Tao Te Ching
by Stephen Mitchell · first published 1991
50% recommend48% neutral1% critical
Why HN recommends it
Short, elegant text on wisdom, patience and accepting imperfection, which readers return to for inner calm and a gentler view of nature and people. Suits anyone wanting a quick, reflective read on Taoism.
Summarised by Claude from recommending comments
An Eastern philosophical treatise attributed to Lao Tzu or Laozi. Thought to have been written around the sixth century BCE it is fundamental to the Taoism form of philosophy. There are several possible translations of the title, though most people take it to mean The Way. It is one of the major works of Chinese philosophy and its influence is still felt today.
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…after money and security and your heart will never unclench. Care about people's approval and you will be their prisoner. Do your work, then step back. The only path to serenity. -- Tao te Ching, Stephen Mitchell translation (http://www.amazon.com/dp/0061142662).
on “Ambition can be poison” ↗…sort of Zen attitude and learn to be OK with imperfection. Accept your tools as you accept yourself, flaws and all. It reminds me of one of my favorite quotes, from Stephen Mitchell's translation of the Tao te Ching (http://acc6.its.brooklyn.cuny.edu/~phalsall/texts/taote-v3.h...): Fill your bowl to the brim and it will spill. Keep sharpening your knife and it will blunt. Chase after money and security…
on “There are too many shiny objects and it is killing me” ↗Tao Te Ching by Lao-Tzu. Short, concise and applicable to modern world. Not an essay per se or book though.
on “Ask HN: What are your favorite books or essays written at least 100 years ago?” ↗…voice of reason in this crazy world. Having just read his recent book and both the books he mentions in the article, I actually started to understand what is being said here. On the first page of the Tao Te Ching (Stephen Mitchell translation), it talks about the true source of understanding is darkness. > Free from desire, you realize the mystery. > Caught in desire, you see only the manifestations. > Yet…
on “Don’t teach kids to fear the world” ↗…found has been: http://www.amazon.com/Zen-Training-Philosophy-Shambhala-Clas... Additionally I find that reading a good translation of the Tao helps, my personal favorite so far is: http://www.amazon.com/Tao-Te-Ching-Perennial-Classics/dp/006...
on “Buddhism and Happiness: Sitting Quietly, Doing Something” ↗The Stephen Mitchell translation of the Tao Te Ching: https://www.amazon.com/Tao-Te-Ching-Laozi/dp/0060812451/ref=... It's beautiful.
on “Ask HN: What book have you given as a gift?” ↗After a quarter of an hour, I keep coming back to two books/audiobooks that have shaped this year. The rest is of no significance in comparison. The Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu Translated by Gia-Fu Feng (1919–1985) and Jane English (1942–) Here is the audiobook read by Jacob Needleman, with additional commentary at the end. You can listen to it repeatedly on daily…
on “Ask HN: Books you read in 2016?” ↗- The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. LeGuin - Blindsight and Echopraxia by Peter Watts - The Tao Te Ching - The Gateless Gate (Koun Yamada translation/editing) - The Baroque Cycle (Quicksilver, The Confusion, The System of the World) by Neal Stephenson - The Invisibles by Grant Morrison - Incerto (Fooled…
on “Ask HN: What books fundamentally changed the way you think about the world?” ↗…https://www.amazon.com/dp/1616407395/ The 10,000 Year Explosion https://www.amazon.com/dp/0465020429/ The Righteous Mind https://www.amazon.com/dp/0307455777/ Mindstorms https://www.amazon.com/dp/0465046746/ – Philosophy – Tao Te Ching https://www.amazon.com/dp/0060812451/ Meditations https://www.amazon.com/dp/1545565678/ – Autobiography – Surely You're Joking, Mr Feynman https://www.amazon.com/dp/0393316041/ Recollections of Eugene…
on “Ask HN: What books have made the biggest impact on your mental models?” ↗The Tao Te Ching is one of the most profound books I've ever read in my life.. but it's hard to recommend just one translation. Reading different translations of it is like looking at a diamond through its many facets.
on “Ursula Le Guin Books” ↗…good choice if you want someone to challenge modern assumptions. René Guenon if you're looking for a mystical, metaphysical approach to religion, especially Hinduism and Islam. I also really love the Tao Te Ching and think it's a totally different approach to Western ones. For 2, I used Virginia Klenk's Understanding Symbolic Logic in a course and recommend it.
on “How to Think: The Skill You’ve Never Been Taught” ↗These two books change my life: Tao Te Ching - http://www.amazon.com/Tao-Te-Ching-Skylight-Illuminations/dp... The Dhammapada - http://www.amazon.com/Dhammapada-Translation-Buddhist-Classi...
on “Ask HN: Best Philosophical Books?” ↗Since it looks like skeptical philosophy is covered pretty well, here are some books from religious philosophy that you'd probably do well to read: The Tao te Ching The Summa Theologica by Thomas Aquinas An Essay in Aid of a Grammar of Assent by John Henry Newman Either/Or by Kierkegaard
on “Ask HN: Best Philosophical Books?” ↗…Robert Kiyoski The Thoughtworks Anthology: Essays on Software Technology and Innovation (Pragmatic Programmers) Bible - First class book in teaching how to behave towards others, especially proverbs. Tao Te Ching - For this two verse you should read it: "When people see some things as beautiful, other things become ugly. When people see some things as good, other things become bad. Being and non-being create…
on “Ask HN: Good books?” ↗…and will suffer. You are helpless to affect this in any meaningful way. Your task is to learn to cope with all this and find path to inner serenity. -- Reading Stephen Mitchell's translation of the Tao Te Ching helped form some structure around this idea for me by fitting it into a framework for positive action and providing a number of helpful mantras: http://academic.brooklyn.cuny.edu/core9/phalsall/texts/taote...
on “Ask HN: what was the best life/programming choice you ever made?” ↗