The Tao Te Ching

I had an enjoyable week listening to the Tao Te Ching (道德經 in Traditional Chinese, lit. "Way Virtue Scripture"), Stephen Mitchell's 1989 audiobook version. Like many ancient writings, it has changed drastically since it was first "compiled" into 81 short chapters, around 250 BCE. I'll be researching more about the textual history of the book, particularly since the oldest version was found in 1993, after Mitchell's version was published.

As for the subject matter, "The tao that can be told is not the eternal Tao." - Chapter 1, line 1. #TaoTeChing #DaoDeJing

I enjoyed this the first time through and expect to read it again. I'm also going to look at a few books that discuss the Tao Te Ching, so I can get a better idea of what's really going on here.

Regarding this translation, it's clear and easy to understand, but Mitchell doesn't hesitate to mention tractors, trucks, and nuclear warheads in the text of the Tao Te Ching, which really threw me off. I understand the motivation behind updating the text to make it relatable to a modern audience, but I think he took a little too much artistic license.