Tao Te ching 

Pronounced, more or less, Dow Deh Jing; the title means the Book of the Way. This book was written around 500 BC by a ubiquitous character called Lao-tzu. Easy enough to read in one sitting, this little book could take a lifetime to understand. The author talks about everything from inner peace to how to run a country. "Governing a large country is like frying a small fish, you spoil it with too much poking." It has a gemlike lucidity that is radiant with humor, grace, largeheartedness and deep wisdom. There is really only one translation to get in this work and that is by Steven Mitchell.