I picked this book up after seeing the movie 'The Tao of Steve" .

Thinking that their was more to the religion than the movie revealed. The book reads like a factual high school text book, not surprising since it was written by a teacher. It systematically covers the Taoism religion from Origins and history, beliefs, rituals, meditation and Taoism Today. Packed with lots of interesting facts it makes for a light read and only scratches the surface of the philosophy behind the religion. One of the interesting facts I picked up was Taoism was the birth mother of alchemy, as Taoists believed that a golden elixir of eternal life existed and early sects were devoted to the discovery of this 'life juice'. In the process many other chemical compounds were uncovered. i.e. gunpowder. Taoism is a religion that can be learned but can't be taught according to the Taoist masters.

Look, and it can't be seen. Listen and it can't be heard. Reach, and it can't be grasped... You can't know it, but you can be it, at ease in your own life.

and

The supreme good is like water, Which nourishes all things without trying to. It is content to take the low places that people disdain. Thus it is like the Tao.

In conclusion: The meditation disciplines and the philosophy of Taoism sound very interesting and may require further reading to gain a better understanding (knowing that it can not be taught may make this the best way to approach the subject) than this book provides. Yet for an overview of Taoism this book was worth the read.