Buncombe Reads Philosophy/Religion: The Tao of Pooh

Taoism, or Daoism, is a religion (or philosophy to some) originating in China and it emphasizes living in harmony with the Tao, meaning “the way”.  While that definition is an oversimplification of Taoism, the Tao of Pooh by Benjamin Hoff is a great little read where the author uses examples from Winnie the Pooh to explain the principles of Taoism.  He also explains these principles by talking to the characters so, for someone unaware of Taoism or needing to start at the beginning, this is a good starter book.

While I don’t think it’s something you would lean heavily on for a deep understanding of Taoism, it does a great job of explaining concepts and I feel like, even if you don’t take to it as a religion, Taoism has some great lessons to teach.  

For me, I feel like Taoism, when taken just as a philosophical ideology, gives principles that I believe put a lot of our worries or concerns into perspective.  It was a calming book and I think Taoism’s principles teach a peaceful path of existence. While Pooh is the example of, for lack of a better word, the more mellow principles in Taoism, the book does a great job of explaining some of the teachings dealing with over-complicating things or over-thinking things or being someone who is constantly busy.

Again, the stories here aren’t meant to be an exhaustive study of Taoism, and even if you don’t adhere to or believe in this religion/philosophy, this little book has some great stories and teachings, give a look at personalities that could hit close to home, or just provide some unique perspectives.