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3.84 AVERAGE
3.84 AVERAGE
The Tao of Pooh was fine. Then the Te of Piglet hit and it was as if there was a rise of the angry middle aged white man who despises everything he cannot understand and has the pov that humans are inherently bad and dumb.
3.99 stars
I shouldn't be reviewing this book. I mean, according to the Tao of Pooh, the fact that I am thinking over it is in itself inviting worry but I need to do this to keep my thoughts in place.
Okay I’m probably confusing you and myself. I’ll start from the beginning.
The Tao of Pooh by Benjamin Hoff is a take on Taoism through the eyes of the beloved children’s character ‘Winnie the Pooh’. Hoff has us believe that Pooh is the ultimate being, not in a deity sense but that he is the one who has found all the answers by not looking for them. Basically the book is, in Hoff’s words, “Wisdom from a Western Taoist.’
We are also introduced to the different type of people/personalities in the world through other characters in the A.A Milne Series such as Owl who solely concentrates on knowledge, Rabbit to whom cleverness is of prime importance, Piglet who constantly worries yet once in a while manages to find courage in the darkest phases of life and Eeyore who is convinced of his awareness of things and the stupidity of the others around him. While this is an excellent way for the readers to identify where/who they're presently and what they're doing wrong, Hoff doesn't really give us actual practical tips for the transition from us to Pooh. I guess that’s something only we can figure out. Most of this book is aimed at imparting wisdom and new concepts but it is not a workbook. That surprised me because it was suggested to me as of being the self help variety but it isn't comprised of such and such action steps and methods, it is simply Taoism simplified, similied and metaphored. :D
What I couldn't digest however is that, while I realize thinking too much is as dangerous as ignorance, telling me to completely disregard the process of thinking, when it is the only thing that has saved me from the narrow-mindedness of certain people is disturbing. I have personally seen what never thinking about life can do to you and I realize Hoff never means it in that way but to someone who reads this without an open mind; someone who isn't used to trying to find answers, they will look upon it as another excuse for apathy. That is when it hit me…this is a self help book but not for someone who’s just starting out on the venture of true self. Hoff expects you to have a basic understanding of things before you set out reading it. I will have to read this again later in life because certain things went WHOOSH way over my head.
On a personal note, All I've successfully been able to figure out within the past two decades of my life is that ‘No one has it all figured it out.’ I remember reading Fountainhead as an impressionable teenager and diving nose first into the objective ocean that was Rand. After coming up for air every once in a while, It dawned on me that blindly following any single character/person however fictionally perfect they seem, was going to wear me out. This begs the question, Is Pooh really the one? Is Taoism the way to these answers we seek for? Is putting a stop to the constant search for these answers, as Taoism advocates, really the way?
I don’t know.
That being said, there were whole paragraphs that consumed me: made me zone out in the alienness and at home feeling of it.
Many people are afraid of Emptiness, however , because it reminds them of Loneliness. Everything has to be filled in, it seems- appointment books, hillsides, vacant lots – but when all the spaces are filled, the Loneliness really begins.
All in all, It is an enjoyable book and an enlightening one at that.
I shouldn't be reviewing this book. I mean, according to the Tao of Pooh, the fact that I am thinking over it is in itself inviting worry but I need to do this to keep my thoughts in place.
Okay I’m probably confusing you and myself. I’ll start from the beginning.
The Tao of Pooh by Benjamin Hoff is a take on Taoism through the eyes of the beloved children’s character ‘Winnie the Pooh’. Hoff has us believe that Pooh is the ultimate being, not in a deity sense but that he is the one who has found all the answers by not looking for them. Basically the book is, in Hoff’s words, “Wisdom from a Western Taoist.’
We are also introduced to the different type of people/personalities in the world through other characters in the A.A Milne Series such as Owl who solely concentrates on knowledge, Rabbit to whom cleverness is of prime importance, Piglet who constantly worries yet once in a while manages to find courage in the darkest phases of life and Eeyore who is convinced of his awareness of things and the stupidity of the others around him. While this is an excellent way for the readers to identify where/who they're presently and what they're doing wrong, Hoff doesn't really give us actual practical tips for the transition from us to Pooh. I guess that’s something only we can figure out. Most of this book is aimed at imparting wisdom and new concepts but it is not a workbook. That surprised me because it was suggested to me as of being the self help variety but it isn't comprised of such and such action steps and methods, it is simply Taoism simplified, similied and metaphored. :D
What I couldn't digest however is that, while I realize thinking too much is as dangerous as ignorance, telling me to completely disregard the process of thinking, when it is the only thing that has saved me from the narrow-mindedness of certain people is disturbing. I have personally seen what never thinking about life can do to you and I realize Hoff never means it in that way but to someone who reads this without an open mind; someone who isn't used to trying to find answers, they will look upon it as another excuse for apathy. That is when it hit me…this is a self help book but not for someone who’s just starting out on the venture of true self. Hoff expects you to have a basic understanding of things before you set out reading it. I will have to read this again later in life because certain things went WHOOSH way over my head.
On a personal note, All I've successfully been able to figure out within the past two decades of my life is that ‘No one has it all figured it out.’ I remember reading Fountainhead as an impressionable teenager and diving nose first into the objective ocean that was Rand. After coming up for air every once in a while, It dawned on me that blindly following any single character/person however fictionally perfect they seem, was going to wear me out. This begs the question, Is Pooh really the one? Is Taoism the way to these answers we seek for? Is putting a stop to the constant search for these answers, as Taoism advocates, really the way?
I don’t know.
That being said, there were whole paragraphs that consumed me: made me zone out in the alienness and at home feeling of it.
Many people are afraid of Emptiness, however , because it reminds them of Loneliness. Everything has to be filled in, it seems- appointment books, hillsides, vacant lots – but when all the spaces are filled, the Loneliness really begins.
All in all, It is an enjoyable book and an enlightening one at that.
I never expected to read a book like this. I'm happy I listened to this on audio because hearing the voices of beloved characters from a childhood-favourite show really sold this book for me. I think using Winnie the Pooh as an analogy to delve deep into the life philosophy of Taoism. I went into this book to get an introduction to Taoism and left with a lot more.
The book itself is a wonderful, and quite a comprehensive look at the traditional principles and make them digestible and applicable. I especially love the direct interactions between the narrator and the Winnie the Pooh characters as he uses references to their adventures to make the information more understandable and immersive - whether through the simple explanations or with nostalgia.
It definitely an easy read and 176 pages makes it enticing to revisit whenever life gets hectic and you want to get some quick perspective (if you found the ideas and philosophies helpful).
Book Depository provides great prices and free int'l shipping!
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The book itself is a wonderful, and quite a comprehensive look at the traditional principles and make them digestible and applicable. I especially love the direct interactions between the narrator and the Winnie the Pooh characters as he uses references to their adventures to make the information more understandable and immersive - whether through the simple explanations or with nostalgia.
It definitely an easy read and 176 pages makes it enticing to revisit whenever life gets hectic and you want to get some quick perspective (if you found the ideas and philosophies helpful).
Book Depository provides great prices and free int'l shipping!
**This is an affiliate link.
So bad!
I'm listening to audio, and the narrator is nice, there are some poems from the original book, which make this big hot mess that supports intellectual inertia almost bearable... Pooh is an uncarved slate, he is WE and he is good, and even though he doesn't know much he knows his "inner nature" while THEY are silly learned scholars who use intimidating words...
Now this is my transcript... had to do it... it's like when you can't look away from a car accident...
One sometimes gets the impression that those intimidating words are there to keep us from understanding. That way the scholars can appear superior and will not likely be suspected of not knowing something, after all, from the scholarly point of view, it's practically a crime not to know everything. But sometimes the knowledge of the scholars is a bit hard to understand because it doesn't seem to match up with our own experience of things. In other words, knowledge and experience do not necessarily speak the same language, but isn't the knowledge that comes from experience more valuable than the knowledge that doesn't? It seems fairly obvious to some of US that a lot of scholars need to go outside and sniff around, walk through the grass, talk to the animals, that sort of thing...
I'm listening to audio, and the narrator is nice, there are some poems from the original book, which make this big hot mess that supports intellectual inertia almost bearable... Pooh is an uncarved slate, he is WE and he is good, and even though he doesn't know much he knows his "inner nature" while THEY are silly learned scholars who use intimidating words...
Now this is my transcript... had to do it... it's like when you can't look away from a car accident...
One sometimes gets the impression that those intimidating words are there to keep us from understanding. That way the scholars can appear superior and will not likely be suspected of not knowing something, after all, from the scholarly point of view, it's practically a crime not to know everything. But sometimes the knowledge of the scholars is a bit hard to understand because it doesn't seem to match up with our own experience of things. In other words, knowledge and experience do not necessarily speak the same language, but isn't the knowledge that comes from experience more valuable than the knowledge that doesn't? It seems fairly obvious to some of US that a lot of scholars need to go outside and sniff around, walk through the grass, talk to the animals, that sort of thing...
I needed to read something V light after the fuckery that was Foucault so went for the Tao of Pooh, one of those books one never gets around to reading. It’s a v easy read explains taoist ideas and concepts in an easy way with Pooh along for the journey which is always a treat. However a lot of what he says seems pretty self-explanatory but also pretty unfeasible if everyone chose to live life this. It would also be kind of sad to live like this because you’re supposed to follow your nature and not put a square peg in a round hole but sometimes you got to fuck your nature. Like If I’m born without a leg can I not be a figure skater?? No pop me a bionic leg and watch me flip around! My problem with a lot of these philosophies is they sort of ignore people’s problems. (obvs this can just be the interpretation of this author) I think a healthy dose of living simply, learning to be content with what you have and focusing on listening to the birds instead of deciding what kind of bird is singing is great. But it also leaves room for breeding apathy in a way, why listen to the news if it just makes you sad and you can’t do anything about it! I think that disregards the individual’s power. He also contradicts himself slightly about knowing your inner nature but also saying if you’re not a positive person (like Pooh) and you’re more of an Eyeore (leave my son’s name out your mouth you BUFFOON) you wouldn’t be able to achieve greatness. (He uses Thomas Edison as an example) I think constantly being positive is more exhausting and doesn’t really lead you to much either seeing as you’re so content with everything why would you bother evolving?? I don’t know as always for me I feel like I need a healthy balance of contentment but have things that motivate me to keep growing. He seems have a lot of disdain for “intellectuals/academics” which a lot of his criticisms are fair but it’s also like you sound real negative sir. Also you need people who are willing to become wild experts in their field in order to advise on policies. Like under his logic no one would strive towards becoming a doctor, nurse, lawyer etc.
Yeah overall light read, loved hanging out with Pooh and the lads but you know these kinds of books always need to be taken with a grain of salt.
Yeah overall light read, loved hanging out with Pooh and the lads but you know these kinds of books always need to be taken with a grain of salt.
A cute, short, simple, easy read. Nothing earth-shattering, but soft-handed and easing. Taoism is sort of anti-intellectual if taken to the extreme, but in moderation it's an ok thing.
Cute, but I mostly used it as a before-bed meditation.
i liked a lot of this book, but i think at times he compromises actual analysis / understanding of winnie the pooh to make things fit to what he wants it to say. also not sure how someone managed to make a book about winnie the pooh feel so often condescending instead of warm. also didn’t talk enough about love
I agree with others who said that the best part of the book are the Pooh quotes. If he hadn't used so many, I think he would have lost me. I do feel that I gained a better understanding of what Tao is all about. Mostly, though, it just made me want to go read more Winnie the Pooh!