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Winnie-The-Pooh: The Tao of Pooh & the Te of Piglet Paperback – January 1, 2002
- Print length432 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherEgmont Books
- Publication dateJanuary 1, 2002
- Dimensions5.31 x 1.18 x 8.46 inches
- ISBN-109780416199253
- ISBN-13978-0416199253
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Product details
- ASIN : 0416199259
- Publisher : Egmont Books; Anniversary edition (January 1, 2002)
- Language : English
- Paperback : 432 pages
- ISBN-10 : 9780416199253
- ISBN-13 : 978-0416199253
- Item Weight : 1.02 pounds
- Dimensions : 5.31 x 1.18 x 8.46 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #1,066,825 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #772 in Taoist Philosophy
- Customer Reviews:
About the authors
Benjamin Hoff (born 1946) is an American author. He is best known as the author of The Tao of Pooh (1982) and The Te of Piglet (1992). In 2006, he denounced the publishing industry and announced his resignation from book-writing. His book, The Singing Creek Where the Willows Grow, won the American Book Award in 1988.
Bio from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
E.H.Shepard was born in London in 1879. He won a scholarship to the Royal Academy Schools and later worked as an artist, illustrator and cartoonist. Shepard’s witty and loving decorations of Winnie-the-Pooh and his friends in the Hundred Acre Wood have become an inseparable part of the Pooh stories, and classics in their own right.
Customer reviews
Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.
To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.
Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers find the book easy to read and understand. They appreciate the insightful and clever way it presents Taoist principles. Many readers consider it a great value and a good gift for thinking people. The book blends Winnie the Pooh and Taoism in a wonderful way that appeals to both fans and newcomers to the philosophy.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers find the book easy to read and enjoyable. They appreciate the author's writing style and consider it a great addition to their collection. The Tao of Pooh is described as awesome and simple.
"...that get in the way, sooner or later you will discover that simple, childlike, and mysterious secret known to those of the Uncarved Block: Life is..." Read more
"I really like this book. It helped me years ago to be at peace with myself and my current state of life. Now I'm trying to find my way back...." Read more
"...necessary for the author’s difficulties, I found it to be a great read...." Read more
"...But the whole thing is still delightful -- I can hear the voices of the characters in my head as I read, and I love the passages where the author is..." Read more
Customers find the book insightful and helpful for learning Taoist principles. They appreciate its clever way of presenting the wisdom in an easy-to-follow way that puts more emphasis on the philosophy than the religious aspects. The book helps them understand Taoism better and how it can teach them about being content. It also explains concepts well and feels kind and comforting.
"...It is an animation of how a Taoist philosophy is applied to daily situations using the supporting characters of the Hundred Acre Woods, ie Owl,..." Read more
"...Now I'm trying to find my way back. It helped me once and I'm sure it can do it again." Read more
"...It’s not a page turner by any stretch. The author took on a very interesting task in writing it...." Read more
"...The Tao of Pooh feeds my proverbial soul. The follow-up, The Te of Piglet, is a little more... angry?..." Read more
Customers find the book easy to read and understand. They appreciate the simple language that is accessible for young adults and older generations. The content is well-written and an enjoyable, quick read.
"...things that get in the way, sooner or later you will discover that simple, childlike, and mysterious secret known to those of the Uncarved Block:..." Read more
"...Parts of the book are written in conversational form followed by the author’s comparison to the teachings of the Tao...." Read more
"...new to the concept of Taoism, but the author presented it in an easy-to-follow way and put more emphasis on the philosophy part than the religious..." Read more
"...advice from the world's favorite bear and his friends and it's written in a way that makes you smile yet gives you a different, more simplistic..." Read more
Customers appreciate the book's value for money. They find it a worthwhile addition to their collection, with good quality and reasonable prices. Readers mention that the book is easy to understand and useful.
"...It's a very very odd place to be torn. But it was at such a good price, I'm willing to let it go...." Read more
"...This is a real value to a book collection." Read more
"I read this book by reccomendation & it was worth every minute I spent reading it...." Read more
"...If your main purpose is reading and not collecting this is an inexpensive and simple way to get both in one shot...." Read more
Customers enjoy the book. They find it a wonderful blend of Winnie the Pooh and Piglet with Taoism. The book has very mature themes wrapped in the magic of Pooh.
"What a wonderful book! A wonderful blend of Winnie the Pooh and Piglet blended with Taoism. I highly recommend." Read more
"...I haven't read the Te of Piglet, but I thoroughly enjoyed the Tao of Pooh...." Read more
"Love Tao of Pooh and can’t wait to read Te of Piglet!" Read more
"Lovely book with very grown up themes incased in the magic of Pooh." Read more
Customers like the gift value of the book. They say it's a great gift for thinking people and family, friends, and children.
"...over 15 years now, and bought them (as I did here) as gifts for countless numbers of family, friends and children of friends; and have been..." Read more
"...A really great gift or just a boxset for your own enjoyment. I would highly recommend reading these books." Read more
"...A great book for gifts" Read more
"My favorite books combined into one... make an awesome pick me up gift!" Read more
Customers have mixed opinions about the book's heartfeltness. Some find it compassionate, kind, and comforting. Others feel it lacks the same warmth as the previous edition and is less inspiring.
"...Compassion is having tolerance and being able to accept others’ differences. It is understanding that variety is the spice of life...." Read more
"...The second part, The Te of Piglet, is really bitter and ranty whereas the first part is wholesome. Don't get this version." Read more
"...concepts really well and feels, I dunno....kind and comforting and peaceful. It's like getting a big hug. Maybe because it's Pooh and Piglet...." Read more
"...of anxiety and this book helps you see that and, perhaps, find your way to some peace." Read more
Customers have different views on the humor in the book. Some find it funny and playful, while others feel it's too ranty and bitter.
"...Children are inquisitive, open-minded, and playful...." Read more
"...the Te of Piglet is filled with rants raves, imaginary conversations and not very much taoism. It doesn't really even explore the nuances of Te...." Read more
"I love the Tao of Pooh. Very funny and very enlighten read. The Te of Piglet, its sequel, is more challenging to digest." Read more
"Insightful and humorous" Read more
Reviews with images
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The ways to be at peace.
Top reviews from the United States
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- Reviewed in the United States on February 4, 2024The Tao of Pooh is a delightful, allegorical recipe for living a happy life. It is an animation of how a Taoist philosophy is applied to daily situations using the supporting characters of the Hundred Acre Woods, ie Owl, Tigger, Rabbit, Piglet, Eeyore, Roo, Kanga, Christopher Robbin, etc. It is seen in Pooh’s interactions with the thinkers, the chronic complainers, the pessimists, the aggrandizers who don’t know their limitations, the anxious and fearful, the quick-retorters, the know-it-alls, the pontificators, etc. The funny things about the personalities of the characters is that, we can easily recognize some of personality traits in ourselves or others that we interact with. Thus showing that art imitates life.
In the Tao of Pooh, it displays Pooh as simpleminded because he sees/approaches things from a clear mind. By no means is he a simpleton or a dunce. He is simple like a child. Children are inquisitive, open-minded, and playful. It is for that reason that master teacher, Yashua ben Yosef said in Matthew 18:3, unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven (enlightenment). Pooh lives in the present moment. He is compassionate, grateful, and humble.
Pooh constantly operates in his humility, which is the reason things seem to always work out for him. It reinforces the aphorism that until we empty our cup, we cannot see the light (enlightenment) of day. Pooh sees the good in everything. Everyday is Pooh’s favorite day, which a great reminder for us all. For we are told that yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but the present is a gift. Pooh is thoughtful, being that he takes the time to go check on his friends. Pooh’s visits are an anomaly given the paradigm that we leave in, where people are more inclined to connect digitally with others rather than making the effort to go seem them physically.
Reading the Tao of Pooh is analogous to standing in a jewelry store, with the following being some of the pearls I was able to garner while in its presence:
The world is not a setter of traps, but a teacher of valuable lessons.
Happiness in the natural results of a harmonious way of living.
Taoism emphasizes non-interference, where sourness and bitterness come form the interfering and unappreciative mind.
Things in their original simplicity have their own natural power.
One of the important principles of Taoism is the Uncarved Block, which represents things in their natural state.
A negative attitude gets in the way of things like wisdom and happiness, and pretty much prevents any sort of real accomplishment in life.
Eeyore always expected things to fail, which they usually did. It was a great example that we attract what we constantly dwell on. For as a man thinks in his heart so is he.
When you discard arrogance, complexity, and a few other things that get in the way, sooner or later you will discover that simple, childlike, and mysterious secret known to those of the Uncarved Block: Life is Fun.
From the state of the Uncarved Block comes the ability to enjoy the simple and quiet, to do things spontaneously and have them work.
Chapter 81 of the Tao Te Ching says that wise are not learned and learned are not wise. There is a difference between knowledge and wisdom. We live in a time, where many are egotistical. They have to always be right. They walk around with a plethora of facts and preconceived notions. They blindly wear their egotistical knowledge like it is a badge of honor. They carry themselves in such a way to appear/sound intelligent and to be accepted into certain pompous/pretentious circles. Their possession of knowledge is not enlighten others. I call them the withholders and gatekeepers of society. However, wisdom is the ability to apply the knowledge you’ve acquired to make yours or the life of another better. It complements 2 Corinthians 3:6 of the Bible, where it says the letter (fact holders and rigid adherers of knowledge) killeth, but the spirit (wisdom) giveth life.
Everything is connected. So instead of attempting to compartmentalize everything and break them down into disparate pieces, learn to see things wholistically.
Book knowledge is like a black and white picture. However, living and experiencing things is like seeing that same picture animated on a HD television.
Struggling over relatively unimportant matters can make one rather confused
One who is impulsive and a quick-retorter, often does not see the big picture
Compassion is having tolerance and being able to accept others’ differences. It is understanding that variety is the spice of life.
Cleverness has its limitations. Its mechanical judgments and clever remarks tend to prove inaccurate with passing time, because it doesn’t look very deeply into things to begin with.
Chapter 65 of the Tao Te Ching says, For why are the people hard to govern? Because they are too clever! They have knowledge and information. They seem to have all the answers, but can’t solve their own problems or chaos. You can’t tell them anything because they think they know everything.
Inner Nature is thing that makes us all unique.
Things are as they are.
You can find something useful/positive in everything. When people think something is useless it is because they want to make it into something else and don not use it in its proper way. When you don’t understand the purpose of thing, you will abuse it.
Everything has it own place and function.
When you know and respect your own Inner Nature, you know where you belong. You also know where you don’t belong. This is why the ancients admonished us, Man/Woman know thyself!
The wise know their limitations; the foolish do not.
Once you face and understand your limitations, you can work with them, instead of having them work against you and get in your way, which is what you do when you ignore them. Its part of recognizing your Inner Nature and working with Things As They Are.
Work with the gifts that you have
One who has little understanding of themselves, have little respect for themselves, and are therefore easily influenced by others.
The Taoist approach to addressing things that we don’t like about ourselves is to change them into other things, or to use them in beneficial ways. This is blending with the situation or yielding to it instead approaching in a head-on conflict. Chapter 22 of Tao Te Ching says Yield and Overcome, Blend and be straight.
Never overcome force with force, instead its overcome with yielding.
I learned this lesson first-hand one night in Jujitsu class in 2014. A seventeen-year-old kid threw a right haymaker punch at me. I could have attempted to retreat, but I wasn’t moving fast enough and ran a serious risk of getting hit in my jaw. Instead I chose to step into my assailant (yield to the attack, blend with him), raised my left guard up to protect my head, blocked/absorbed the blow, turning into him, I grabbed his left wrist with my left hand, put my right arm under his left armpit, squatted and turned, and threw him over my shoulder, thus learning that those who conquer do so through yielding.
There is no such thing as an ability that is too useless, too crooked, or too small. Small things when done consistently or aggregated over time become big/major/significant. Chapter 64 of Tao Te Ching says, A tree the width of man’s embrace starts as a small shoot, a terrace nine stories high starts a single heap of earth, The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.
Each of us has something Special
The Wise are Who They Are. They work with what they’ve got and do what they can do. My mother always says, do the best you can.
The Tao emphasizes Wu Wei, which means non-interference, not striving, not forcing things, not being combative, or resorting egotistical effort. It teaches not going against the nature of things; no clever tampering; not manipulating things in our favor.
When you try too hard, things don’t work.
The surest way to become tense, awkward, and confused is to develop a mind that tries too hard or one that thinks too much.
Now days we are distracted. We believe that we can “multitask”, where we’re thinking about everything except the task that we’re currently working. This is why people drive fast down the street, thinking about being at the store, going over their grocery list. Then they wonder why accidents occur.
Relax your mind. Don’t overthink things. Allow them to come to you.
Live in the present moment.
Everything adheres to rhythm. Everything has its season. Things happen the right way, at the right time, when we let them.
Using Wu Wei, you go by circumstances and listen to your own intuition. Its only strange when you don’t listen to it.
Wu Wei overcomes force by neutralizing its power, rather than adding to the conflict. For where there are no coals, the fire goes out.
This society is overly consumed with work. People always seem to be running somewhere. However, we should never be so busy that we can’t greet or have a simple conversation with another person. For it is a sure sign that we no longer see each other’s humanity. We have become what Benjamin Hoff labels, a Bisy (Busy) Backson.
We have been convinced that we have to continuously chase great rewards, whether they’re in the sky, around the corner, behind the next molecule, in the executive suite. By doing so we miss enjoying the present moment. We forget to enjoy the beauty of life. We misunderstand that life is about the anticipation of the reward and the journey, instead of the destination. Thinking is such a fashion is a form of working against the natural order of things.
Enjoy the present by enjoying the process.
Music and living aren’t all that different. When we harmonize with, are flexible, or blend with things, they seem to work out beautifully.
When you cannot find peace within yourself, you definitely won’t engage others in peace. As within, so without.
Real progress involves growing and developing, which means changing on the inside.
Take time to sit or be still, empty your mind , find your inner quiet, and hear the Inner Voice. Like Psalms 46:10 says, be still and know that I AM God.
It’s the processes that we undergo that are important, and enjoyment of the process is the secret that erases the myths of the great reward.
Be grateful.
Get out and enjoy your surroundings and being alive.
Everyone is special.
No matter how useful we may be, sometimes it takes us a while to recognize our own value.
Comparison is the thief of all joy.
Use and believe in the power that is within us. The Creator/Infinite Intelligence is within. The kingdom of heaven is within.
Believe in yourself. Take a chance. Discover what you have to contribute to humanity.
The things we need are there already there ; all we need to do is make use of them. This reminds me of how the word education is derived from the Latin word, educare, which means to draw out that which is within.
Be compassionate. Be caring. For those who have no compassion have no wisdom. Knowledge, yes; cleverness, maybe; wisdom, no.
If you want to be happy, you begin by being appreciative of who you are and what you’ve got.
Tao Te Ching Chapter 48 says, To attain knowledge, add things every day. To attain wisdom, remove things everyday. Empty yourself. Humble yourself.
The Tao of Pooh is a little book with myriads of insights that can uplift and change one’s perspective on life. I highly recommend picking up this book. To do so is to return to the beginning, and become like a child again. Remember that the tree that is unbending is easily broken. So be flexible, approach this work as a Taoist would, one page at a time, and you most certainly won’t regret it.
- Reviewed in the United States on December 11, 2024I really like this book. It helped me years ago to be at peace with myself and my current state of life. Now I'm trying to find my way back. It helped me once and I'm sure it can do it again.
5.0 out of 5 starsI really like this book. It helped me years ago to be at peace with myself and my current state of life. Now I'm trying to find my way back. It helped me once and I'm sure it can do it again.The ways to be at peace.
Reviewed in the United States on December 11, 2024
Images in this review
- Reviewed in the United States on March 28, 2023Finally I have been able to read this legendary book. It’s been on my list for over 20 years. I was able to get both Tao of Pooh and Te of Piglet in one paperback copy brand new so grabbed it.
It’s not a page turner by any stretch. The author took on a very interesting task in writing it. Parts of the book are written in conversational form followed by the author’s comparison to the teachings of the Tao. The trouble I found is the voice of Pooh doesn’t always sound exactly like Pooh. The analysis of the Tao not exactly like Tao, but with very little forgiveness necessary for the author’s difficulties, I found it to be a great read. A very difficult topic written so the academic students of Tao could understand his point. Many great take aways.
- Reviewed in the United States on March 14, 2024I am not a religious person, but I have become interested in philosophy and spirituality. The Tao of Pooh feeds my proverbial soul. The follow-up, The Te of Piglet, is a little more... angry? It very much reads like the author was telling me, "Y'all didn't listen to me when I was being subtle, so now I'm going to be more direct." But the whole thing is still delightful -- I can hear the voices of the characters in my head as I read, and I love the passages where the author is talking directly to the characters.
- Reviewed in the United States on July 11, 2024good read
- Reviewed in the United States on January 31, 2024As other reviews have mentioned Te of Piglet fails to live up to the excellence to Tao of Pooh. the Te of Piglet is filled with rants raves, imaginary conversations and not very much taoism. It doesn't really even explore the nuances of Te. So, I would look for a version of Tao of Pooh. Te of Piglet is not worth reading
- Reviewed in the United States on February 6, 2024I love this book so much. It is interesting and gives you cosy safe atmosphere
5.0 out of 5 starsI love this book so much. It is interesting and gives you cosy safe atmosphereCosy relaxed philosophical vibe
Reviewed in the United States on February 6, 2024
Images in this review
- Reviewed in the United States on June 11, 2018The Tao of Pooh was awesome. It really helped me be content with where I am in life at the moment. It stresses a release from ego and being in touch with the flow of the world. I am pretty new to the concept of Taoism, but the author presented it in an easy-to-follow way and put more emphasis on the philosophy part than the religious part.
One common criticism is that it comes off as anti-intellectual at times. I agree to an extent, but it is important to realize that being smart doesn't instantly make your life better. There is no end to the pursuit of knowledge, and while science is a crucial part of modern life, it isn't the key to happiness or a fulfilling life.
I would recommend this to anyone who feels like there is something missing in their life, or for those who struggle to be happy because of depression and/or anxiety.
Top reviews from other countries
- Miss C. L. BoyleReviewed in the United Kingdom on August 5, 2024
5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect quality
This is one of my favourite books of all time. First read it over 20 years ago when it acted as a wake up call, giving me clarity and perspective. Some of the passages stay with me to this day. Calming, heart warming and non judgemental. Ideal read for those who feel they are losing their way, or living with anxiety or depression.
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Jorge EngReviewed in Mexico on May 8, 2020
5.0 out of 5 stars Increible!
me encanto la forma de integrar los personajes y me permitió ampliar mi conocimiento sobre el tao, desafortunadamente solo esta en ingles y japones. aun asi es una gran revelacion como libro
- Claudette Rochon-KennedyReviewed in Canada on December 23, 2018
5.0 out of 5 stars Loved the Tao of Pooh but the Te of Piglet takes too much time to get to the point.
Finish with two days. I totally enjoyed the simplicity of the Tao of Pooh. Although I understood what the Te of Piglet was, the book is more complex to understand than the Tao of Pooh. Too long to get to the point. Like Pooh said, "Long words bother me," this book is unnecessarily too long to get to the point. Taoism is much simpler.
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Cliente de AmazonReviewed in Spain on September 9, 2020
5.0 out of 5 stars Una joya introductoria al taoismo.
Dos libros en uno. Bonita edición y muy bien pensada.
- Anuj SuranaReviewed in India on November 7, 2019
5.0 out of 5 stars Sensible and simple
Indeed a great and rejuvenating read !