The Tao of Pooh and The Te of Piglet by Benjamin Hoff

Benjamin Hoff is the author of the Taoism books, The Tao of Pooh and The Te of Piglet. Both books bring entertaining insight into the eastern philosophical movement that it Taoism. The Oxford Dictionary describes Taoism as "a Chinese philosophy based on the writings of Lao-tzu advocating humility and religious piety". It goes on to say, "Taoism emphasizes inner contemplation and mystical union with nature; wisdom, learning, and purposive action should be abandoned in favor of simplicity and wu-wei". To me, Taoism has its place, sometimes we do just need to step back and let things take their course, while at other times we need to stand up for what is right. Whether you like the idea of Taoism or not, these books are both informative and entertaining.

The Tao of Pooh
This book deals with the mannerisms and characteristics of Pooh, otherwise known as Winnie-the-Pooh. The author correlates many of Pooh's ideals with those of Taoism and explains how Pooh embodies much of the philosophy. Hoff describes Pooh as an, effortlessly calm, still, reflective bear". One of my favorite excerpts from the book is the tale of the stone cutter, a man who went through life wishing he had a different societal status, and when he achieved it, he would wish for a different societal status, until his life came full circle and he realized that his status was just as important as any other. The tale shows that appreciation for what we have can go a long way, look at what wonderful blessings you have around you before wishing to be someone else.

The Te of Piglet
This book reflects of the virtues of Piglet. His compassion for others and willingness to help makes him a wonderful character in the Winnie-the-Pooh series. My favorite story from this book is the tale of the Great Separation. It depicts the world when humans and animals lived in harmony, but when man's ego began to get in the way, nature banished him and man started to struggle with life. As man began to struggle more, he began to fight his own kind and enslave his fellow man. The story shows that the more man struggles against nature, the unhappier he becomes.

Both books are amusing, interesting, and insightful. Benjamin Hoff shows Taoism from a perspective that I never looked into and the books were refreshing reads! I definitely recommend these books for anyone looking to learn more about Taoism.

Works Cited

Hoff, Benjamin. The Tao of Pooh. New York: Penguin Books, 1983.

Hoff, Benjamin. The Te of Piglet. New York: Penguin Books, 1993.

"Taoism". Merriam Webster Online Dictionary. 2008. Merriam Webster. 2 Feb. 2008.