recommend to me the Tao Te Ching

[natural philosophy]

I've been looking into buying a book on the Tao Te Ching, but I want something authentic. I've found a version by Steven Mitchell. Is this some sort of 'Americanized' version or something? Or is this version close to authentic? Can you recommend a version for me to buy?

help appreciated

thanks

[Bongish]

is that the pocket version? I actually love that version and take it with me on my travels. It's really understandable and approachable. I don't think it's "americanized" although, it may be (?).

There are others, I've seen a few that were like deciphering puzzles.

[Irish Hippy]

Here is the steven mitchell translation online http://academic.brooklyn.cuny.edu/core9/phalsall/texts/taote-v3.html
i figured its easier for you than buying straight off if u only want to read it once.

Peace

[natural philosophy]

well, I intend to read it more than once, I want to have an understanding or at least as much as I can get. Maybe I should rephrase the question: is the Steven Mitchell version better to get than... say... a strictly translated version? I mean, i've read that his version has simplified explanations and stuff, but does this actually alter the subject material at all or are his additions simply 'asides' and not actually merged into the 'original' text?

Thanks for the help guys, and Irish, I'll check that out thnx

[Bongish]

I don't think it's meaning is altered. It is easy(easier) to understand than some of the other translations, some of which are very difficult to comprehend. The Mitchell version is a very good introduction to the Tao.

it is said you can read the Tao in a day, or you can read it in a lifetime. I prefer the latter.

[BlackBillBlake]

http://deoxy.org/taowley.htm

[Meagain]

Jane English (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jane_English) and Gia-Fu Feng (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gia-Fu_Feng), Tao Te Ching, New York, Vintage Books, 1972, 1989. (This was Alan Watts (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alan_Watts) favorite English translation.) "No one has done better in conveying Lao Tsu's simple and laconic style of writing, so as to produce an English version almost as suggestive of the many meanings intended."
This book also includes Gia-Fu Feng's chinese calligraphy and Jane English's photographs.

Here it is on the net:
http://www.terebess.hu/english/tao/gia.html