The Tao of Pooh by Benjamin Hoff
The title says it all. Truth be told, the title told me so much, I didn't actually feel like I needed to read this book.
I just applied the idea of Taoism to what I knew about Winnie the Pooh and POOF there I got it.
Winnie the Pooh is the classic happy laughing fool of Taoism who turns out to be the wisest because he's the simplest. Got it. Pooh Bear exemplifies Taoism so deliciously that Lao T'zu (father of Taoism) would definitely be calling for the front row seat at the Winnie the Pooh ride at Disney.
Or so I thought.
This book is good. Really good. I read every single word, highlighted things AND took notes.
If you know nothing about Taoism, read this book first.
I like how the author defines terms and gives eloquent examples.
Taoism 101:
Pooh exemplifies "P'u" (coincidence? could that even be possible?), the notion of "uncarved block" and natural simplicity. If a person were to "discard arrogance, complexity a few other things....sooner or later you will discover that simple, childlike, and mysterious secret known to those of the Uncarved Block [like Pooh] - Life is Fun."
This book compares other Pooh characters with Taoist stories and wisdom sayings that would leave anyone of any faith a little more open to slow down and see magic in the moment it unfolds.
It is killing me to not list the lessons I learned from this book, but if I do that I would steal the treasure of this book from you.
Next time you are in a book store, pick up a copy and see if you can put it down.
Then pick up a few more copies because this book would make a great graduation or Christmas present.
Here is a link with quotes from the book. Enjoy*
https://www.goodreads.com/work/quotes/55188-the-tao-of-pooh
The title says it all. Truth be told, the title told me so much, I didn't actually feel like I needed to read this book.
I just applied the idea of Taoism to what I knew about Winnie the Pooh and POOF there I got it.
Winnie the Pooh is the classic happy laughing fool of Taoism who turns out to be the wisest because he's the simplest. Got it. Pooh Bear exemplifies Taoism so deliciously that Lao T'zu (father of Taoism) would definitely be calling for the front row seat at the Winnie the Pooh ride at Disney.
Or so I thought.
This book is good. Really good. I read every single word, highlighted things AND took notes.
If you know nothing about Taoism, read this book first.
I like how the author defines terms and gives eloquent examples.
Taoism 101:
"The basic Taoism that we are concerned with here is simply a particular way of appreciating, learning from, and working with whatever happens in everyday life. From the Taoist point of view, the natural result of this harmonious way of living is happiness."
Pooh exemplifies "P'u" (coincidence? could that even be possible?), the notion of "uncarved block" and natural simplicity. If a person were to "discard arrogance, complexity a few other things....sooner or later you will discover that simple, childlike, and mysterious secret known to those of the Uncarved Block [like Pooh] - Life is Fun."
This book compares other Pooh characters with Taoist stories and wisdom sayings that would leave anyone of any faith a little more open to slow down and see magic in the moment it unfolds.
It is killing me to not list the lessons I learned from this book, but if I do that I would steal the treasure of this book from you.
Next time you are in a book store, pick up a copy and see if you can put it down.
Then pick up a few more copies because this book would make a great graduation or Christmas present.
Here is a link with quotes from the book. Enjoy*
https://www.goodreads.com/work/quotes/55188-the-tao-of-pooh
