This is not so much a translation of the Tao Te Ching but rather a new-agish interpretation of such. By incorporating input from Buddhist and other traditions into his interpretation Mr Mitchell misses the difference between the Way and the other forms of eastern religions. Taoism, for lack of a better label for it, is entirely native to the east, as opposed to Buddhism and Hinduism which are both outgrowths of an Indo-european system of beliefs. His efforts then become such a mishmash of ideas that they bear no resemblence to either the Tao Te Ching or the philosophies underlying it. One chapter in the book he even deliberately ignores the meaning of the chapter in order to argue for embracing death. Frankly anyone who uses this translation in an attempt to understand the Way might as well use the Bible, the Koran, the Bagavad-Ghita or the Torah. It would be just as easy to find the writings in them as in his work.