Reddit reviews Lao Tzu : Tao Te Ching : A Book About the Way and the Power of the Way

Now that I'm home, I have the Ursula K. LeGuin version:

Tao Te Ching, Verse 20 excerpt:

"Ignorant, ignorant.

Most people are so bright.

I'm the one that's dull.

Most people are so keen.

I don't have the answers."

I really like Ursula Le Guin's interpretation: https://www.amazon.com/Lao-Tzu-Ching-About-Power/dp/1570623953

Of all the translations I have it speaks to me the most. But you should read at least a few and decide on your favorite afterwards.

Ursala K LeGuin, just got this one, so far it is my favorite

http://www.amazon.com/Lao-Tzu-Ching-About-Power/dp/1570623953/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1376789235&sr=8-1&keywords=Ursula+K+Le+Guin+tao

no, but i think i am going to get it. it's not bad at all

http://www.amazon.com/reader/1570623953?_encoding=UTF8&ref_=sib_dp_pop_fc&page=1#reader-link

https://www.amazon.com/Lao-Tzu-Ching-About-Power/dp/1570623953/ref=sr_1_15?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1526954456&sr=1-15&keywords=tao+te+ching

https://www.amazon.com/Dao-Jing-Philosophical-Translation-Mandarin/dp/0345444191/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1526954555&sr=1-3&keywords=roger+ames

Le Guin's book is of particular interest because she is a master of salt-of-the-earth western metaphors, widely recognized as possibly the greatest master of metaphors in the English language today. She has studied the Tao with the best of us and has her usual distinctive interpretation.

The second book, contains an account of Pragmatic Taoism, which is what pre-dated mainland Chinese Taoism, in the isolated southern mountains. Its not my favorite book, but there is no other book like it on the subject that I know of.

My personal favorite, is the Peter Merel GNL interpolation available for free online.

Although she doesn't actually know Chinese, I've always liked Ursula K LeGuin's poetic "translation" (but maybe that's just cuz of my love of Earthsea)