The Chinese philosopher, Lao Tzu, more than two thousand years ago wrote a guide to the proper conduct of human affairs. The Tao Te Ching has since served as a major influence in Oriental moral, ethical, and religious philosophy. In Walking the Tao, a pair of travelers in late nineteenth century Midwestern America examine many of the ethical and moral principles outlined in the Tao Te Ching. Yu Cheng travels from China to the United States to meet Sam Linden, the teenage grandson he has never seen. Sam, living in Kansas, has read all he can about China, and wants to know the grandfather his Chinese mother has told him about. As a way of getting acquainted, the two take a summer-long walking trip through Kansas, Oklahoma, New Mexico and Colorado. Along the way they apply the Tao Te Ching's teachings to their daily lives. Each chapter of Walking the Tao explores a different principle, fifty-three in all, allowing the reader to become acquainted with the Tao Te Ching as a practical guide to human behavior.