realized that tofu could never replace meat.

All the lyrical teachings of Tao were still refreshing and intuitive.

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book has become a guide for me. i reread it in 2005, then again in 2006 and 2007. each time i read it something jumps out at me that is relevant and meaningful to that point in time. it helps me stay grounded and at peace.

[Shaughnessy Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simply put this book is amazing. It invites us to learn ourselves and cooperate with natural cycles and one another. It is filled with the wisdom of the Tao to motive us to create inner and external peace.

[Ella Myers · Rating 4 out of 5]

one of my favorites for sure. always come back to this when life makes no sense and i need some guidance.

[Coralie · Rating 2 out of 5]

~ 2 stars ~

It was overall...okay. At times quite enjoyable, there's definitely lots and lots of advice throughout this that would have been very useful had I unfortunately not already been familiar with most of them. Especially given that the book covers quite a wide area of potential life changes and improvement. Overall I did find it to be a bit of a slog to get through, I'm afraid. Granted, this might be because large sections were very dated, citing events from the 70s and 80s, and in terms of ecology/environmentalism/climate change/the meat industry/reducing waste and overconsumption, nothing has changed at all since the 90s, so all the content were things I'd heard over and over and over growing up. The affirmations and examples from personal experience were a worthwhile addition up til about page 100, then became quite sappy and repetitive, but I did find a few quotes I enjoyed that I've underlined here and there so I can go back to them. It had useful advice, exercises, and affirmations, but it gets very pseudo-science-y in Chapters 10, 11 and 12 (Chakras, energy healing, yin/yang/female/male energy, Carl Jung, on top of the studies listed dating from pre-1990, since that's when the book was written). Lots of Carl Jung in this and even Freud. It was also a little new age-y for my tastes (mention of people's "energies" and deriving lessons from the laws of physics, plus the stuff mentioned above). I don't really trust the author in terms of both knowledge of taoism in its original cultural context and culture, and in terms of the veracity of scientific claims. Especially since she created her own "translations" of the Tao Te Ching despite not (as far as I can tell) having any fluency in the original language. I did enjoy the very last chapter on Taoist Politics though.

(FYI: the version I read was not "The Tao of Inner Peace", as I see other reviews on here are for that book, it was "The Tao of Peace, A Guide to Inner and Outer Peace", with a white, orange, blue and green cover with a yin/yang symbol).

[Chase Polak · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really wanted to enjoy this book more and do feel like she makes a lot of good points about the need to get in touch with one's inner self, the importance of affirmations, and the value of community. However, I often felt like she was more using the tao te ching to justify her existing new agey beliefs and viewpoints, instead of a commentary on the Tao te Ching itself. This was particularly shown by her egregious re wording of passages from the Tao te ching that i didnt feel like accurately captured the ideas Lao Tzu was trying to portray. She updated it with such modern wording that felt like it lost some of its ancient timeless wisdom by trying to fit the wording too much with modern belief systems. I also wish she had touched more on the Zhuangzi and other Taoist texts that were not mentioned ahrdly at all. I think Diane is a wonderful person who seems to really care about making the world a better place, but it felt more like reading her book of beleifs with warped Tao Te Ching passages thrown in. This might have been more on me though for misunderstanding what the book would be about. It was also interesting seeing this as a time capsule of the optmistic thinking of the 90s and fall of the Soviet Union when it seems like we had figured things out in the world. It would be interesting seeing this commentary post 9/11 in our modern capitalistic hellscape.

[Weston Sparks · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book starts strongly enough, but drastically declines in its clarity of message in the final third or so. The book itself is not really relevant to those wishing to ingrain Taoism into their lives, but is an overall positive reading experience. As a self help book, I’d give it an OK. The last four or five chapters could be cut entirely from the book. It devolves into irrelevant droning about getting involved with Greenpeace, which is something I’m totally down with, just have no desire to read about in this context. It kind of felt like the author used Taoism as a hook to readers, just to shoehorn in their own political subtext at the end. The edition I read is the one before the title was altered from just “Peace” to “Inner Peace” so I’m not sure if the more common versions even include these sections.

[1kTcups · Rating 4 out of 5]

Truth be told, I stole this book off an ex’s bookshelf. He was never much of a reader so I felt justified. It took about two more years and a day of re-organizing my bookshelf to come across it again and finally read it. At the time of the theft, I wasn’t too familiar with The Tao Te Ching but I have since read and accumulated a number of books on the matter…kinda interesting reading this interpretation knowing it was the first I owned but last I read. There is nothing particularly nuanced in this book but I did like author’s use of the epic’s verses and her interpretations when relating to modern events and examples. Her diction and syntax is calming and the text flows soothingly as you read. Although dated, I’d say the book holds up well overall.

[Nancy Lewis · Rating 4 out of 5]

These principles can work on a small community scale, say within a family, or among a group of friends or co-workers. Practicing Tao can certainly produce great benefits within our immediate relationships.

But the author seems to think that all we need to do is practice Tao and it will bring about world peace. That's not how humans work. The larger the group, the less each individual cares about the others, which is why we are destined to wage war and destruction. So it is, so it always has been, so it always will be. And no amount of Tao will change that.

[Bridget · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a must-read for anyone on a spiritual journey or for those who just want to better their lives. Especially now with the world upside down, learning how to maintain inner peace and joy is critical. I loved the exercises and techniques so that you can live the teachings, not just think about them, but manifest peace and harmony in your life. I will always keep a copy of "The Tao of Inner Peace" on my shelf!

[Clau · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is not a book you sit and read in one go. I couldn’t even finish it in one month, not because it is a bad book , but because you need to be in an open mindset to let things simmer. It gives a very accesible way to understand some of teachings of the Tao, while keeping things current and light.
It can be a bit repetitive at times because of the concepts which at the end of the day intertwine with each other.
It has exercises and mantras, so you can go as deep or as shallow as you want.

[Kat Burke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Truly one of the most influential books for me. It has positively affected my life and helped me see the world as more interconnected than I had realized. Most of us want the same things. Once you realize how to live in the moment and treat everyone as you’d want to be treated, life is a lot easier and more worthwhile.

[Shari Bera · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have tried to read this but if I’m not in the right state of mind, it makes me mad. It will say “the people of Tao do this” and sometimes I can’t do that. So I feel like you have to be in a state of peace to appreciate it. It could be that I’m not ready for the message in this book.

[Sandra Cruz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent resource guide. I'm keeping this one for myself to read and re-read as often as necessary.

My Review

[Jillian]

"The more faithfully you listen to the voice within you, the better you will hear what is sounding outside." –Dag Hammarskjöld

"Openness to life grants a lightning-swift insight into the life situation of others." –Dag Hammarskjöld

[Ben Myhre · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this a long time ago and remember really liking it.

I thought it was pretty good this time, but nothing spectacular.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

[Roger · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book periodically. It’s a good reminder of the principles of the Tao.

[Nadia · Rating 1 out of 5]

I just like the first few chapters

[Jason · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this after the Tao Te Ching, wonderful book. Very accessable and enjoyable read!