The Dude De Ching: New Annotated Edition

This book really ties the Dudeist & Taoist room together, especially for our modern time. It will guide the casual Lebowski fan to the deeper Dude within. A much deeper read than I expected, yet full of sharp wit and humor (lest we get very un-dude, dude). Oliver Benjamin is a gifted writer with a broad knowledge of spiritual wisdom. A poignant quote from the book: "By acting as an example of Taoist virtue, the Dude reminds us that even though religions may no longer make sense of the world and that modern academia suggests that there is no universal truth, perhaps there is still an ethical bedrock upon which we can rest our bones..."

I have many translations of the Tao De Ching, including the Tao of Yoda, and this one is a favorite. It puts it in a perspective I can relate to. I like understand straight forwardness better than nuance or poetry. This helps.

Once impressed a cute gal.

Funny read.

Great edition of this book, funny and insightful

The Dude De Ching, by Oliver Benjamin, is a remarkable work. Benjamin has rendered erstwhile esoteric concepts accessible to all. He presents the Tao on three levels: The Dude, The Tao, and Oliver Benjamin. Even if you've never watched the movie The Big Lebowski, The Dude will enlighten you. Even if you've not read the Toa Te Ching, you will see that this work stands on its own. Benjamin intertwines popular culture and ancient wisdom to brilliant effect. His commentary essays are wide ranging and informative, tying it all together like the right rug will do for a room.

I dig Oliver Benjamin's style once again dudes, having previously owned and read the original translation I was looking forward to the essays once I saw the amazon page. Nice read when I'm laying back at the end of a night. Some kinda eastern thing man, leaves this dude bewildered in the best way.

This edition is a considerable improvement from the first, and is a major addition to the Dudeist literature. The essays that Oliver wrote for each verse are simple but deep, wide ranging and learned but also funny and written with a light touch. Perhaps because the Daoist angle is my preferred one for understanding Dudeism, I would prefer/recommend this book even above The Abide Guide. It's definitely something you'll come back to repeatedly to help abide...take it easy Dudes

I didnt stumble on this book, I went looking for it like I imagine most people that read it do, if you are a dudeist I would say its essential reading, if you're a taoist it's a bit of fun. if you're neither you probably wont get much out of it. either way I enjoyed it a lot and would recommend it to anyone that has interest in reading it.

I truly enjoyed reading this work. Taoism, along with Buddhism, has been with me for most of my life. I haven't always practiced both but they were there for me during the difficult times. The Big Lebowski came along later and while I have been aware of Dudeism, only in the last few years, I never really gave it much thought until recently. Somewhere along the line something clicked and I picked up this work, and three others, and decided to see what it was all about. I am glad I did. This work feels like an analysis of how the Dude embodies the Tao and I can say it is done very well. I even rewatched the Big Lebowski once or twice while reading this. What I also got out of reading this work was a deeper understanding of the Tao Te Ching. For years I would always read passages from the Tao Te Ching as a means to assist in steadying myself on the path of life. This work though, giving you a point of focus for what the Tao is saying, albeit on a fictitious character, the Dude, actually helped center and even focus how the statements in the Tao can be applied. Interestingly it further aided in my understanding of the Tao Te Ching. I look forward to reading the next three works I have and give the author, Oliver Benjamin, big props on his interpretations. I can honestly say I think of myself as more of a Dudehist(?) now, at least when asked if I subscribe to any sort of belief. Five plus stars!

It was what I was looking for.

Just a fun book for Lebowski fans

I really enjoyed this book; it is deeply spiritual and yet worldly, i love the way it combines the most serious of matters with humour. Of course you have to enjoy the Big Lebowski and get its subtle ( or not so subtle!) reflections. I thoroughly enjoyed the format, the use of the Dude language first and then a more formal translation on each of the 81 verses of the Tao, followed by a longish yet very insightful reflection. I thought i would race enthusiastically through this work, as i did Oliver's other book, "The Abide Guide" but it really benefits from slow savouring. In my opinion, Oliver is a real sage for our time, i have read hundreds of spiritual books but this really does pull everything together.