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The Tao of Pooh
The Tao of Pooh
The Tao of Pooh
Audiobook2 hours

The Tao of Pooh

Written by Benjamin Hoff

Narrated by Simon Vance

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

4.5/5

()

About this audiobook

Winnie-the-Pooh has a certain Way about him, a way of doing things that has made him the world's most beloved bear. In The Tao of Pooh, Benjamin Hoff shows that Pooh's Way is amazingly consistent with the principles of living envisioned by the Chinese founders of Taoism. The author's explanation of Taoism through Pooh, and Pooh through Taoism, shows that this is not simply an ancient and remote philosophy but something you can use, here and now.

And what is Taoism? It's really very simple. It calls for living without preconceived ideas about how life should be lived—but it's not a preconception of how life—it's.... Well, you'd do better to listen to this book, and listen to Pooh, if you really want to find out.
LanguageEnglish
Release dateJan 23, 2012
ISBN9781452676173
The Tao of Pooh

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Reviews for The Tao of Pooh

Rating: 4.555555555555555 out of 5 stars
4.5/5

477 ratings62 reviews

What our readers think

Readers find this title to be a fantastic and clever introduction to Taoism. The author uses characters from Winnie the Pooh to explain different personalities and the principles of Taoism in a fun and practical way. The book is described as a gem of literature that is both instructive and enjoyable. It provides a refreshing outlook on life and humanity, and offers wisdom and clarity of vision. Overall, readers highly recommend this book as a must-read for anyone interested in Taoist philosophy.

What did you think?

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  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I think this is a good primer for Taoist philosophy. It's probably a bit difficult to really absorb in audiobook format. This seems like the kind of book you'd highlight a line in and come back to later, maybe many times.

    2 people found this helpful

  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    A really nice, unique introduction to Daoism. It just makes you feel good, plain and simple. Dao of Pooh brings to life characterization of the spirit of Dao and provides a refreshing outlook on life and humanity!

    1 person found this helpful

  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    This book was so beautiful. I absolutely loved it! As a graduate I think this is a must read for all those graduating!

    1 person found this helpful

  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    One of the best books I've read lately. If you like this checkout Biocentrism and Beyond Bio Centrism.

    1 person found this helpful

  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    My favorite book. It saved my life. I love you, Benjamin Hoff. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
    -Will Skelton

    1 person found this helpful

  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    A good introduction to the Tao in a way in which many would be able to understand, utilizing a childhood classic. Much easier to understand than that of the original text if you’re not a philosophy student.

    1 person found this helpful

  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    A thin, little book with a great amount of meaning.

    1 person found this helpful

  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Great job! The author did a fabulous job interpreting the difficult concept of how our perceptions are clouded by conditioning.

    1 person found this helpful

  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I've always been terribly fond of Pooh Bear since adolescence but hadn't ever stopped to pin down what it was or why it was. Connections are made throughout this book between the "snuggley wuggley ol' bear" and a new topic to me--making the new topic likewise snuggley wuggley. It deters the defenses we like to set up and I can imagine bringing this book up and its many great teachings the next time Whinnie the Pooh is referenced. Being that the new Christopher Robin movie well on its way to our theaters in August, I will surely recommend the read. I laughed as the explanation of Taoism was described as river water that goes on as it is taken without much planning because that is exactly how I came upon the book! I found countless similarities between my faith and Taoism from start to finish and enjoyed every bit of it! Loved the short stories, both the Pooh Bear ones and the Tao ones. A wonderful faith, writer, and book indeed.

    1 person found this helpful

  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    This book teaches so much wisdom. I am in love

    1 person found this helpful

  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Lovely book. Gave me plenty to reflect on and think about.... Or should I say, NOT think about!

    1 person found this helpful

  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    One of my Favorite Books. Read it once and my second time around in Audio format. Simon Vance did a great job narroting it as well.

    1 person found this helpful

  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    A good introduction to taoism. Love this little gem of literature.

    1 person found this helpful

  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    By using characters of ‘Winne the Pooh’ the author describes how different personalities would react to situations and why being a pooh bear is the way to be. I’m a busy ‘backsoon’ and I really want to become the pooh bear someday!

    1 person found this helpful

  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    It’s a modern classic. A succinct, simple and at ease.

    1 person found this helpful

  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    It's a very fun and practical way to understand and apply Taoism.
    I recommend this for anyone dealing with anxiety.

    1 person found this helpful

  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I’m already familiar with East Asian philosophy but this was a cute way to Westernize it for digestion for newcomers.

    1 person found this helpful

  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I loved this book when I first read it in the ‘80s. I found it annoying to try and read it more recently when I was home with kids. But having just devoured this little audiobook I am back in love. This analogy between Pooh and a practicer of Taoism is such a fun accessible way to acquaint (or reacquaint) oneself with a simpler way of thinking and being, especially for the Westerners who would have grown up with the silly old bear but perhaps not the principles of the Tao.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Very approachably written and wonderfully read (the gentleman does all the proper voices).
    This book explains the concept of the Tao and some of it's history using both the expected asian (mostly Chinese) anecdotes and explanations as well as Winnie the Pooh! It's a very nice and soothing read with a good lesson along the way.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    This is a fabulous introduction for westerners to taoist philosophy. The use of familiar childhood characters to illustrate taoist themes is effective and will make nearly anyone smile. I haven't read the sequel to it yet, but I expect it to be just as delightful.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    I enjoyed this book. It is a very lighthearted approach to explaining Taoism to those with little background in it. It is very accessible.That being said, it is not a book of serious philosophy, in any sense of the word 'serious'. It basically presents Taoism as a perfect system of thinking, without any serious consideration of other religious/ philosophical approach. It never presents criticism of its subject and lacks discussion of how followers of Taoism apply its principles in real life. Please do not read this book and then decide to convert. It is very nice as a brief introduction to Taoism, but you cannot claim to have any complete knowledge of it from a reading of this book.A hate feeling like I'm coming down on the book, but some perspective is in order.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    A fun narration on a lightly written topic that has profound implications for how we go about living. It could have gone a little deeper into Taoism but then it would not be as accessable to everyone. Well done.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    A light-hearted, but never disrespectful, explination of Taoism, using Winnie the Pooh as the Taoist archetype.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    It’s a fun and deep book. Although I’m familiar with the ‘Wu Wei’ theory, the book resonate with me a lot with the simple straightforward examples of people who follow this and those who don’t. I guess or will have to find out how to achieve ‘Wu Wei’ from somewhere else.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Provides prospective in a simple way to help change one's life.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Excellent book! It really broke down these principles in a way I could understand.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I’ve read this book about a dozen times. Every time I do, I come away with clarity of vision, thought, and direction; especially when difficulties present themselves in life around me/us.

    The simple depth of this book is impossible to overstate. Read it, listen while not doing anything (hear and absorb, don’t listen as background) and you may find something of essence for yourself.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Good explanation of Taoism and well read. I quite enjoyed it.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    An excellent introduction to Taoism.
  • Rating: 1 out of 5 stars
    1/5
    Well, I enjoyed the Pooh anecdotes and the little quips from familiar characters... and I liked the readable style of the text... but that was where my enjoyment ended.Perhaps it's the philosophy itself that I didn't like most (I didn't), or perhaps it was Hoff's somewhat hypocritical approach to deriding Western culture while showing off his knowledge (and at the same time telling us that knowledge from learning is a waste of time)... but certainly, both contributed to my frustrations with it.Rather than spend all my time pointing out inconsistencies and the points on which I think Hoff's attitude needs adjusting, I'll provide one example in particular, the one that bothered me the most:From page 146:"While the Clear mind listens to a bird singing, the Stuffed-Full-of-Cleverness-and-Knowledge mind wonders what kind of bird is singing."So... asking questions, learning, and gaining a greater understanding of our universe and the world around us is a bad thing? Doesn't understanding which bird is singing lead to a greater appreciation for that bird's song?!?As someone who constantly seeks knowledge for the pure joy of learning, I'm afraid Taoist philosophy as presented by Hoff sounds incredibly ignorant.As my husband said when I read him that passage: "Wow, sounds like Taoism is a great way to control a population..."Agreed. And that's what frustrates me the most: encouraging willful ignorance.