In the introduction, Le Guin explains that the Tao Te Ching has been an influential book throughout her life, and that over the years she has made efforts at producing her own rendition of the classic. (She won’t call it a translation, since she doesn’t actually speak Chinese, but she has done extensive research— she provides copious notes on how she chose particular renderings in the back of the book— and produced this in collaboration with a scholar of the language.) Her goal has been to distill the clarity of the classic for a modern reader who is more likely one citizen among millions rather than a leader seeking sagacious insights for rulership. The result is quite good, with a penetrating brevity I haven’t seen in the other translations I’ve read. I actually wound up reading it with another translation to hand when I wanted to get another perspective on the occasional verse, but I think the simplicity of her rendering is a good place to start before going out looking for more nuance. ( )

I'm going to buy this book. I want to keep it around the house, not just be able to get it from the library. I've read a few versions - Stephen Mitchell's and D. C. Lau's are on my bookshelf. After reading Le Guin's, Mitchell's seems too far afield. I'll give it to the library. Lau's is still good, but Le Guin's is better. She's done it just right - spare and eloquent, ancient and modern, personal and universal. It hits home. ( )

A timeless treasure trove of ancient wisdom. Le Guin's version is fluid, digestible, and enjoyable - adding a pleasant accessibility while still remaining faithful to the text. ( )

The annotation makes this a true gem. ( )