Laozi books in order
6th-century BC semi-legendary Chinese philosopher, founder of Taoism
- Lived
- 579 BC–500 BC
- Country
- Zhou dynasty
- Books
- 1
- Also writes as
- Dan Li, Er Li, Tan Li
Laozi published 1 non-fiction book. The best-known is Tao Te Ching.
Updated September 2026
Where to start with Laozi
Start here
Tao Te Ching
Laozi's most-read book, rated by 58 Open Library readers.
Non-fiction in order
Tao Te Ching (1868)
Free to read
All free classics
About Laozi
Laozi is the name traditionally given to an ancient Chinese philosopher, also identified as Li Er or Lao Dan, who is regarded as the author or originating teacher associated with the Tao Te Ching, one of the foundational texts of Taoism. Traditional accounts place him in the 6th century BC state of Chu during China's Spring and Autumn period, describe him as a keeper of archival records at the Zhou court, and remember him as an elder contemporary of Confucius. Modern scholars remain divided over his identity, dates, and precise relationship to the received text: some regard the traditional Laozi as largely or wholly legendary, while others consider a historical Lao Dan plausible and accept the tradition that he was a senior contemporary of Confucius.
Biography from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.
Laozi FAQ
- How many books has Laozi written?
- Laozi published 1 non-fiction book that we list, as of September 2026.
- What order should I read Laozi's books in?
- Publication order is a safe choice; the full list is above. Most readers start with Tao Te Ching.
- What is Laozi's most famous book?
- Tao Te Ching is Laozi's most widely read book.
- Does Laozi write under a pen name?
- Yes: Laozi has also published as Dan Li, Er Li and Tan Li.
- Can I read Laozi's books for free?
- Yes. 2 books by Laozi are in the public domain in the US and free to read online or download here.
Authors like Laozi
Sources: book lists and dates from Wikidata and Open Library, ratings from Open Library readers, free texts from Project Gutenberg. Last updated September 2026.