Lao Tzu''s Tao Te Ching, or ''Book of the Way,'' is the classic manual on the art of living. In eighty-one brief chapters, the Tao Te Ching gives advice that imparts balance and perspective, along with a serene and generous spirit. It explains the Tao, or the basic principle of the universe, and teaches the reader how to work for good with the effortless skill that comes from being in accord with the Tao. These lessons apply to all aspects of life, from government to love, from childrearing to ecology.