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Tao fur Dummies (Für Dummies)
Sie interessieren sich für die Traditionelle Chinesische Medizin, Feng Shui oder Qi Gong und möchten nun wissen, auf welchen Gedanken all das beruht? Dann ist dieses Buch genau das richtige für Sie. Jonathan Herman, der in Harvard über chinesische Religionen promovierte, erläutert Ihnen, was es mit dem Tao, dem Weg, mit Chi, der Kraft, und dem Yin und Yang auf sich hat, das viel mehr ist als nur der Gegensatz zwischen männlichem und weiblichem Element. Zunächst einmal geht es um die Frage, ob Taoismus eine Philosophie oder eine Religion ist und dann erläutert der Autor die so wichtigen Ideen des Wu Wei, des Nicht-Eingreifens, Nicht-Handelns oder Nicht-Erzwingens, die viele Menschen im Westen in ihren Bann gezogen haben. Und schließlich erfahren Sie, wie durch den Taoismus im Dreiklang mit dem Buddhismus und dem Konfuzianismus all jene Ideen im Westen populär wurden, die für viele heute so anziehend sind. Lassen Sie sich ein auf diesen spannenden Weg.
335 pages, Paperback
First published June 24, 2013
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177 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
April 15, 2023
‘Chuang Tzu reminds you to let go of desire for fame, of purpose-driven calculations, of investment in ordinary affairs, and of the accumulation of knowledge, directing you instead to use your mind like a mirror, neither being effected by impressions as they come or holding onto them as they go.’
A usable introduction to the history, theology, and practice of Taoism in both China and the West. Herman documents no reason to trust his narrative, the reader must take that on faith.
‘There’s no problem anywhere — ethical, social, governmental, or whatever — that’s so big that it can’t be solved by doing absolutely nothing!’
Following the format of “for dummies” books there’s a lot of telling you what he’s going to tell you. That and multiple examples of Taoism that isn’t Taoism pad the book. Starts with history and pop culture. Most of the weight—dare we call it theology—is late in the book.
‘On the surface, it may sound a lot like daydreaming, developing dementia, or simply spacing out, but “sitting and forgetting” refers to a meditation that involves the systematic deconditioning and removal of what you already know.’
Includes comparisons with western religions and New Age Movements. He gets several particulars on those wrong, which weakens his authority. The same may be said of those religions he compares it to. (Most Christians claim the Bible as their authority but interpret and apply it in myriad ways.) His point is that there is no single, authoritative source for Tao dogma.
‘Because of the pervasiveness of Chinese syncretism, there really aren’t a whole lot of people anymore who even identify themselves as Taoists or Confucians exclusively.’
A usable introduction to the history, theology, and practice of Taoism in both China and the West. Herman documents no reason to trust his narrative, the reader must take that on faith.
‘There’s no problem anywhere — ethical, social, governmental, or whatever — that’s so big that it can’t be solved by doing absolutely nothing!’
Following the format of “for dummies” books there’s a lot of telling you what he’s going to tell you. That and multiple examples of Taoism that isn’t Taoism pad the book. Starts with history and pop culture. Most of the weight—dare we call it theology—is late in the book.
‘On the surface, it may sound a lot like daydreaming, developing dementia, or simply spacing out, but “sitting and forgetting” refers to a meditation that involves the systematic deconditioning and removal of what you already know.’
Includes comparisons with western religions and New Age Movements. He gets several particulars on those wrong, which weakens his authority. The same may be said of those religions he compares it to. (Most Christians claim the Bible as their authority but interpret and apply it in myriad ways.) His point is that there is no single, authoritative source for Tao dogma.
‘Because of the pervasiveness of Chinese syncretism, there really aren’t a whole lot of people anymore who even identify themselves as Taoists or Confucians exclusively.’
October 22, 2015
This book is an academic and historical background of Taoism and not, say, a practitioner's guide. The history and contextual understanding of Taoism might scare some people off, but as the author establishes, you can't truly appreciate Taoism without understanding where it came from and how it evolved.
For instance, in North America Taoism has this oriental mystique and balanced spirituality that many of the New Age Movement take an interest in. However, as this books clarifies, the Westernized Tao only remotely resembles the Chinese Tao. The alternative spirituality is something that Westerners added to the philosophy. Since very few of the thousands of canon Tao texts have been translated, Westerners have a limited view of the Chinese version, and few Chinese immigrants recruit.
The Chinese Tao is steeped in traditions that the American version ignores. Taoism serves as the Paganism of the Orient--the localized religion that is looked down upon as superstition by the dominant Confucianism and Buddhism. There are priests and temples. Many Chinese don't define themselves as Taoist the way Westerners want to define themselves by not just a label, but a single label. The Chinese culture has pragmatic, not-necessarily-spiritual traditions that overlap. Many that might be called a Taoist also observe some philosophies and traditions from Confucianism and Buddhism, perhaps according to local influences.
So the Western audience has developed something that is Taoish. Like the Chinese we have taken the concepts we wanted and ignored (or never learned) the rest. Not that adaptability is bad for Taoism, but the author advocates understanding Tao's _context_ above all else.
The back half of the book talks more about the philosophical values of Taoism, but I found the first half was what gave this book independence and worth.
Side note: the author also cautions that many "translations" of the most popular Taoist texts such as _Tao Te Ching_ are often written by people that don't know Chinese nor the history of Taoism and the writers take liberty with their interpretation. If you want to read something closer to the original work you should read a translation written by an academic.
For instance, in North America Taoism has this oriental mystique and balanced spirituality that many of the New Age Movement take an interest in. However, as this books clarifies, the Westernized Tao only remotely resembles the Chinese Tao. The alternative spirituality is something that Westerners added to the philosophy. Since very few of the thousands of canon Tao texts have been translated, Westerners have a limited view of the Chinese version, and few Chinese immigrants recruit.
The Chinese Tao is steeped in traditions that the American version ignores. Taoism serves as the Paganism of the Orient--the localized religion that is looked down upon as superstition by the dominant Confucianism and Buddhism. There are priests and temples. Many Chinese don't define themselves as Taoist the way Westerners want to define themselves by not just a label, but a single label. The Chinese culture has pragmatic, not-necessarily-spiritual traditions that overlap. Many that might be called a Taoist also observe some philosophies and traditions from Confucianism and Buddhism, perhaps according to local influences.
So the Western audience has developed something that is Taoish. Like the Chinese we have taken the concepts we wanted and ignored (or never learned) the rest. Not that adaptability is bad for Taoism, but the author advocates understanding Tao's _context_ above all else.
The back half of the book talks more about the philosophical values of Taoism, but I found the first half was what gave this book independence and worth.
Side note: the author also cautions that many "translations" of the most popular Taoist texts such as _Tao Te Ching_ are often written by people that don't know Chinese nor the history of Taoism and the writers take liberty with their interpretation. If you want to read something closer to the original work you should read a translation written by an academic.
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August 16, 2016Not the place to go for philosophical insights. Spent a lot more time on the religion of Taoism. Didn't get too detailed, but there is a lot of information about the history and different sects of Taoism that is covered. For those with a strong interest, it provides a good understanding about the who's and that what's. More in-depth than what you'll get on Taoism from a comparative religions class, but has the same feel to it. You go into both to analyze in an educational sense, not to contemplate in a philosophical sense.
April 25, 2014
Yes, I admit it. I read a "for Dummies" book. I was actually impressed by the depth and breadth of knowledge the author had put together. Although at times it seemed as if he was actually trying to chase people away from Taoism, he's definitely put together a valuable introduction to the philosophy/religion. I learned a lot even though I've studied Taoism for close to 25 years. It's not gonna teach you much about being a Taoist, but it does a very good job of telling the story. I enjoyed it.
January 21, 2016
This book would have been a lot more enjoyable if it didn't keep reminding you everything Taoism isn't.
January 15, 2025
I've read extensively on Taoism, including technical and academic works, but I wish I had started with Taoism for Dummies. Even after exploring numerous books, visiting Taoist sites, and engaging in discussions with practitioners from both Chinese/Taiwanese and Western varieties, I’ve often struggled to grasp the relationship between "philosophical" and "religious" Taoism. This book sheds much-needed light on this complex and often misunderstood distinction.
Jonathan Herman adeptly addresses key questions that have long puzzled me: How did a philosophy that criticises ritual and never mentions gods give rise to a religion steeped in rituals and deities? What role does the Daodejing play in religious Taoism? How do Chinese people reconcile practicing both Taoism and Confucianism without irony? These explanations are invaluable, especially given how even some self-identified Taoists (who might more accurately be practitioners of Chinese folk religion) often seem unclear on these points.
Some critics argue that the book spends too much time discussing what Taoism isn't rather than what it is. While I understand this perspective, I believe this approach is effective. Taoism is so widely misunderstood that "unlearning" misconceptions, a concept central to Taoism itself, feels appropriate here.
I have only two minor criticisms of this otherwise excellent introduction. First, the use of the outdated Wade-Giles romanisation system, which renders "Dao" as "Tao," may confuse readers familiar with Hanyu Pinyin. For those who have studied Chinese or read modern scholarly works, the Romanisations might be jarring or unclear.
Second, Herman’s dismissive tone towards popular "Western Taoism" feels a bit excessive. He frequently critiques 'The Tao of Pooh', a book I personally find charming and accessible. While it simplifies Taoist philosophy and omits the religious aspects, it serves as a gentle introduction to classical Taoism. I don't think he needed to be so hard on it!
Overall, 'Taoism for Dummies' is an excellent resource, balancing accessibility with depth. Whether you’re a newcomer or someone seeking to untangle the complexities of Taoism, this book is a fantastic starting point.
Jonathan Herman adeptly addresses key questions that have long puzzled me: How did a philosophy that criticises ritual and never mentions gods give rise to a religion steeped in rituals and deities? What role does the Daodejing play in religious Taoism? How do Chinese people reconcile practicing both Taoism and Confucianism without irony? These explanations are invaluable, especially given how even some self-identified Taoists (who might more accurately be practitioners of Chinese folk religion) often seem unclear on these points.
Some critics argue that the book spends too much time discussing what Taoism isn't rather than what it is. While I understand this perspective, I believe this approach is effective. Taoism is so widely misunderstood that "unlearning" misconceptions, a concept central to Taoism itself, feels appropriate here.
I have only two minor criticisms of this otherwise excellent introduction. First, the use of the outdated Wade-Giles romanisation system, which renders "Dao" as "Tao," may confuse readers familiar with Hanyu Pinyin. For those who have studied Chinese or read modern scholarly works, the Romanisations might be jarring or unclear.
Second, Herman’s dismissive tone towards popular "Western Taoism" feels a bit excessive. He frequently critiques 'The Tao of Pooh', a book I personally find charming and accessible. While it simplifies Taoist philosophy and omits the religious aspects, it serves as a gentle introduction to classical Taoism. I don't think he needed to be so hard on it!
Overall, 'Taoism for Dummies' is an excellent resource, balancing accessibility with depth. Whether you’re a newcomer or someone seeking to untangle the complexities of Taoism, this book is a fantastic starting point.
November 6, 2015
The only good point about this book is that it is informative. Herman understands far more about being a modern-day academic than about Taoism as set forth by Lao Tzu. He is very good at covering all the usual introductory ground, and the book is very much worth reading from that point of view. But to really get to grips with Taoism in the sense of really trying to understand the Tao Te Ching is something that he not only does not set out to do, but is dismissive of. By the end of this book it was pretty clear to me that if I ever want to understand Taoism I will have to concentrate on the Tao Te Ching alone and important related commentaries, and ignore all the other books on Taoism like Taoism for Dummies.
May 8, 2019
This is a very thorough look at the history and development of Taoism. Unfortunately, it only clears up some things, and points out that most Western practices of Taoism isn't authentic Taoism, so Westerners don't have a clear idea of what that is.
June 18, 2019
This is a lovely historical and academic basic introduction to Taoism. The author presents the information in a relatable and easy to understand way. He also tries to provide accurate translations of basic Taoist terms into English from Chinese.
May 12, 2017
Jonathan writes in an approachable style I find very helpful in my quest to unlearn my Western preconceptions of Taoism, Chinese culture, and religion.
October 4, 2025
DNF. Based on the title, I expected this to be a book for beginners, which was exactly what I was looking for: something to help me ease into the subject and see if Taoism is something I'd like to explore more. This wasn't that. It a very detailed, very descriptive and elaborate book about the history of Chinese religion in general and Taoism in particular. I kept reading and waiting for the author to explain a bit about Taoism and take it from there, but when I reached page 85 and still hadn't seen even the most basic explanation on Taoism, I gave up. For me, this book seemed to be written backwards. If it's written 'for dummies', why not start by explaining the subject (even if it's just a short paragraph) and THEN exploring origins, history and authors? Why start with the history and then dissecting the writings of Lao Tzu without even touching on what Taoism stands for, first? How can I as a reader form an opinion on the writings of Lao Tzu, when I don't yet know what it is he's actually writing about? It didn't make sense at all. I'm still planning on reading more about Taoism, but I'm giving up on this book. If you're already very versed on the subject matter and you want an elaborate, detailed exploration of history and idioms, this might be a good fit for you.
September 18, 2025
An informative read!
March 5, 2020
The taoism that can be written about...is not very clear or satisfying.
March 29, 2022
Don't let the title fool you. If you're humble enough to pick it up, this will prove to be a highly worthwhile read.
January 25, 2017
If you think Taoism is simply a stoic philosophy, then this is the book you need to read. That brief work is a very small piece of a 2000 year old puzzle that goes well beyond a book of 81 chapters. Focusing upon a single book as "the Taoism" is willful ignorance. At worst, it is cultural appropriation without even apologizing for the ignorance of anything about this belief system beyond one book among so many. There are 1000s of books in the Taoist Canon that encompass this tradition. Ignoring the rest because, "it's all superstitious" is as dismissive of history, as it is the culture that created it. Never call that single book Taoism, as it is patently false to the core.
Enjoying it's philosophy is beneficial, yet, hardly means one is a 'convert' for liking a book.
As one that has appreciated reading the Tao The Ching, and attempted to learn more about the traditions of China, for several decades, a book that finally focuses upon correcting the vast misconceptions perpetuated since the Tao was introduced to the West is refreshing, and desperately needed.
The subject is so vast, and complex, including important points for a Western audience requires spending a strong portion dissuading readers of entrenched ideas. These are handled in a respectful manner. One wishes more space could be given to historical, and modern manifestations in China, especially rituals, and more about the myriad of books associated to Taoism, that are largely only available--and of interest to--academics.
The author discusses areas conflated with Taoism in the West so to give as clear an introduction to a term many may know, yet few understand beyond the vague concepts promulgated by many that wish to profit from Eastern Mystique.
Enjoying it's philosophy is beneficial, yet, hardly means one is a 'convert' for liking a book.
As one that has appreciated reading the Tao The Ching, and attempted to learn more about the traditions of China, for several decades, a book that finally focuses upon correcting the vast misconceptions perpetuated since the Tao was introduced to the West is refreshing, and desperately needed.
The subject is so vast, and complex, including important points for a Western audience requires spending a strong portion dissuading readers of entrenched ideas. These are handled in a respectful manner. One wishes more space could be given to historical, and modern manifestations in China, especially rituals, and more about the myriad of books associated to Taoism, that are largely only available--and of interest to--academics.
The author discusses areas conflated with Taoism in the West so to give as clear an introduction to a term many may know, yet few understand beyond the vague concepts promulgated by many that wish to profit from Eastern Mystique.
January 22, 2015
Don't be fooled by the "for Dummies" title - this book comes with quite the amount of information in it. Dr. Herman does a great job in making this knowledge accessible to the reader, including details in what some of the more confusing aspects of Daoist practice/thought (such as wei wu wei, or action without action) mean, and how they can be applied to everything.
Herman goes into great detail throughout the book on the history of Daoism, ranging from its earliest shamanic moments, through the writings that arose during the Warring States period and the traditions that arose later on. He details a little of how this is changing with modern Western interpretations, and includes a section of "tens" where he has three chapters of ten items each on various things, such as common misconceptions and religious sites. He also mentions the two main modern schools of Daoism, which is something a lot of books lack.
Furthermore, Herman includes a fairly comprehensive list of further reading at the end of the book, great for anyone who wants to delve further into this tradition.
Sadly, Herman also uses the Wade-Giles romanization. While his reasons are clear and sound - the fact that the tradition is most commonly known by it's older romanization name - it's hard to get around sometimes when most scholars and books have switched to pinyin. Otherwise, very good text and a good introduction for anyone who wants to get started learning about this tradition.
Herman goes into great detail throughout the book on the history of Daoism, ranging from its earliest shamanic moments, through the writings that arose during the Warring States period and the traditions that arose later on. He details a little of how this is changing with modern Western interpretations, and includes a section of "tens" where he has three chapters of ten items each on various things, such as common misconceptions and religious sites. He also mentions the two main modern schools of Daoism, which is something a lot of books lack.
Furthermore, Herman includes a fairly comprehensive list of further reading at the end of the book, great for anyone who wants to delve further into this tradition.
Sadly, Herman also uses the Wade-Giles romanization. While his reasons are clear and sound - the fact that the tradition is most commonly known by it's older romanization name - it's hard to get around sometimes when most scholars and books have switched to pinyin. Otherwise, very good text and a good introduction for anyone who wants to get started learning about this tradition.
June 11, 2021
Wonderful!
I really relished this book, for a medium length book it’s deep and encompasses quite a lot. I am quite astonished as to how much there is to Taoism. There are many things to learn about Taoism, such as the Tao (the Way), non-doing or actionless action (wu wei), unlearning or sitting and forgetting (tso-wang) etc. You learn about the history (or mythic history) of Taoism from Classical Taoism and the Hundred Schools Period (6th - 2nd centuries BCE) and the mythic founder of Taoism and the author of the Tao Te Ching, Lao Tzu. Chuang Tzu is also a major founder of Taoism. You learn about the first Taoist community or Five Pecks of Rice Sect which grew into The Way of the Celestial Masters (T’ien-shih Tao), founded in the first millennium CE by Chang Tao Ling. You learn about the two modern strands of Taoism in China today, namely, Orthodox Unity, the liturgical branch based in the south of China and Complete Perfection, the monastic branch mainly based in the north of China. You learn about Yin-Yang theory, five elements theory, internal and external alchemy (nei-tan and wai-tan respectively), t’ai ch’i, ch’i kung, the Taoist deities, Taoist millenarianism, the Taoist canon, Taoist philosophy as opposed to Taoist religion, the conflicts with Confucianism and Mohism and much much more. I highly recommend this book to anyone, even if you have no desire to become Taoist.
I really relished this book, for a medium length book it’s deep and encompasses quite a lot. I am quite astonished as to how much there is to Taoism. There are many things to learn about Taoism, such as the Tao (the Way), non-doing or actionless action (wu wei), unlearning or sitting and forgetting (tso-wang) etc. You learn about the history (or mythic history) of Taoism from Classical Taoism and the Hundred Schools Period (6th - 2nd centuries BCE) and the mythic founder of Taoism and the author of the Tao Te Ching, Lao Tzu. Chuang Tzu is also a major founder of Taoism. You learn about the first Taoist community or Five Pecks of Rice Sect which grew into The Way of the Celestial Masters (T’ien-shih Tao), founded in the first millennium CE by Chang Tao Ling. You learn about the two modern strands of Taoism in China today, namely, Orthodox Unity, the liturgical branch based in the south of China and Complete Perfection, the monastic branch mainly based in the north of China. You learn about Yin-Yang theory, five elements theory, internal and external alchemy (nei-tan and wai-tan respectively), t’ai ch’i, ch’i kung, the Taoist deities, Taoist millenarianism, the Taoist canon, Taoist philosophy as opposed to Taoist religion, the conflicts with Confucianism and Mohism and much much more. I highly recommend this book to anyone, even if you have no desire to become Taoist.
March 28, 2024
An excellent contribution -- clear, very comprehensive, highly readable, and academically respectable. I'm sure it will drive the woo-woo types up the wall, though, for those very reasons. Some people just can't handle their fantasies being disturbed.
May 1, 2014
I now feel qualified to call anyone younger than me "grasshopper." I can also call young men "my son" and young women "missy". So I have that going for me now.
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