This book is without a doubt, of great value to any serious scholar of Taoism. While not primarily dealing with the philosophies and rituals of Taoism (some are mentioned in passing, and discussed in historical context,) the authors do explain a great deal about the evolution of Taoist thoughts, philosophies, and interpretation of the Tao Te Ching throughout history.

The volume deals with the problems encountered while trying to evaluate the Tao Te Ching's exact date, authorship, and possible origins, all of which are discussed in great detail, with sources of reference provided for those who wish to do further reading/research.

Discussed, is the inherent problem with the various translations of the text, it's variations, it's style of writing, and potential for confusion and multiple meaning/phonetics.

While someone looking for Taoist rituals and philosophies will find this book a dry read, a historian or researcher will find an invaluable source of knowledge and reference.
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