First published 2022
David McCoy first encountered the Tao Te Ching at an environmental education seminar in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, where facilitator Steve Van Matre read passages from the Gia-fu Geng and Jane English translation. McCoy began studying Daoism but found most versions cumbersome and distracting. After years of reading various interpretations, including one by J.H. McDonald that came closest to satisfying him, McCoy embarked on his own deep editing process. He systematically removed what he saw as excess explanations to uncover the essential nugget teachings hidden within each chapter. His approach was validated when he discovered scholar Robert Eno's observation that most Tao Te Ching chapters appear to be collections of brief sayings rather than unified literary works, and translator Ron Hogan's frank admission about not understanding certain cosmic passages. Through careful deletion and distillation, McCoy aims to present a clearer version that eliminates distractions and reveals the fundamental wisdom of each poem.
Genres: philosophy, non-fiction, taoism, asian-american
Vibes: intimate, lyrical, thought-provoking
Tropes: distillation, personal-journey
Setting: Lake Geneva, Wisconsin
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