The Tao of Teaching is for teachers, parents, and any others who are looking for a book of wisdom on how to deal with people, especially children, in a learning environment. The Tao of Teaching is written in the same style as the Tao Te Ching, and gives examples from the classrooms of three present-day teachers whom the author feels embody Taoist wisdom and "student-centered" educational methods. The Tao of Teaching is a labor of love, containing many important insights by a talented and respected professional whose emphasis is on the students' contribution in a learning environment, whatever the context. “Each chapter offers teachers, administrators, and parents an opportunity for inspiration and an opportunity to reflect on one's work and mission in education. As with the Tao Te Ching itself, there is no recipe or step-by-step path to becoming a better teacher. Nagel implores us to embrace Taoism in the classroom, and in so doing, to ‘respect lofty virtue, deep sincerity, a love of stillness, devotion to a worthy teacher, and wide learning.’”—Harvard Educational Review
 
“Nagel highlights fundamental verities whose rediscovery should encourage burdened teachers.”—Publishers Weekly