The Tao of Translation - Stephen Mitchell

Stephen Mitchell, author of The Second Book of the Tao, discusses his unique approach to translating Lao Tzu's Tao Te Ching. He explains previous translations were done by "linguists and scholars and theologians," whereas he approached the work after years practicing and studying Buddhism.

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http://fora.tv/2009/03/04/Stephen_Mitchell_The_Second_Book_of_the_TaoThe most widely translated book in world literature after the Bible is Lao-tzu's Tao Te Ching, or Book of the Way, the classic manual on the art of living. Following his extraordinarily successful translation of the Tao Te Ching, renowned scholar Stephen Mitchell delivers The Second Book of the Tao.

Drawn from the work of Lao-tzu's disciple Chuang-tsu and Confucius's grandson Tsu-ssu, it offers Western readers precious new lessons in the Tao.

Mitchell has selected the freshest, clearest teachings from these two great students of the Tao to reveal the poetry, depth, and humor of the original texts, with vivid new clarity. Alongside each translated passage, Mitchell includes his own commentary; his meditations and risky reimagining of the original texts creat a book that is both a companion volume and an anti-manual to the Tao Te Ching.

Stephen Mitchell's many books also include Gilgamesh, The Gospel According to Jesus, Bhagavad Gita, The Book of Job, and Meetings with the Archangel.

Stephen Mitchell is a poet, translator, scholar, and anthologist. He is married to author Byron Katie. Mitchell was educated at Amherst College, the University of Paris, and Yale University. He is widely known for his translations of ancient classics.