The tao is silent
by Raymond M. Smullyan · first published 1977
90% recommend10% neutral
Why HN recommends it
Approachable, lively essays on Taoism and philosophy by a logician. Suited to readers new to Taoist thought and to anyone seeking a personal, non-academic take. It has changed how some think.
Summarised by Claude from recommending comments
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Coming across The Tao is Silent in college changed my life forever. I've subsequently recommended it to select friends who seemed like they'd benefit from it and they've reported back and told me the book has had similar effects within…
on “Raymond Smullyan has died” ↗Not about stoicism, but you might also enjoy "The Tao is Silent" by Raymond Smullyan
on “How to Be a Stoic” ↗_The Tao is Silent_, by Raymond Smullyan, comes to mind.
on “Ask HN: Best Philosophical Books?” ↗…stuff. Given the nature of the post, you might also like some of the Taoist writings by Raymond Smullyan himself. Eg https://www.mit.edu/people/dpolicar/writing/prose/text/godTa... or his book 'The Tao is Silent'.
on “Idol Words” ↗FWIW decades ago I enjoyed "The Tao is Silent" by the late Raymond Smullyan. Having just scanned for modern reviews I suggest the following link may be helpful--here is an excerpt of their conclusion : "... All in all, The Tao Is Silent is an interesting…
on “Daoist History” ↗I would add "The Tao is silent" by Raymond Smullyan to this list. It's not a translation, or even a rendition, but I should guess anyone with a real interest in the Tao will find that book interesting as well.
on “Tao Te Ching – Translated by Ursula K. Le Guin” ↗…not particularly unsympathetic viewpoint character and therefore avoids the problem in Prince of Nothing where you'd often end up in the head of someone you really don't want to be anywhere near. The Tao is Silent by Raymond Smullyan. Smullyan writes various essays inspired by Taoism. Quality varies, but Smullyan is generally fun to read. On SF by Thomas Disch. Beautifully acerbic essays by someone who takes science…
on “Ask HN: Great books you read in 2009?” ↗Then you would love “The Tao Is Silent”! I believe this piece appears in the book, but either way it’s very reminiscent.
on “The Raymond Smullyan Society” ↗That's also in his book "The Tao is Silent". I picked this book off the library shelf at random, so many years ago, and couldn't stop reading the lovely, approachable writing. He helped me think through and finally rid myself of all the fundy…
on “Raymond Smullyan has died” ↗It is indeed in The Tao Is Silent — Raymond's first popular book and one of his best. There's a recent reading of the dialogue on YouTube by Curt Jaimungal, on the "Theory of Everything" channel: https://youtu.be/P-jh6tRh3Jw
on “The Raymond Smullyan Society” ↗On not wanting to amount to anything, chapter 33, The Tao Is Silent, Raymond Smullyan, p.150-4
on “Paul Buchheit: The two paths to success” ↗