Liu's translation of the Dao De Jing, with his accompanying prose, is a delight to read. While reviewing this ARC from Simon and Schuster, for comparison, I re-read the translation by Addiss and Lombardo( ('93), that I read in college for Taoism class. Liu's translation shines alone, as well as in comparison to the other translation, and reading both interpretations at the same time made for a broader understanding of the spirit of the original. Interspersed between chapters, Liu ties in the second foundational work of Taoism, The Way of Chuang Tzu, to expand on Liu's interpretations and the broader meaning of the Dao De Jing. This is a great addition, pulling in some of the best pieces of The Way, which to me, is the more relatable of the two works. I greatly appreciate Liu's voice, and I hope he'll consider translating The Way also.

I didn't know what to expect when I picked up this new translation of Laozoi's Dao De Jing, translated by Ken Liu, but to be honest it blew me away. While the original text is ancient and has been translated many times, Liu's translation is simple yet lyrical. He is able to convey so much in his translations.

I loved that he included personal anecdotes, historical context around the text, and meditations on translation as a whole. I loved every minute of this, and I will definitely be picking up this text over and over as this is definitely a text that needs to be taken slowly.

Ken Liu's translation of the Dao De Jing offers a profound and insightful interpretation of this timeless classic. Throughout the entirety of the book, Liu skillfully captures the essence of Daoist philosophy, presenting it in a manner that is both accessible and thought-provoking.

One of the key strengths of Liu's translation lies in his ability to convey the depth and complexity of the text while maintaining clarity and coherence. Through his careful selection of language and imagery, Liu brings to life the rich tapestry of ideas contained within the Dao De Jing, inviting readers to contemplate the fundamental principles of Daoism and their relevance to everyday life.

Liu's translation is characterized by its poetic beauty and lyrical prose, which enhances the reader's engagement with the text and encourages reflection on its deeper meanings. His attention to detail and sensitivity to nuance ensure that each verse resonates with profound wisdom and insight, making the Dao De Jing a captivating and enriching read for both newcomers and seasoned practitioners of Daoism alike.

In addition to its literary merits, Liu's translation also serves as a valuable resource for those seeking to deepen their understanding of Daoist philosophy. Through his insightful commentary and annotations, Liu provides valuable context and interpretation, shedding light on the historical and cultural background of the text and elucidating its relevance to contemporary issues and concerns.

Overall, Ken Liu's translation of the Dao De Jing is a masterful work that offers a compelling interpretation of this ancient Chinese classic. Through his careful craftsmanship and deep appreciation for the wisdom of the text, Liu invites readers on a journey of self-discovery and enlightenment, illuminating the path to a life of harmony, balance, and inner peace.

I’m a big fan of Ken Liu’s previous work—both his original writings and his translations—so I figured I’d take a look at this one too.

I think I’ve read another translation of this at some point in my life, but I gleaned more from it this time around. Some of that is from being older, some of it is from slowing down as I read, and some of it is Liu’s insights and perspective scattered throughout.

I found this style of interweaving the translation with Liu’s thoughts and other storytelling made it more accessible and ultimately increased my engagement with the text, so I recommend it from that perspective. I can’t really vouch for the quality of the translation, of course.

A beautiful little book that’s a translation but also a meditation on translation. I really enjoyed learning about Dao, De, Laozi and being provoked to think about the art of translating.

Although Ken Liu faithfully admits that any translation of Laozi could never accurately explain dao, and in fact may be a practice disdained by the author, his self-reflective attempts are the real strength of this translation. Eschewing pretty language or cadence, Liu prefers to make Laozi's words rough and ungraceful. And instead of lectures and discussions of etymology, he pairs many of the chapters with allegories from Zhuangzi to better explain the unexplainable.

You can see this is an effort of love from someone who is not "Dao-aware" as Liu puts it, because there is acceptance in not achieving that state Laozi stressed upon. And sometimes there is even outright disagreement. My favorite passage being where he translates Laozi as "The way of heaven plays no favorites; it abides always with kindness" and responds "Heaven and earth are not benevolent. That's why it's even more incumbent upon us to be kind to one another. It's the only way."

This is less a treatise and more of a dialectic, which may be the more accessible way to introducing people to the works of Laozi. What Liu's writing avoids in finesse, it emphasizes in transparent process. A wonderful addition not only to the philosophy of Dao but the struggles of translators everywhere.

I know I may be an outlier here, but before reading this book I was not familiar with Laozi’s Dao De Jing. However, over the past couple years I have been drawn to Ken Liu's writing. He writes with passion and emotion. He's never afraid to make you feel. This interpretation is no different. I love his insights and the way he presents the Dao De Jing. It's real, raw and unfiltered. This book allows you to be unique and form your own opinions/interpretation, just the way he wants it. I really enjoyed this book.

I want to thank Simon & Schuster and netgalley for giving me the arc to review for a fair and honest review. All thoughts are my own.

This was a really interesting translation of the Dao De Jing. I have read other versions in the past (my favorite for students is Stephen Mitchell's version, simply for the ease of reading), but Ken Liu's finds the perfect balance of readability with scholarly footnotes and background essays. I thought at first that the interspersed chapters on historical context, biographical info, and Liu's translation notes would be distracting, but by the end I found these to be some of my favorite moments.

Not sure how to rate this on a scale - mainly considering how I felt about the translation and interpretation from Ken Liu. There were quite a few thought provoking passages here, but it was difficult to wrap my head around embracing Dao as a lifestyle in this modern world. I think that’s the point though, so it’s still quite interesting to chew on in the background. I liked the way Ken added his thoughts here and there and overall flowed very freely from passage to passage. As always, I appreciate his translations :)

Received a free copy from Netgalley.

I cannot describe how much I love this book. This is a new translation of a popular work, and I was familiar with the work from when I was in college studying Chinese and East Asian Studies. One of the best things about this new edition is how the author explains how he came to certain choices based on language, and he talks about the different choices.
The translation itself is beautiful and there are several stories in between sections. I know I'm prejudiced because of how much I love this culture and philosophy, but I think almost anyone could benefit from learning this philosophy of living life without fighting every minute.
Thanks so much to NetGalley for letting me read this

New translation of Dao de Jing classic text on the Tao along with commentary and stories about the Chinese philosopher.. Simple, easy to read and poetic. List of stories and sources.