Book excerpt: In today's world, where many of us feel strapped with responsibility yet pressured and uncertain, the search for clear direction and personal courage can be a difficult one. This new interpretation of ancient Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu's classic, the Tao te Ching, offers the practical wisdom to lighten your burden and freshen your spirits as you travel on your journey. Now available in paperback, The Tao at Work adapts each of the eighty-one timeless passages from the Tao te Ching to life in the modern world, using humorous contemporary parables to illuminate their applications. Anyone in transition or struggling to find the balance between work and life will discover the powerful uses of the Tao te Ching, and come to a place where walls turn into doors, and serenity and confidence reign.