Taming Tigers & Butterfly Dreams: 144 Fables—Taoist Wisdom for Modern Life
Jul 2026 · Hampton Roads Publishing
Ebook
208
Pages
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infoThis book will become available on July 6, 2026. You will not be charged until it is released.
About this ebook
“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:
This book was previously published as The Wisdom of the Tao.
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
This book was previously published as The Wisdom of the Tao.
About the author
Deng Ming-Dao is an author, artist, philosopher, teacher, and martial artist. Deng is his family name; Ming-Dao is his given name. From a young age, he studied Taoism and internal arts such as qigong, tai chi, and kung fu. He is the author of many books, including 365 Tao, Everyday Tao, The Way of Heart and Beauty, Each Journey Begins with a Single Step, and Chronicles of Tao. His books have been translated into fifteen languages. Visit him at dengmingdao.com.
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