Customer Reviews
A great, profound, simple rendering - By: , 08 Mar 2001 
Of the four translations of Tao Te Ching that I have read, John Wu's is easily the best. The language is simple, direct & 'punchy'. At the same time, it manages to convey the deep & heartfelt thinking of the work. I read it again & again, & always find new depth - Wu has shown me why the Tao Te Ching is still a great work after 2500 years.
A SURPRISINGLY GOOD BUT ESOTERIC READ - By: , 19 Jun 1999 THIS BOOK FULFILLED MY EXPECTATIONS OF IT. I WAS SURPRISED TO NOTE THE SIMILARITIES BETWEEN OUR OCCIDENTAL CONCEPT OF GOD AND THE CHINESE CONCEPT. SOMEHOW, GOD COMES ACROSS AS MORE THAN A BLOB IN THIS BOOK. ASIAN RELIGION USUALLY PORTRAYS GOD IN EXTREMELY IMPERSONAL TERMS AND YET FOR SOME REASON I WAS PLEASANTLY REASSURED BY THIS BOOK'S PORTRAYAL OF GOD. PERHAPS THE CHINESE JUST HAVE A WAY OF MAKING THE CONCEPT MORE PALATABLE TO THE WESTERN MIND.
John C. H. Wu is the best Tao translator available - By: , 28 Apr 1999 Why read a version of the Tao Teh Ching translated by some American who thought Taoism was something "exotic" when you can have this one--written by an earthy man born & raisedin Ningpo? As Wu once said of himself, "I was initiated early into the mysteries of paradox."
