Join Amazon Prime and get unlimited Free One-Day Delivery. Already a member? Sign in.

 

or
Sign in to turn on 1-Click ordering.
 
   
More Buying Choices
34 used & new from £2.68
Have one to sell? Sell yours here
 
   
The Tao is Silent
 
See larger image 
Share your own customer images
Publisher: learn how customers can search inside this book.

The Tao is Silent (Paperback)

by Raymond M. Smullyan (Author)
4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
RRP: £8.99
Price: £8.09 & this item Delivered FREE in the UK with Super Saver Delivery. See details and conditions
You Save: £0.90 (10%)
o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o
Usually dispatched within 10 to 14 days.
Dispatched from and sold by Amazon.co.uk. Gift-wrap available.

11 new from £4.46 23 used from £2.68
Other Editions: RRP: Our Price: Other Offers:
Hardcover Order it used

Frequently Bought Together

The Tao is Silent + To Mock a Mockingbird: and Other Logic Puzzles + The Riddle of Scheherazade
Price For All Three: £26.03

Some of these items ship sooner than the others. Show details

Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought

To Mock a Mockingbird: and Other Logic Puzzles

To Mock a Mockingbird: and Other Logic Puzzles

by Raymond Smullyan
4.5 out of 5 stars (2)  £7.14
The Riddle of Scheherazade

The Riddle of Scheherazade

by Raymond M. Smullyan
4.5 out of 5 stars (4)  £10.80
Permutation City

Permutation City

by Greg Egan
3.8 out of 5 stars (11)  £5.99
Who Knows?: A Study of Religious Consciousness

Who Knows?: A Study of Religious Consciousness

by Raymond L. Smullyan
4.0 out of 5 stars (1)  £10.99
Godel, Escher, Bach: An Eternal Golden Braid (20th anniversary edition with a new preface by the author)

Godel, Escher, Bach: An Eternal Golden Braid (20th anniversary edition with a new preface by the author)

by Douglas R Hofstadter
4.4 out of 5 stars (22)  £13.29
› Explore similar items

Product details

  • Paperback: 240 pages
  • Publisher: HarperSanFrancisco; Reissue edition (15 Mar 1993)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 0060674695
  • ISBN-13: 978-0060674694
  • Product Dimensions: 20.6 x 13.2 x 1.8 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 216,285 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

    •  Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?

Customers Viewing This Page May Be Interested in These Sponsored Links

  (What is this?)
Qigong Seminars - Kendal
   www.tai-chi-therapy.co.uk    Ying Yang Harmony / 5 Elements 11th + 12th July 2009 
Taoist Wellness Regime
   www.straightbamboo.com    Ancient Chinese Health Secrets for the Modern Man 
Tao Sports UK
   www.taosport.co.uk    Huge range Martial Arts Equip for Karate, MMA, Thai, Kick, and more 
  
 

Product Description

Product Description
Now a generation of readers can be charmed and inspired by this witty, sophisticated author. This book looks at the ideas inspired by Taoism that treat a wide variety of subjects about life in general. By the author of "This Book Needs No Title" and "Alice in Puzzleland".

Suggested Tags from Similar Products

 (What's this?)
Be the first one to add a relevant tag (keyword that's strongly related to this product)
Check a corresponding box or enter your own tags in the field below
taoism secondary
taoism
occult
god not punitive or separate from us mor...

Your tags: Add your first tag
 
See most popular tags

What Do Customers Ultimately Buy After Viewing This Item?

The Tao is Silent
56% buy the item featured on this page:
The Tao is Silent 4.5 out of 5 stars (2)
£8.09
To Mock a Mockingbird: and Other Logic Puzzles
16% buy
To Mock a Mockingbird: and Other Logic Puzzles 4.5 out of 5 stars (2)
£7.14
The Riddle of Scheherazade
12% buy
The Riddle of Scheherazade 4.5 out of 5 stars (4)
£10.80
This Book Needs No Title: A Budget of Living Paradoxes (Touchstone Books)
11% buy
This Book Needs No Title: A Budget of Living Paradoxes (Touchstone Books)
£9.11
Explore similar items
 

Customer Reviews

2 Reviews
5 star:
 (1)
4 star:
 (1)
3 star:    (0)
2 star:    (0)
1 star:    (0)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
4.5 out of 5 stars (2 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
Share your thoughts with other customers:
Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Insightful Reflections on the Tao (silent, can not be named), 21 Oct 2004
By Erika Borsos "pepper flower" (Gulf Coast of FL, USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)   
This book is a set of insightful reflections on Taoist philosophy and zen statements written by (of all people) a mathematical logician. The author provides the reader many serious and even humorous discourses about life and the path we choose to live. It is filled with amazing logic that is applied to the Taoist statements which become more clear and precise ... from this perspective.

Here is the approach the author takes: he describes how the Tao is formless, it is silent, it is vague, it does not command and does not argue ... He then discusses how the Tao can be proven to 'exist'. He delves into why the Tao is spontaneous and how it manages to remain leisurely, too. There are discussions on selfishness, altruism, "trusting one's true nature", "letting things go their own way" vs "on making an effort" adn "on the art of management". One of the shortest but most erudite chapters is entitled, "abiding in the Tao". The Taoist abides in the Tao not becasue it is his duty, nor because he is commanded to, neither is he afraid of the Tao ... he does so ... because "he loves to". While the true Tao is nameless, the Tao that is named, becomes the "Mother of all beings". Also, Smullyan tells us, "this unnamed Tao is more serene, 'more truly itself' than the named Tao."

This book does not take a conventional approach to describing Taoist philosophy, instead through the author's particular unique lense we get insight into this paradoxical subject. The book is replete with examples of Taoist and Zen sayings and logical comparisons which enhance the author's viewpoint of life. Reading this book is a pleasant experience for anyone wanting to explore how Chinese philosophy relates to life. Erika Borsos (bakonyvilla)

Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)



 
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars A personal and subtle look at life and Taoism, 15 Nov 2000
By A Customer
Having recently become interested in Oriental philosophy, I purchased this book hoping to discover a litte more about Taoism. It did indeed deepen my understanding, but not in a way that I had initally expected. Written not as a formal text, The Tao is Silent consists of a series of deeply personal essays written entirely from the perspective of the author. The idea of the Tao is introduced at the beginning, and the remainder of the essays cover topics ranging from morality to astrology. If you are looking for a rigorous analytical text then you will be disappointed by the rambling, easy style. Smullyan does not so much explain what Taoism is as leave you with an *impression*, illustrated with examples from his own experience. Personally, I found that some of the points at the beginning of the were a bit laboured, but the rest is truly wonderful. I would recommend this book, perhaps not to those who want to know what Taoism is, but to those who want to know how it feels.
Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)


Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
 
 
 
Only search this product's reviews


Customer Discussions

 Beta (What's this?)
This product's forum (0 discussions)
  Discussion Replies Latest Post
  No discussions yet

Ask questions, Share opinions, Gain insight
Start a new discussion
Topic:
First post:
Prompts for sign-in
  [Cancel]


Active discussions in related forums
   
Related forums

Listmania!

Create a Listmania! list

Look for similar items by category

Feedback

The Body Shop

The Body Shop - Vitamin C Skin Boost
Protect and boost your glow with The Body Shop Vitamin C Skin Boost.

›Shop The Body Shop

  

More From Raymond M. Smullyan

To Mock a...

To Mock a Mockingbird: and Other...

In this entertaining and challenging collection of logic puzzles... Read more
£10.99 £7.14

 

We've Got Converse

Converse
Stock up on your favourite styles with great deals on Converse shoes.

›Shop Converse

  

Treat Someone

Amazon.co.uk Gift Certificates--available in any amount from £5 to £500 With an Amazon.co.uk Gift Certificate, you can get them what they want (even if you don't know what that is).

›Learn more about Gift Certificates

  
Ad

Where's My Stuff?

Delivery and Returns

Need Help?

Your Recent History

  (What's this?)
You have no recently viewed items or searches.

After viewing product detail pages or search results, look here to find an easy way to navigate back to pages you are interested in.

Look to the right column to find helpful suggestions for your shopping session.
Continue Shopping: Top Sellers
The Girl Who Played with Fire
The Girl Who Played with Fire by Stieg Larsson
4.5 out of 5 stars (72)£3.86
 Breaking Dawn (Twilight Saga)
Breaking Dawn (Twilight Saga) by Stephenie Meyer
4.1 out of 5 stars (459)£6.49
 The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson
4.1 out of 5 stars (162)£3.99
 The Host
The Host by Stephenie Meyer
4.2 out of 5 stars (80)£3.86

amazon.co.uk Amazon Home
International Sites:  United States  |  Germany  |  France  |  Japan  |  Canada  |  China
Business Programs: Sell on Amazon  |  Fulfilment by Amazon  |  Join Associates  |  Join Advantage
Customer Service  |  Help  |  View Basket  |  Your Account
About Amazon.co.uk  |  Careers at Amazon
Conditions of Use & Sale |  Privacy Notice  © 1996-2009, Amazon.com, Inc. and its affiliates