The Tao Made Easy: Timeless Wisdom to Navigate a Changing World

by Alan Cohen

“Alan Cohen brings to life ancient wisdom for a new era deeply in need of enlightenment. Fresh insights, practical, easy entry, and immense delight!” — Chungliang Al Huang, president-director, Living Tao Foundation, and co-author with Alan Watts of The Watercourse WayMay you live during interesting so goes an ancient Chinese blessing—or some say curse. That wish has come true for us. Now what? In this radically illuminating book, Alan Cohen delves into one of the world’s most venerated wisdom texts for answers and brings the lofty and enigmatic concepts of the Tao Te Ching down to earth in fresh, easy-to-grasp language with practical, personal examples we can use to uplift our daily lives.Most other interpretations of the Tao march through the stanzas one by one. Here Alan Cohen calls forth the ancient verses around themes that are central to our modern lives —from love to work to the lessons we learn from pain. Then he brings each message to life in short vignettes where he imagines himself a student of Lao Tse and interacts with the master directly and intimately. He invites you to join the ancient sage and the contemporary seeker as they wend their way through the challenges and triumphs of the same journey you’re taking yourself.

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

233 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 10, 2018

About the author

Alan Cohen is the author of several self help books.

Reviews

[Tim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tao Te Ching Explained

A useful stroll through the Tao Te Ching, filled with connections to our modern world and bridging back to the life of Lao-tzu. Even if you have no intention of committing to the Tao, there is much useful insight here.

[Karolina · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting book that certainly sheds a light on the goals that we strive to achieve in the 21st century. It might sound like Captain Obvious at times, but it definitely makes stuff clearer. However, at the same time the author doesn't seem to have grasped the concept of transsexuality and other progressive stuff, so the book is not entirely comfortable to read at times as the author shows that he doesn't understand or wants to understand these concepts. This is a very weird stance for someone who wants to share timeless wisdom and wants to look like they understand the modern world.

[Shrewbie Spitzmaus · Rating 3 out of 5]

There's a lot of good and useful stuff in this book but unfortunately it is mixed in with a lot of unsupported, "new age" nonsesnse which is not useful and also potentially harmful if truly practiced as presented. If I stripped away the nonsense, it would be a five star book but would only be about half as long.

[Tomomi Landsman · Rating 2 out of 5]

I used $1.99 worth of free Amazon credits toward Great on Kindle eBooks to 'purchase' this book.

It seems a lot of self-help books end up on Amazon at very low prices. This is the only book I've read about the Tao Te Ching, and I probably won't try any others. The format was interesting, with fictional anecdotes of Lao Tze and an unnamed follower interspersed with Cohen's recapping the Tao Te Ching and giving examples from the world and his own life. The fictional anecdotes were probably my favorite part of the book. The rest seemed the same hash over and over again.

Some of the things Cohen states as bald fact are just too outrageous to give credit, like the mention of the Global Consciousness Project. While I love me a random number generator to help me make a decision, I don't believe we're psychically influencing it. And this line made me laugh: "The Earth in its original state was rich in oxygen far beyond the levels we experience today."

One thing I can get behind: "Life is about love, and love does not depend on bodies." I just finished reading Bag of Bones by Stephen King, and this could be a one-line review of that book.

[Dagmara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wspaniały tytuł, który uzupełnia wiedzę o taoizmie. Najlepiej czytać razem z Tao Te Ching, jako że książka pozwala zrozumieć najważniejsze założenia znajdujących się tam strof. Książka byłaby dla mnie idealna, gdyby nie autor, który w pewnym momencie za bardzo zachłysnął się swoim poczuciem wyższości wynikającej z emocjonalnej odrębności od reszty ludzi. Przez większość książki pozostaje skromny i odpowiednio zdystansowany, ale swój rozdział na temat technologii napisał w bardzo niechlujny sposób, posługując się uproszczeniami i całkowitym niezrozumieniem, dlaczego społeczeństwo jest, jakie jest. Było to zaskakujące i rozczarowujące. Ponadto jest jedna rzecz, która mnie bolała, ale to podejrzewam kwestia tłumaczenia - tłumacz prozy również zajął się tłumaczeniem strof napisanych przez Laoziego, co wyszło mu niesamowicie kiepsko. Zazwyczaj w książkach, w których znajdują się utwory wierszowane, tłumacz posługuje się gotowym tłumaczeniem i robi odpowiedni przypis. Tutaj chyba to pominięto, przez co cytowany co chwilę Tao Te Ching traci na mocy.
Mimo to książka jest bardzo wartościowa, aby przybliżyć sobie tematykę taoistycznej filozofii. A taoizm polecam każdemu.

[David Joshua · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favourite book

If I could only choose one book to take to a desert island, this would be it. The Tao is a complex, subtle, indescribable force. Alan makes it a simple, obvious, approachable subject.

I’m eternally grateful for this book and the profound effect it has had on the way I live my life. I hope you get the same wisdom, peace and prosperity this book has enabled me to find, through an understanding of what the Tao is (or rather, is not - sorry I couldn’t help myself!).

David J

[Gerry Baird · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book came along at the perfect time for me, as I am currently experiencing many upheavals in my life. Successful living involves learning to trust that things are happening as they are meant to, and this book deeply nourished my roots. I loved the examples, stories and insights this book offers. I found myself wanting to highlight every other sentence! For those who are caught up in skepticism, rigidity or fear this book offers a life-changing, mind-opening cure.

[Rick Waugh · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did very much enjoy this book. It provided some excellent context for living with the philosophy of Taoism. I enjoy his writing style, and his overall outlook on life. I would have rated it higher, except that it was just a bit too new age for me; the philosphy in Taoism is life affirming, can help you deal with many things, but I don’t have faith that something is there to pick me up and fix me, no matter what happens. Nonetheless, a good read.

[Ragnhild Malnati]

Easy and profound

One really gets the essence of the Tao de Ching from this well articulated and lovingly written book. I read it slowly, allowing myself time to digest and absorb the various chapters. In the end, the Tao is about living a balanced, loving, and peaceful life--this book is a great start on that journey.

[Andi_banandi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book when I felt stressed, and it helped me feel calmer, that the universe will provide if I let it. It had thought provoking ideas in it. I was not a particular fan of its coitus references, but it did have some profound ideas in it.

[Hannah Bonner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just what I needed

I just finished the book. I needed it. And I need it again. I think I will read it again right away to allow more of it to soak into my spirit. It will never get old.

[Graham Robertson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this translation of the Dao de Ching. The way that the author set a number of the 81 verses with a story of Lao Tsu and his apprentice. Lovely read, and a book that I will continue to go back to, time and time again.

[Blanca Julia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Food for my Soul

I loved this book. I felt renewed and at peace after I finished reading. I highly recommend it. Not only does it teach many things, it gives you hope and healing to a wounded heart.

[Crista Cloutier · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful book. Very clear and enormously helpful.

[Ingrid · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful

It was an inspiring journey to be able to navigate through this book. I loved every word and I will cherish every page in my heart

[Jacqueline D'Acre · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cohen provides good interpretations of the somewhat inscrutable Tao. I’m working on “You need do nothing.”

[Shelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my all time favorite

[Dan A. Foster · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tao

I thank the author for helping me gain a greater understanding understanding of Tao. There are many items in these teachings worthy of lifelong implementation.

[Noah Talon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a joy to read.
Uplifting and clear wisdom ready to be immediately put to practice.

[Alan Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

An inspirational, highly readable guide to the Tao.

[Luciana · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book we should read and read and read. TAO really seems to be easy, being described in these wonderful stories of Alan Cohen. ❤️

[Elena Arroyo · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best intro to Tao Te Ching

This book has given me better understanding of the Tao than any other. Thank you for writing and revealing the Tao.

[Jane Nash · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is really good for a beginner in Taoism. A lovely introduction.

[Belinda Fricker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tao can be somewhat inaccessible to American society. This book gives great examples of applying its precepts in modern culture.

[Deet · Rating 5 out of 5]

So good!!

[Hieu Do · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are some contradictions made by the author addition. But the constant stories of Lao Tzu was great.

[Michele Harrod · Rating 4 out of 5]

Do you ever find books where you only 'regret' about reading it, is that you hadn't, 30 years ago? This was one of those books. There was so many 'ah-ha' moments for me, I look at my 'notes and highlights' here on Kindle and smile at the idea of the yellow highlighter pen lines, and margin notes I would have pencilled in, if this had been a paperback book. My 20 year old self is stamping her foot in the corner, wishing she'd gotten her hands on this all those decades past, and hinting at me that I would have done well to revisit it once a year. I think I'll do that - certainly the highlights anyway!

Some wonderfully sage advice, that every one of us deserves to remember. Because when life seems to be getting further from 'easy' every day, it does our soul good to be reminded that the way we live now is actually quite ridiculous.