Lao-tzu's Tao Te Ching, or Book of the Way, is the classic manual on the art of living, and one of the wonders of the world. In eighty-one brief chapters, the Tao Te Ching looks at the basic predicament of being alive and gives advice that imparts balance and perspective, a serene and generous spirit.

This book is about wisdom in action. It teaches how to work for the good with the effortless skill that comes from being in accord with the Tao (the basic principle of the universe) and applies equally to good government and sexual love; to child rearing, business, and ecology.

Stephen Mitchell's bestselling version has been widely acclaimed as a gift to contemporary culture.

Mitchell, widely known for his original and definitive translations of spiritual writings and poetry, has taken the work of Neruda (1904-1973), whose poems are passionate, humorous and exceptionally accessible, and brought them to life for a whole new generation of readers. Mitchell has selected nearly 50 poems for this collection, which focuses on Neruda's mature period, beginning with Elemental Odes, published when he was 50 years old, and ending with "Full Powers, " published when he was 58. The volume is bilingual, with Neruda's original Spanish text facing Mitchell's English translation.

Excerpt from "Full Woman, Fleshly Apple, Hot Moon":

Full woman, fleshly apple, hot moon,

thick smell of seaweed, crushed mud and light,

what obscure brilliance opens between your columns?

What ancient night does a man touch with his senses?

Loving is a journey with water and with stars,

with smothered air and abrupt storms of flour:

Loving is a clash of lightning-bolts

and two bodies defeated by a single drop of honey.

A sweeping historical account of the Later Roman Empire incorporating the latest scholarly research In the newly revised 3rd edition of A History of the Later Roman Empire, 284-700, distinguished historians Geoffrey Greatrex and Stephen Mitchell deliver a thoroughly up-to-date discussion of the Later Roman Empire. It includes tables of information, numerous illustrations, maps, and chronological overviews. As the only single volume covering Late Antiquity and the early Islamic period, the book is designed as a comprehensive historical handbook covering the entire span between the Roman Empire to the Islamic conquests. The third edition is a significant expansion of the second edition—published in 2015—and includes two new chapters covering the seventh century. The rest of the work has been updated and revised, providing readers with a sweeping historical survey of the struggles, triumphs, and disasters of the Roman Empire, from the accession of the emperor Diocletian in AD 284 to the closing years of the seventh century. It also offers: A thorough description of the massive political and military transformations in Rome’s western and eastern empires Comprehensive explorations of the latest research on the Later Roman Empire Practical discussions of the tumultuous period ushered in by the Arab conquests Extensive updates, revisions, and corrections of the second edition Perfect for undergraduate and postgraduate students of ancient, medieval, early European, and Near Eastern history, A History of the Later Roman Empire, 284-700 will also benefit lay readers with an interest in the relevant historical period and students taking a survey course involving the late Roman Empire.

In eighty-one brief chapters, Lao-tzu's Tao Te Ching, or Book of the Way, provides advice that imparts balance and perspective, a serene and generous spirit, and teaches us how to work for the good with the effortless skill that comes from being in accord with the Tao&#8212the basic principle of the universe.Stephen Mitchell's bestselling version has been widely acclaimed as a gift to contemporary culture.

' What is rooted is easy to nourish What is recent is easy to correct' Lao Tzu's Tao Te Ching (The Book of the Way) is the classic manual on the art of living. In 81 short, poetic chapters, the book looks at the basic predicament of being alive and teaches how to work for the good with the effortless skill that comes from being in accord with the Tao, or the basic principle of the universe. Stephen Mitchell' s acclaimed translation is accompanied by ancient Chinese paintings that beautifully reflect Lao Tzu' s timeless words. An illustrated edition of one of the most widely translated texts in the world. Features the best of classical Chinese painting A modern, accessible translation which reflects the poetry of Lao Tzu's words. ' Beautiful and accessible; the English, as 'fluid as melting ice,' is a joy to read throughout' The New Republic. ' I have read many translations of this ancient text but Mitchell' s is by far the best.' James Frey, author of A Million Little Pieces.

Graeco-Roman religion in its classic form was polytheistic; on the other hand, monotheistic ideas enjoyed wide currency in ancient philosophy. This contradiction provides a challenge for our understanding of ancient pagan religion. Certain forms of cult activity, including acclamations of 'one god' and the worship of theos hypsistos, the highest god, have sometimes been interpreted as evidence for pagan monotheism. This book discusses pagan monotheism in its philosophical and intellectual context, traces the evolution of new religious ideas in the time of the Roman empire, and evaluates the usefulness of the term 'monotheism' as a way of understanding these developments in later antiquity outside the context of Judaism and Christianity. In doing so, it establishes a framework for understanding the relationship between polytheistic and monotheistic religious cultures between the first and fourth centuries AD.

From Stephen Mitchell, the renowned translator whose "Iliad "was named one of "The New Yorker"'s Favorite Books of 2011, comes a vivid new translation of the "Odyssey," complete with textual notes and an illuminating introductory essay.
The hardcover publication of the" Odyssey "received glowing reviews: "The New York Times" praised "Mitchell's fresh, elegant diction and the care he lavishes on meter, which] brought me closer to the transfigurative experience Keats describes on reading Chapman's Homer"; "Booklist," " "in a starred review, said that "Mitchell retells the first, still greatest adventure story in Western literature with clarity, sweep, and force"; and John Banville, author of "The Sea," " "called this translation "a masterpiece."
The" Odyssey" is the original hero's journey, an epic voyage into the unknown, and has inspired other creative work for millennia. With its consummately modern hero, full of guile and wit, always prepared to reinvent himself in order to realize his heart's desire--to return to his home and family after ten years of war--the "Odyssey" now speaks to us again across 2,600 years.
In words of great poetic power, this translation brings Odysseus and his adventures to life as never before. Stephen Mitchell's language keeps the diction close to spoken English, yet its rhythms recreate the oceanic surge of the ancient Greek. Full of imagination and light, beauty and humor, this "Odyssey" carries you along in a fast stream of action and imagery. Just as Mitchell "re-energised the "Iliad" for a new generation" ("The Sunday Telegraph"), his "Odyssey" is the noblest, clearest, and most captivating rendition of one of the defining masterpieces of Western literature.

Discover the truth hiding behind troubling thoughts with Byron Katie’s self-help classic.

In 2003, Byron Katie first introduced the world to The Work with the publication of Loving What Is. Nearly twenty years later, Loving What Is continues to inspire people all over the world to do The Work; to listen to the answers they find inside themselves;and to open their minds to profound, spacious, and life-transforming insights. The Work is simply four questions that, when applied to a specific problem, enable you to see what is troubling you in an entirely different light.

Loving What Is shows you step by step, through clear and vivid examples, exactly how to use this revolutionary process for yourself. In this revised edition, readers will enjoy seven new dialogues, or real examples of Katie doing The Work with people to discover the root cause of their suffering. You will observe people work their way through a broad range of human problems, learning freedom through the very thoughts that had caused their suffering—thoughts such as “my husband betrayed me” or “my mother doesn’t love me enough.”

If you continue to do The Work, you may discover that the questioning flows into every aspect of your life, effortlessly undoing the stressful thoughts that keep you from experiencing peace. Loving What Is offers everything you need to learn and live this remarkable process, and to find happiness as what Katie calls “a lover of reality.”

"Gilgamesh" is considered one of the masterpieces of world literature, but until now there has not been a version that is a superlative literary text in its own right. Acclaimed by critics and scholars, Stephen Mitchell's version allows us to enter an ancient masterpiece as if for the first time, to see how startlingly beautiful, intelligent, and alive it is.

Vivid, enjoyable and comprehensible, the poet and pre-eminent translator Stephen Mitchell makes the oldest epic poem in the world accessible for the first time. Gilgamesh is a born leader, but in an attempt to control his growing arrogance, the Gods create Enkidu, a wild man, his equal in strength and courage. Enkidu is trapped by a temple prostitute, civilised through sexual experience and brought to Gilgamesh. They become best friends and battle evil together. After Enkidu's death the distraught Gilgamesh sets out on a journey to find Utnapishtim, the survivor of the Great Flood, made immortal by the Gods to ask him the secret of life and death. Gilgamesh is the first and remains one of the most important works of world literature. Written in ancient Mesopotamia in the second millennium B.C., it predates the Iliad by roughly 1,000 years. Gilgamesh is extraordinarily modern in its emotional power but also provides an insight into the values of an ancient culture and civilisation.

"One of The New Yorker's Favorite Books of 2 011"
Tolstoy called the "Iliad "a miracle; Goethe said that it always thrust him into a state of astonishment. Homer's story is thrilling, and his Greek is perhaps the most beautiful poetry ever sung or written. But until now, even the best English translations haven't been able to re-create the energy and simplicity, the speed, grace, and pulsing rhythm of the original. Now, thanks to the power of Stephen Mitchell's language, the "Iliad"'s ancient story comes to moving, vivid new life, and we are carried along by a poetry that lifts even the most devastating human events into the realm of the beautiful.
Mitchell's "Iliad "is also the first translation based on the work of the preeminent Homeric scholar Martin L. West, whose edition of the original Greek identifies many passages that were added after the "Iliad "was first written down, to the detriment of the music and the story. Omitting these hundreds of interpolated lines restores a dramatically sharper, leaner text. In addition, Mitchell's illuminating introduction opens the epic still further to our understanding and appreciation.

The classic, in-depth history of psychoanalysis, presenting over a hundred years of thought and theories Sigmund Freud's concepts have become a part of our psychological vocabulary: unconscious thoughts and feelings, conflict, the meaning of dreams, the sensuality of childhood. But psychoanalytic thinking has undergone an enormous expansion and transformation since Freud's death in 1939. With Freud and Beyond, Stephen A. Mitchell and Margaret J. Black make the full scope of twentieth century psychoanalytic thinking-from Harry Stack Sullivan to Jacques Lacan; D.W. Winnicott to Melanie Klein-available for the first time. Richly illustrated with case examples, this lively, jargon-free introduction makes modern psychoanalytic thought accessible at last.

This book has its roots in a very traditional understanding of God. In theological jargon, it's about God's omnipresence; God being everywhere. Because God is everywhere, we are, wherever we are, in God. It shouldn't, therefore, be difficult to believe in God. We don't have to struggle to get our head around impossible questions. We are already in God; so belief isn't like taking an exam, it's like taking a bath. We need to learn to relax and let ourselves be revived in God's presence. But looking more closely at what we find ourselves to be in, (including life, luck, love and person) the implications for our understanding of God are shocking and revolutionary. Here is a radical orthodoxy to give confidence to those who have given up on the fundamentalist expressions of faith that dominate the church today. Liberals are true to the heart of orthodox Christian doctrine on God. They are here encouraged to find their voice, demonstrate the deep roots of their faith, and above all, enjoy it.

Loving What Is by bestselling author Byron Katie is a simple, straightforward antidote to the suffering we unnecessarily create for ourselves and has inspired and help millions of people transform their pain into freedom. Written in an easy-to-follow, interactive and accessible way and drawing on illustrative case studies, reading this is the first step to turning your life around and achieving inner peace and harmony... 'A great blessing for our planet' -- Eckhart Tolle 'Her method can cut through years of self-delusion and rationalisation' -- Los Angeles Times 'A pragmatic and simple way of getting people to take responsibility for their own problems' -- Time Magazine 'Mind blown - [this is the] best book I have read of this type since Power of Now. Really helped me to let go of beliefs and judgements that aren't serving me. Thanks for writing it.' -- ***** Reader review 'Amazing, life changing' -- ***** Reader review 'A massively inspiring book' -- ***** Reader review 'Very easy to read and an absolute gem!' -- ***** Reader review 'Life changing (really)' -- ***** Reader review ***************************************************************************************************** A thought is harmless unless we believe it Drawing on her own experience of moving through suffering to freedom, Byron Katie developed 'The Work': a simple, four-step programme to help pinpoint the problems that are troubling you and how to tackle them effectively. A life-transforming system for discarding the stories at the source of our suffering, this is your guide to finding inner peace and happiness.

The timeless tale continues... The most popular and beloved American historical novel ever written, Margaret Mitchell's "Gone With the Wind "is unparalleled in its portrayal of men and women at once larger than life but as real as ourselves. Now bestselling writer Alexandra Ripley brings us back to Tara and reintroduces us to the characters we remember so well: Rhett, Ashley, Mammy, Suellen, Aunt Pittypat, and, of course, Scarlett. As the classic story, first told over half a century ago, moves forward, the greatest love affair in all fiction is reignited; amidst heartbreak and joy, the endless, consuming passion between Scarlett O'Hara and Rhett Butler reaches its startling culmination. Rich with surprises at every turn and new emotional, breathtaking adventures, "Scarlett "satisfies our longing to reenter the world of "Gone With the Wind," and like its predecessor, "Scarlett "will find an eternal place in our hearts.

"A unique and special kind of masterpiece." --John Banville In the tradition of The Alchemist--a fable about the soul's journey to hope, healing, and forgiveness Now available in paperback In The Way of Forgiveness, the distinguished writer and translator Stephen Mitchell provides a stirring account of the power and wisdom of forgiveness. Based on the biblical story of Joseph and his brothers--a beautiful, brilliant, arrogant young man is sold into slavery but eventually rises to become viceroy of Egypt--The Way of Forgiveness is a riveting expansion, lush with vivid characters and a captivating sense of place. What's new here is the lyrical, witty, vivid prose, informed by a wisdom that brings fresh insight to this foundational legend of betrayal and all-embracing forgiveness. Mitchell's retelling interweaves the narrative with brief meditations that, with their Zen surprises, expand and illuminate the main themes. The engrossing tale that he has created will capture the hearts and minds of modern readers and show them that this ancient story can still challenge, delight, and astonish. The Way of Forgiveness is the paperback edition of Joseph and the Way of Forgiveness.

'Illuminating...on the cutting edge' Jon Kabat-Zinn 'Byron Katie has rocked my world and shaken loose my mind more thoroughly than any other spiritual teacher I've ever encountered' Elizabeth Gilbert How Asking Four Questions Can Free Your Mind, Open Your Heart and Turn Your World Around In A Mind At Home With Itself, bestselling author and founder of The Work, Byron Katie explains that emotions such as sadness, anger and resentment come from believing our negative thoughts. But when we learn to question those thoughts, they lose their power. And when this happens, our minds are free to turn towards others and ourselves with a spirit of generosity. Byron Katie gives hugely popular workshops every year all over the world, in places like churches, prisons, universities, schools and corporations. She speaks at organisations like Facebook and Stanford University and is also involved with a programme for cancer patients. Charismatic and compassionate, there's good reason why The Times has called her events 'riveting', and Time magazine has named her 'a spiritual innovator for the new millennium'.

Psalm 93

"Byron Katie is one of the truly great and inspiring teachers of our time. I encourage everyone to immerse themselves in this phenomenal book." -Dr. Wayne W. Dyer
In her first two books, "Loving What Is" and "I Need Your Love-Is That True?" Byron Katie showed how suffering can be ended by questioning the stressful thoughts that create it. Now, in "A Thousand Names for Joy," she encourages us to discover the freedom that lives on the other side of inquiry.
Stephen Mitchell-the renowned translator of the Tao Te Ching-selected provocative excerpts from that ancient text as a stimulus for Katie to talk about the most essential issues that face us all: life and death, good and evil, love, work, and fulfillment. With her stories of total ease in all circumstances, Katie does more than describe the awakened mind; she lets you see it, feel it, in action.

"Somebody comes into the Zen center with a lighted cigarette, walks up to the Buddha statue, blows smoke in its face, and drops ashes on its lap. You are standing there. What can you do?" This is a problem that Zen Master Seung Sahn is fond of posing to his American students who attend his Zen centers. Dropping Ashes on the Buddha is a delightful, irreverent, and often hilariously funny living record of the dialogue between Korean Zen Master Seung Sahn and his American students. Consisting of dialogues, stories, formal Zen interviews, Dharma speeches, and letters using the Zen Master's actual words in spontaneous, living interaction with his students, this book is a fresh presentation of the Zen teaching method of "instant dialogue" between Master and student which, through the use of astonishment and paradox, leads to an understanding of ultimate reality.

Stephen Mitchell is widely known for his ability to make ancient masterpieces thrillingly new, to step in where many have tried before and create versions that are definitive for our time. His celebrated version of the Tao Te Ching is the most popular edition in print, and his translations of Jesus, Rilke, Genesis, and Job have won the hearts of readers and critics alike. Stephen Mitchell now brings to the Bhagavad Gita his gift for breathing new life into sacred texts.

The Bhagavad Gita is universally acknowledged as one of the world's literary and spiritual masterpieces. It is the core text of the Hindu tradition and has been treasured by American writers from Emerson and Thoreau to T. S. Eliot, who called it the greatest philosophical poem after the Divine Comedy. There have been more than two hundred English translations of the Gita, including many competent literal versions, but not one of them is a superlative literary text in its own right.

Now all that has changed. Stephen Mitchell's Bhagavad Gita sings with the clarity, the vigor, and the intensity of the original Sanskrit. It will, as William Arrowsmith said of Mitchell's translation of The Sonnets to Orpheus, "instantly make every other rendering obsolete."


From the Hardcover edition.

Yehuda Amichai (1924-2000) was Israel's most popular poet, as well as a literary figure of international reputation. In this collection, renowned translators Chana Bloch and Stephen Mitchell have selected Amichai's most beloved poems, including forty poems from his later work. A new foreword by C.K. Williams, written especially for this edition, addresses Amichai's enduring legacy and sets his poetry in the context of the new millennium.