Subjects / Taoism
Best books to learn Taoism, in order
Taoism has two faces—the philosophy and the later religion—so a good order keeps them clear. Start with the foundational texts, the Tao Te Ching and Zhuangzi, in thoughtful translation, then explorations of the core ideas—wu wei, naturalness, harmony with the Way—then the religious and practical traditions that grew from them, so the poetry's paradoxes open up instead of frustrating.
Reading paths for taoism
Taoism: a reading path into the Tao and the art of the Way
Beginner9books48 hrs5 stages
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Frequently asked questions
- How should I approach learning taoism?
- Taoism has two faces—the philosophy and the later religion—so a good order keeps them clear. Start with the foundational texts, the Tao Te Ching and Zhuangzi, in thoughtful translation, then explorations of the core ideas—wu wei, naturalness, harmony with the Way—then the religious and practical traditions that grew from them, so the poetry's paradoxes open up instead of frustrating.
- What's a good book to start taoism with?
- A strong starting point is The Tao of Pooh by Benjamin Hoff. The ordered reading paths above show exactly where it fits and what to read next.
- What should I read after taoism?
- Once you have the fundamentals, explore closely related subjects like Epistemology, Metaphysics, The history of China.