The Tao of Pooh by Benjamin Hoff Summary and Reviews
|
List Price: Our Price: $6.50 You Save: $7.50 (54%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $0.01 (click here) Category: Book See more book details and other editions |
|---|
Book Reviews of The Tao of Pooh
Book Review: An exercise in frustration
Summary: 1 Stars
The Tao of Pooh is, I believe, an attempt at presenting the philosophy of Taoism in an entertaining and cute way using the familiar, and entertaining-in-themselves, characters of Winnie the Pooh. However, I think that if you would like to learn about Taoism, you'd be better off reading a blurb off of a website. As for using the Winnie the Pooh characters to emphasize, illustrate and entertain, well, it just didn't work. In Hoff's "take" on Taoism, he tactlessly insults and irritates the average person living in Western Civilization who has any goals or aspirations in life. There are some very nice beliefs in Taoism, such as the development of divine virtues (which is not, of course, unique to Taoism but is shared by almost all religions), such as compassion and caring. However, being an ancient philosophy, many of the concepts and ideas have outdated themselves for today's society. Even so, it is difficult to fully appreciate the peacefulness and simplicity of this philosophy with so many jabs thrown by Hoff along the way. Poor Pooh!Book Review: An influential, well-written and genuinely warm and enjoyabl
Summary: 5 Stars
If your knowledge of Taoism stops at recognising the "Yin Yan" symbol, or if your love of Winnie the Pooh stops at remembering who Christopher Robin is, then The Tao of Pooh will open new avenues of insight in to Pooh Bear and hence The Way.Benjamin Hoff does not attempt to shove the ideas and ways of Taoism down the reader's throat - that would be contrary to the Taoist way. Knowledge, enlightenment and understanding of the world and its ways as a whole are key to The Way. With Pooh at his side and Owl, Eeyore, Tigger, Piglet and Roo lending a hand, Hoff explores the fundamental simplicity of Taoism and how many parallels there are between the tales of the 100 Acre Wood and The Way.
I found the book delightful: non-threatening, enlightening and an easy read. In times of trouble and stress I find myself dipping into its pages for relaxation and security. It is one of the best and most re-read books I have ever read.
Book Review: An unfortunate misunderstanding.
Summary: 3 Stars
Mr. Hoff, in quoting "The Vinegar Tasters", may have misunderstood Buddhism. As a Buddhist, with some experience, I have never looked at the Universe as a 'setter of traps' nor am I embittered by life on earth. Just saddened. More likely, we are the generators of illusion and are working out our karma. Buddhism is more in accord with finding the lessons of our lives in our karma and taking responsibility. We do not turn away from the 'dust of the world'. We wipe it from our eyes.Other than the above, I find joyful calm in its reading.
Book Review: As I read, so was I fulfilled.
Summary: 5 Stars
I need say no more about this book than just this;Pooh is Taoism. Hoff is the tutor. Tao of Pooh is the book.
I am enlightened. Enough said.
Book Review: Beautiful, Entertaining, and Thought-Provoking Masterpiece!
Summary: 5 Stars
This elegant and well-written volume by Benjamin Hoff, along with its sequel "The Te of Piglet", is perhaps one of the finest pieces of writing about Taoism in the West. Having just read and enjoyed the original Pooh stories by A.A. Milne, I became intrigued by this book and obtained it. As soon as I opened it I could not find a good point to lay it down. I kept reading and reading until I finished it in a single day. The book was so pleasurable, so well-written, and so intriguing. I kept thinking and imagining all the different concepts of Taoism that this book introduces me to. "Wu Wei" or effortless action; living in harmony with nature; Nowhere and Nothing; the importance of the present; the extreme alienation we in the West create for ourselves by being constantly busy. These are all important issues that relate to my life personally, and I feel I have gained something from reading this book, in addition to spending an enjoyable time reading it.Those who didn't like this book for some reason are missing the point. The "Tao of Pooh" was never meant to be the definite treatise on Taoism, or the dispassionate comparison of East and West. As a matter of fact, this book is classified under "Humor". In fact, it is this humor of pooh which lends itself so aptly to introducing Taoism. Since reading this book, I became interested in reading the other book by John Tyerman Williams called "Pooh & the Philosophers". What a disaster that turned out to be! See, the defining character of Pooh is that he never really takes himself seriously, which is perfectly in line with the attitude of major Taoist philosophers. Yet Western philosophy thinks of itself as a serious subject, an attitude that is quite un-Pooh-ish, so I don't know what on earth Williams was thinking in using Pooh to illustrate Western philosophy. Anyways, don't buy William's book, buy this! If you like Pooh and feel intrigued with Eastern Philosophy, you will find a pleasurable reading in this masterpiece that was the first to recognize this beautiful match.