Tao te Ching

De: Lao Tzu

Narrado por: Emma Topping

Written around the 6th century BC by the sage Laozi and read by Emma Topping.

©2011 Saland Publishing (P)2011 Saland Publishing

A quirky but worthwhile version

I've been a fan of Tao te Ching for decades, and have read many translations. I like different nuances translators bring. This isn't my favorite translation, but it is slightly odd in an enjoyable way. I like clear-voiced British-inflected narration like this. It has an archaic sound, some lines are delivered in rhyme with an almost Victorian resonance. It might sound a bit sing-song to contemporary ears. It's interesting to contrast Lao Tzu (Tao te Ching) to Confucius (Analects), also available on audio. The contemporary Chinese government has leaned away from Lao Tzu and toward Confucius, for industrial-discipline and capitalism-compatibility reasons, obvious upon listening. Tao te Ching probably seems senseless or incomprehensible to many modern western listeners, and I suspect it would to my Chinese business students as well. But it has great depth for me.

Marvelous Reading

Where does Tao te Ching rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Marvelous, evocative reading. True jewel, memorable. Can be listened to many times with fresh insight and delight.

Translation and Narration weren't great.

One of the world's greatest philosophies, but this isn't the best way to learn about it. Harder to follow because of the narrator and outdated (aka slightly wrong) translation.