Book of the Summer: Tao Te Ching

We chose the Tao Te Ching for the summer because it is the rare book that rewards being read out of order, in small doses, while looking out a window. Lao Tzu is not interested in being useful, which is precisely why he is. The line that has stayed with us this season: "When you are content to be simply yourself and don't compare or compete, everyone will respect you." Read the Stephen Mitchell translation if you are starting; the Ursula K. Le Guin version if you have read it before. Bring it to the table in September — we will be discussing it.