The Tao and Its Characteristics is one of the world's oldest and most influential documents. Its view of the mind and its place in the world, paradoxically simple and profound, continue to perplex, excite and inspire today.

The Tao and Its Characteristics, also known as The Tao Te Ching or The Book of Tao, has traditionally been attributed to Lao Tzu, a Chinese philosopher of the 6th century BC. The ancient book's exact origins and authorship are still subject to debate, including some wondering if it was written by a single author or is the accumulated wisdom of many. The text seeks a peeling away of artificial constraints of society and the mind in order to return to the natural balance of the Tao, the essence of all things. This is described as 'the way', an immersion in the present moment and a freedom from desire that liberates the self from purely selfish motivations, creating a balanced state of humble simplicity and peace of mind. Poetic and shot through with thought provoking paradox, the text invites absorption, consideration and interpretation. Ceaselessly influential across cultures and centuries, The Tao and Its Characteristics has, at one time or another, impacted religious thought, political theory, philosophy and an array of artists working in everything from poetry to painting to music. Thousands of years old, the text and its message are truly timeless.

With an eye-catching new cover, and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of The Tao and Its Characteristics is both modern and readable.