The Way of Code

For thousands of years, the Dao De Jing—or “The Way”—by the Chinese philosopher Laozi has offered a message of living in harmony with the underlying nature of things. Now Rick Rubin, the legendary music producer and best-selling author of The Creative Act, has adapted Laozi’s seminal text for the age of machine intelligence: as a spiritual and artistic guide for navigating life as we grapple with the today’s most cutting-edge technology.

The Dao De Jing has always been my favorite of all the spiritual texts. I’ve read it over and over for forty years. Each time you pick up the book, you’ll interpret it in a new way. Anyone who comes into contact with this 2,500-year-old information, will be changed by it. I hope this new version will serve as a roadmap to engage with new technology while remaining grounded in timeless wisdom.

Featuring 81 original works of art generated from the book’s text by graphic designer David Pearson and design engineer Lucas Seidenfaden, The Way of Code is an ancient meditation, remixed for modern times—a volume of inspiration on how to create balance in life, on the planet, and in our work.