The Way of Life, According to Laotzu

I bought this book, new -soft binding. It is small which appeals to me since taking walks with a good read is, and will always be, a forever-favorite, daily or weekly exercise of mine. It fits in a backpack, and is lightweight.Enough of the petty opinions of this reviewer. Let's ask some questions in the decision making process -of whether or not to buy this book on Laotzu extraordinary writings [if indeed the man ever existed at all- and not a compilation of only the wisest of sages, the humblest of sages, the sanest of sages, a remarkable collection of writings from various sages spanning centuries -and perhaps millennia].What is the meat of this book? The manner of interpretation, and end result to paper -forever set in print. Is this the best interpretation? That is left up to the one interpreting the Interpretation. No help? Yes, it helps, because there are not many [or any at all] that can capture the words via ESSENCE of thoughts being conveyed thru the medium of language/words/thought processes- imagination -all of these -and more- tied into a weave of beauty. Concise -it is. The translation does justice -not harm- to the legend of LaoTzu in writing -and Imagery -Illustrations making this little book -one of the most powerful books in the arsenal of the sane man's Collection of Wisdom in writing prose.Witter Brynner is his name. Writing to the true essence of Laotzu -his claim to fame- and a winning game.The meat is the prose. It is the ability to capture the ideas of a collection of thoughts/writings -and translating them from language to it's true intention -and to make it rhyme. Life is a chord and these rhymes fill in what we cannot do for ourselves -YET!There are 81 in total -writings.The author does a wonderful job, in my opinion. I have yet to do a deeper and more intense evaluation/comparison with other Authors and their respective attempts to capture Laotzu- like Bynner has, but upon reading a few, and many others opinions on same -I would venture a fair estimate that this is the best of all translations -resulting in meaningful readings with the ability to make understood the intentions as well as giving an Imagination boost for a Contemplation well deserved- and- not- lost -!Why would you purchase this book? To try and see what kind of life had meaning for this famous man. Just as one would desire to know what it is that made Jesus speak words of wisdom, or Buddha or Confucius, the same it can be said of Laotzu. There is a Way of Life for a man [woman] to live, and it is in NOT DOING that it gets lived best. According to Laotzu, the less action and more contemplation before action, the better suited to life, the more respected of peers, the best at leadership -such a person will BE. It is not very far from the Confucius path, but there are the subtle differences and I am not learned enough -yet- to point them out here, I am no expert, just a man writing his opinion -as review of the book.What is the value of this book? How can a value be placed on Wisdom? Wisdom is valueless because there is no amount of currency that can match or exceed Wisdom, since Wisdom IS THE ONLY CURRENCY ONE MUST POSSESS -to live and live all the more...After reading this review the reader will come away with a clear decision to go ahead and purchase it-as a must have, and also the reader will know that the mankind should be grateful that Witter Bynner is the Author of said book, and not the Review Author [me].. ;)I like this book, but if you are looking for that ONE BOOK THAT SURPASSES THEM ALL, and without fail -know it to be true- then I suggest you buy this book and be happy, but also to Purchase this Beautifully Illustrated and Wisdom PACKED MASTERPIECE by Les VISIBLE-->  Spiritual Survival in a Temporal World I bought The Way of Life- according to LaoTzu AND Les Visible's newest book together and received FREE shipping, but I also got the answers I have been searching for all my entire remembered life[s]!I can honestly say that if you do, you will be forever thankful you came here today and read this review. You should tell me thanks too, because ti would make my heart glad to know that I am helping Les Visible works get known, but more importantly that our Spiritual truth -is known- and in Visible style [may the puns never cease to amaze me- or you]Let the reader Know and Understand the signature of Truth when s/he 'hear' It.♥Thanks for reading this review!In your service,Patrick

I was first exposed to this translation more than 50 years ago. Interpreted by a Santa Fe poet, Witter Bynner, who had previously collaborated on other works from the Chinese language, this thin volume is a masterpiece. The language is often straightforward and simple, a distillation of subtle and profound thought that I have found to be largely obscured by most other English interpretations. Over the decades I have given copies as gifts to close friends on special occasions. This version may not resonate with everyone, but it has touched me and many others deeply. Whether this is your first exposure to Lao Tzu or you're an old hand, this book is not to be missed!

I have been reading Bynner's The Way of Life version since it was a $1.25 Perigree book. Today I buy them three at a time to save shipping and give them as gifts to those I feel will appreciate it. I have read at least a dozen versions of the Tao and they all speak to me, but this one resonates. Maybe because I'm an engineer, not only by degree, but by personality. What is and what can be done for the better are development essentials both in products and services... and life--living well--also.I read it aloud, alone, with a cuppa, periodically. It is centering and opening for me. Also, Bynner's papers--including four manuscript typescripts of The Way with his pencil edits--are in the archives here at NMSU. It is informative to compare the evolution of important verses to the final version.If you want a book that can quiet you in chaotic moments, consider The Way, but don't beat me up if it doesn't... I like peace... ;-)

Each one of us holds the homing instincts to connect to the source of our being. Unfortuately, our instincts are muddled by many things. Lao Tzu (the "old master") provides insight for aligning and reconnecting in "The Way of Life." Witter Bynner's 1944 translation reissued by Penguin in 1994 brings life and insight to the work, 81 short chapters.Chapter 47 captures its essence:"There is no need to run outsideFor better seeing,Nor to peer from a window. Rather abideAt the center of your being,For the more you leave it, the less you learn.Search your heart and seeIf he is wise who takes each turn:The way to do is to be."Chapter 78 reflects its eternal patience/persistance:"What is more fluid, more yielding than water?Yet back it comes again, wearing down the rigid strengthWhich cannot yield to withstand it.So it is that the strong are overcome by the weak,the haughty by the humble."

Excellent translation, my favorite. However, the pages are made with very poor paper.

I was in a horrible state during college, and this book helped me pull through it. The advice is real.

I have tried other translations, but this seems to be the easiest to understand.

I have read many translations of the Tao Te Ching over the decades but have always longed for the first, which passed out of my hands in the tumult of youth.All I remembered about it was "Denmark" and "1942". Yesterday I gave my current favorite version to a friend and I looked again for this version. I was wrong about some details of its publication, but the power of the Internet has changed so much - Amazon's preview allowed me to peek inside, and the first two or three entries confirmed success after forty years of looking! Thanks, Internet!

Witter Bynner's free, poetic interpretation of the Tao Te-Ching. A classic.

my sister loves it

Not quite on may "wavelength " a bit obscure to me

Great quality.

Great read as a handbook of life