Tao Te Ching

by John H. McDonald

Translated by John H. McDonald

Genres: Philosophy

208 pages, Hardcover

Published January 1, 2020

Reviews

[Audrey Cloft · Rating 5 out of 5]

All religious and spiritual texts have the same basic concept at the root and yet that’s not what we focus on. We get caught up on technicalities and literalisms that don’t really matter. Wow. This was lit.

[Rachel Stallings · Rating 5 out of 5]

i forgot i had this lying around and honestly im very glad i picked it back up. s/o the homie lao tzu

[Mike Reiff · Rating 4 out of 5]

So this isn’t “by John McDonald,” this is just this translation of Lao Tzu’s poems,

But this beautiful edition is filled with complementary reproductions of ink and watercolors that mesh wonderfully with the poems,

And this time around Tzu’s poems are growing on me.

[Ali · Rating 4 out of 5]

laozi was a chill lil guy?? bit too chill tho?

[Rebecca Starr]

I can’t review this because it’s the Tao Te Ching, but it is incredible how relevant and poignant this book is. Super easy read (essentially a short book of poetry) but very worth it. Some ideas are a little bit extreme to live by but so much of it is just about good mentalities to have.

[Kaela Gonzales · Rating 5 out of 5]

to live happily is to be humble, patient, & compassionate for everything. do not compete. do not speak of what you do not understand. desire little. in losing, much is gained, & in gaining, much is lost. detach yourself from this world. "be like water".

[CaMesha Reece · Rating 4 out of 5]

The second reading landed more than the first. I'm sure it will every time I read again.

[Aida · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book calms me. I think I shall read it again.

[Jarod Schiefer · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great guide for how to live a good and happy life, every person should need to read it.

[Clurtle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gave this another read later in my adult life, and I feel like I took away so much more. By some coincidence of nature, I’d been working all year to rid myself of ego which in large part meant developing one so that I had the strength or ego to do such a thing.

I definitely thing the contradictions give you so much to think about. The book really opens up when you don’t see then as contradictions but of course just clever word play. I really like the intro because they preface the book saying that it can be cryptic at times, but when reading the book with very little ego, with a quest to not understand the words but to truly experience and live them, the picture seems fairly clear to be me, but it’s just as easy for me to have a completely wrong interpretation but even in falsehood we can find truths, especially in relation to our own lives.

I look forward to really living with the message of this book forever.

[Blake Cary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Am sure this is my introduction, and one I really enjoyed. Quick passages to pick up and put down. I read on train mainly or just picked up briefly and came back to it another time, love it, will continue to do so. Look forward to other books on this religion I stumble into — will seek them.

[Abby Ens · Rating 4 out of 5]

Edit: gave this 4 starts instead of 5. Made me think of a lot of things. Made my brain hurt.

“We mould clay into a pot, but it is the emptiness inside that makes the vessel useful.

We fashion wood for a house, but it is the emptiness inside that makes it liveable.”

[Pierre · Rating 5 out of 5]

"If you don't trust people they become untrustworthy"

[Bobby Alger · Rating 4 out of 5]

This particular edition is so lovely in its physical form. A great work to slow down and spend a little time with.

[Theo Harris · Rating 4 out of 5]

I mean you absolutely KNOW that Lao Tzu is spitting here. Still haven't nailed down his opinion on a proletariat revolution yet but that may come with time. Also I liked this translation but I'm not sure it's the best.

EDIT - Chapter 75. I think he may have been pro revolution.

[Samuela · Rating 5 out of 5]

this is the best translation of tao

[Lewis Huggins · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favourite reads of all time