Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu. 

1/5 rating. 87 pages.

Book #50 of 2023. Read December 4, 2023.

I honestly just am at a loss of how this is supposed to be a fount of wisdom and the foundation of Taoism. My only hope is that this version is an awful translation.

Mostly, this book was just a lot of nonsense, speaking on opposites and weird statements like:

– “If one tries to improve a thing, he mars it; if he seizes it, he loses it.”

Or

– “He learns to be unlearned, he returns to that which all others ignore.”

I have been specifically seeking out books to improve myself and become a deeper and more thoughtful person. From what I had heard about this book, I thought this might help in pursuit of those goals, but I was completely let down here.

The only good things here is that this book is very short, and I liked these three quotes:

– “[A] material body is necessary to existence, but the value of a life is measured by its immaterial soul.”

– “He who knows others is intelligent; he who understands himself is enlightened; he who is able to conquer others has force, but he who is able to control himself is mighty. He who appreciates contentment is wealthy.”

– “There is no misfortune greater than discontent.”

#taoteching #laotzu #tao #books #bookreviews

IG Link.