"In this delightful little book, Deng shares 144 ancient tales that are at times folkloric, others more comedic or tragic or paradoxical, and some just plain ribald. The advice contained here is simply presented: carry only what you need for the journey, literally and metaphorically. Quiet wisdom of the best kind." —Library Journal

When I was a boy, I didn't get specific lessons on how to live. I got stories. If I asked why I had to believe some concept, a person like my grandmother might reply with something like, "It is true because of what happened to the Yellow Emperor," and then the story would follow. What intrigues me is that this habit hasn't changed even after China's revolution, rapid modernization, digital technology, and global culture. People still say, "It's true because . . ." before they invoke a story that is more than two thousand years old.

Taoism is an ancient Chinese philosophy that emphasizes living in harmony with the universe. It is a tradition that has become widely popular in Europe and North America over the past fifty years—largely through its core text, the Tao Te Ching. Taming Tigers & Butterfly Dreams is filled with over 140 ancient stories that express great truth by fusing anecdotes—many of which are foundational stories related to the Taoist path—with philosophy. The stories are frequently humorous, ribald, irreverent, or sarcastic, but they always speak to great and universal truths:

Flow with life

Live from the heart

Develop an openness to possibilities

Live in balance

Drop expectations

Embrace acceptance

The wisdom here fills a universal need. We need stories. They help us make sense of who we are and how we got here. They keep us sane as we try to absorb our experiences, our aging, and our emotions. Stories help us visualize the future by taking the messages of yesterday and helping us get tomorrow right.

This book was previously published as The Wisdom of the Tao.