Listen free for 30 days

Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo + applicable taxes after 30 days. Cancel anytime.
Tao Te Ching cover art

Tao Te Ching

Written by: Stephen Mitchell, Lao Tzu
Narrated by: Stephen Mitchell
Try for $0.00

$14.95 a month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for $17.47

Buy Now for $17.47

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Tax where applicable.

Publisher's Summary

In 81 brief chapters, Lao Tzu's Tao Te Ching, or Book of the Way, provides advice that imparts balance and perspective, as well as a serene and generous spirit. It teaches us how to work for the good with the effortless skill that comes from being in accord with the Tao: the basic principle of the universe.

Stephen Mitchell's best-selling version has been widely acclaimed as a gift to contemporary culture.

©1988 Stephen Mitchell (P)2007 HarperCollins Publishers

What the critics say

"Stephen Mitchell's rendition of the Tao Te Ching comes as close to being definitive for our time as any I can imagine. It embodies the virtues its translator credits to the Chinese original: a gemlike lucidity that is radiant with humor, grace, large-heartedness, and deep wisdom." (Huston Smith, author of The Religions of Man)

What listeners say about Tao Te Ching

Average Customer Ratings
Overall
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    252
  • 4 Stars
    23
  • 3 Stars
    10
  • 2 Stars
    3
  • 1 Stars
    1
Performance
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    215
  • 4 Stars
    20
  • 3 Stars
    10
  • 2 Stars
    6
  • 1 Stars
    0
Story
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    219
  • 4 Stars
    14
  • 3 Stars
    11
  • 2 Stars
    1
  • 1 Stars
    1

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Terrific book

Worth listening to over and over. Life changing book. This book has much utility. Happy to have this book in the collection.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Why write a review ...

Why write a review ... for something that speaks for itself?

Just listen.
And listen again.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Beautiful And Accessible

This entire book is just line after line of beautiful poetry. Must be as close as you can get to the original text for english, the translation is clear and accessible despite the sometimes challenging and provocative concepts.

One of my new favourite books, no doubt.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Simple wisdom.

It is very simple to be happy but it is very difficult to be simple. The Tao is the way ✨🙏🏽

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
  • MW
  • 2019-03-28

Solid

Very simple, solid and straightforward reading of the Tao Te Ching. Very short, but easy to get through.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

MUST READ/LISTEN

Simple life concepts spoken in a way we can all Universally understand and incorporate in our lives. life gets tough it's easy to forget but this book will help bring you back to your true essence!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Life changer!

I listen to this book daily while I am doing my day to day activities. I don't think any words I write can do this book justice. All I can say is if you are ready for a life change, give it a go.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Beautiful.

A poetic and pertinent translation of this important text. The reading is excellent as well. This book has become so very useful for me.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Beautiful translation of the great work.

Stephen Mitchell really captures the spirit of Lao Tzu in this richly poetic translation. Would recommend this translation above its popular contemporaries.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Good lessons and well structured

Many good lessons. Easily split into multiple chapters for easy consumption and digestion. The narrator does a excellent performance

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!