Reading guides
Editor's notes on the texts in the library — what to read first, which translations are worth your time, and how to approach each book.
-
Which Bhagavad Gita translation should you read?
A guide to the major English translations of the Gita — public-domain and modern — with a recommendation for where to start.
-
Where to start with the Dhammapada
A short guide to reading the Buddha's most-loved book — which translation to use, what to read first, and how to read it.
-
The Tao Te Ching in English — a guide to the translations
The Tao Te Ching has been translated into English more often than any other book except the Bible. A short guide to the major versions and how to choose.
-
How to read the Analects of Confucius
A practical guide to the most influential book in Chinese history — which translation to read, in what order, and how to handle its strangeness.
-
Sūnzǐ's Art of War — which translation is the right one?
The Art of War has been translated into English more than fifty times. A short guide to the versions that matter and how to choose.