Tao Te Ching: Deluxe Silkbound Edition in a Slipcase (Arcturus Silkbound Classics)

Bought this as a gift for my friend and it's so beautifully done!

You will learn a lot about the world and about yourself when you read this book. It is set up in chapters, each consisting of several related verses. At first, I had a hard time reading the book because the author seems to have translated it from Chinese directly. He hasn't made the language simpler, so most sentences seem convoluted and gramatically perverse. I did, however, appreciate this style of translation more for two reasons:1- It captures the original message much more poingniantly2- It forces me to read the verse several times in order to understand it. That way, I comprehend it in a much deeper way because I have to analyze it for myself. The metaphors don't make sense after a first reading, so you may have to read them again and again, which ever translation you buy.So, why the "But" in the title? If you want a translation which isn't in broken "direct from Chinese" English, you're better off finding another version. I would, however, recommend giving this edition a shot because there is much edification to be found in the convuluted English of this text.

I love these free or affordable translations of classical texts on Kindle that have allowed me to read very broadly without spending a fortune lately. It's hard to know if you're getting a faithful translation sometimes, but the quality is evident once you get into the text, and there's no risk at this price point, of course. A beautiful cover or layout would be nice, but I understand there are costs associated with these things that I'm not paying for.

I am mid way through this, obviously it is quite a challenge to translate some aspects of this. I may have to read over it a few times but I'm glad I got it and I have begun to appreciate the work for what it is.

*This is a review only of R.Z. Foster's translation, "The Original Tao Te Ching", Kindle edition, for the reader who is going to buy this edition or another.*Bottom line: Not for the first-time reader, but interesting for the addict who reads Classical Chinese or already has five or six translations.This is an interesting translation, badly marred by being too stripped-down. There is no table of contents, no verse headings or page numbers, and no index. The translator doesn't say which of the many ancient texts he used, and he chooses some unusual translations like "guidance" for tào/dào (道) so it's hard to make a verse-by-verse comparison with other renditions, an unnecessary irritation for the serious student.For the novice, nothing recommends this translation. There is no commentary or explanation of any kind, so the uninitiated reader could imagine Foster's English corresponds exactly to the Chinese. In fact, the Chinese is so full of alternative meanings and uncertain readings that there is no possible definitive translation. Foster does not convey much of the poetry or mystery of the Chinese, either.

I have read many interpretations for Tao Te Ching and I think this is close to being the best. It is a lot different in many respects than the others in that it is not organized in the "psalm" style, with numbered readings. But it was very very inspiring and easy to read and understand to identify ways to apply it to our life and times.

Over the past ten years I have become very interested in Eastern religions, Taoism being the latest.While Thomas Cleary and Stephan Mitchell do an excellent job of assisting you with the quotes, thisbook provides you Tao Te Ching sayings and you have more freedom to put your own spin on whatthe "master" is saying. I paid almost nothing for the book and I use it almost daily in my spiritual readings.I cannot vouch for the reliability of the translation, but to me if I receive a new thought from the reading, perhapsthe rating of the translation becomes a moot point.

Title says it all.

Amazing art work. I love the feel of this hardcover. It will be a very pleasant reading

Great book, great guidance, simple and effective.Ancient knowledge is never dying, more appropriate in modern times than ever before.

Read and decode the matter. This all makes so much sense when understood by keeping the ego aside. Preserve a copy with you always. Recommended for anyone who is on the path to self discovery.

Really good read. If you are interested in philosophy and want to get a short read on some ancient wisdom, you gotta read this book.

思想として素晴らしい価値はあると思うが、抽象的表現が多いためなかなかすぐ明日からの生活に生きるかと言ったら、難しい。また１０年後に読んでみたい。