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bhirts's review against another edition
The translator/commentator is the kind of whimsical ex-hippy who throws around a lifetime of accumulated art/pop-culture references in service of elevating a standard middle class domesticity while seemingly the deeper socioeconomic assumptions and necessities of such a lifestyle remain un-examined which I find distasteful but fully admit that has to do with my own somewhat un-examined biases and prejudices and probably just has to do with some kind of resentment towards my parents ;p
ryberst's review against another edition
5.0
This book compiles books that were written in the first centuries after the Tao Te Ching, and is one of the most insightful and hilarious sacred texts I’ve ever read. That’s all that needs to be said about it. You need to read it for yourself
rumbledethumps's review
2.0
This is a very personal book for the author, perhaps too personal. He selected and translated sections of two writers, Chuang-tzu and Tzu-ssu, and then added his own commentary for each section.
While I have enjoyed Mitchell's other translations, and found the selections he chose for this book to be interesting, the commentary for each section was rambling, filled with cliches, uninteresting and uninspired.
While I have enjoyed Mitchell's other translations, and found the selections he chose for this book to be interesting, the commentary for each section was rambling, filled with cliches, uninteresting and uninspired.
darylnash's review against another edition
4.0
Mitchell's fast and loose modern translations of these taoist and Confucian passages are as delightful as his similar treatment for the Tao Te Ching. However, this time around, he doesn't know when to shut up. His "commentary" veers between the obvious and the ridiculous. Still, the translations make up for it.
jk0323's review against another edition
5.0
Wonderful and at times humorous supplement to the Tao te ching.
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