Derek Lin does an exceptional job at interpreting and discussing Taoist thoughts and parables that can guide you in thought and action. I came by Taoism through the course of academia but now find the Tao to be an active part of my life. This book reflects how Taoism is applied in such a manner. Each chapter leaves a great deal of room for personal interpretation and introspection. Simply from a philosophical point of view, this book can lead to great discussions.

I bought this book after being introduced to taoism on the author's website half a year ago. The book is a collection of parables (short stories) followed by a longer explanation by Derek Lin for each.

The parables have themes on loving others, dealing with our ego, why unfortunate events can be a blessing in disguise, handling negative people, and finding joy in simple things, for example. The parables are often funny, extremely insightful, and easy to remember for when you actually need the insight in real life situations.

This book has given me an extremely large amount of understanding and inspiration in my own life. It is well written so that those of any religion (or lack of) can greatly benefit from its wisdom and actually incorporate it into your life. The author states this in the book and I found it to be completely true.

I would put this book at the top of the list for anyone wanting to improve their life or move past the daily trivialities and frustrations that can inhabit our lives. For anyone interested in Taoism this is also a perfect companion to applying the Tao Te Ching to the daily life.