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A review by toni_says_smile
Taoism: An Essential Guide by Eva Wong
5.0
A really good overview of Taoism as a religion, how it grew and changed from its inception.
It must be said that this book isn't a guide to how to practice the religion. It's a history book. If you're expecting an expansion on the Tao Te Ching, you'll be disappointed. If you just read the Bible, you wouldn't have a full understanding of Christianity as a religion, its values, rituals or denominations. The same can be said of Taoism if you just read the Tao Te Ching. This guide goes a long way into filling in those gaps as a layperson.
The reviews here mention diagrams, but I listened to the audiobook and didn't find it lacking. I have no plans to recreate the symbols or adopt the religious aspects of Taoism, so I don't feel I missed much. Also I find it hard to read long non-fiction books, so appreciated a version I could listen to while doing other things.
Overall, I would recommend this book if you are interested in gaining an understanding of how Taoism is practiced and the culture it developed in. I would not recommend it if you just enjoy the philosophy of the Tao Te Ching and want to adopt those principles.
It must be said that this book isn't a guide to how to practice the religion. It's a history book. If you're expecting an expansion on the Tao Te Ching, you'll be disappointed. If you just read the Bible, you wouldn't have a full understanding of Christianity as a religion, its values, rituals or denominations. The same can be said of Taoism if you just read the Tao Te Ching. This guide goes a long way into filling in those gaps as a layperson.
The reviews here mention diagrams, but I listened to the audiobook and didn't find it lacking. I have no plans to recreate the symbols or adopt the religious aspects of Taoism, so I don't feel I missed much. Also I find it hard to read long non-fiction books, so appreciated a version I could listen to while doing other things.
Overall, I would recommend this book if you are interested in gaining an understanding of how Taoism is practiced and the culture it developed in. I would not recommend it if you just enjoy the philosophy of the Tao Te Ching and want to adopt those principles.