Rating: 
Summary: Fun twist on the 100 Acre Wood
Review: I doubt A.A. Milne ever thought his characters would be a launching point for teaching Taoism! Hoff does a great job at using characters familiar to most of us to teach a thought system unfamiliar to many of us in the West. This book is a fun look at a different worldview.
Rating: 
Summary: A simple reminder
Review: If you are already a Taoist, this book will serve as a cute reminder of "the Way". If you are not familiar with Taoist principles, you may find this a bit too brief to really understand Taoism. I recommend "365 Tao: Daily Meditations" by Deng Ming-Dao, for daily reminders and teachings.
Rating:
Summary: The philosophy of a Chinese bear with very little brain
Review: "What's this book about?" I asked."Well," said Pooh, "it's about me." "Well, I knew that - after all, the book is called 'The Tao of Pooh'," I said. "But it has to be more than that." "It's about what I do and how I do it," said Pooh. "Not about WHY you do it?" I asked. "Not really," responded Pooh. "I do things because they seem to be the Right Thing to Do at the time I do them." "Isn't that sort of like the Tao?" I asked. "I suppose so," said Pooh. I don't know very much about Taoism myself, but this to me seems to be an excellent introduction to the subject. It's a tad confusing, which is why I give it only four stars. I hope that there are other books out there that are just as small and just as complex as "The Tao of Pooh". "The WHAT of Pooh?" asked Pooh. "'The Tao of Pooh'," I said. "It sounded like you said 'The OW! of Pooh'," said Pooh. "Isn't this conversation in the book?" I asked. "Oh, yes," said Pooh. "So it is."
Rating: 
Summary: The Tao of Pooh
Review: This book is the best available introduction to taoism. If you don't like this book, you won't appreciate taoism.
Rating: 
Summary: Why the Negativity??
Review: I was searching for a basic introduction to Tao, and being a Pooh lover from way back thought that this would be a good place to start. While I learned some of what I was searching for - the focus on nature and simplicity - there was a recurring tone of negativity that bothered me to the point that I couldn't enjoy the book. What troubled me is this: Hoff repeatedly illustrates the virtues of his chosen philosophy/religion by denigrating other religions. I'm not much of a fan of "organized religion", so the thought of criticizing other religions doesn't upset me per se: it's just that I find no place for it in a book like this. This should be about the uplifting, enlightening spiritual values of Tao. The recurring stabs at what he obviously views as competing philosophies struck a very discordant tone. I couldn't get past this to enjoy the educational elements of the book.
Rating:
Summary: Pooh isn't just for kids!
Review: As a lover of the Winnie the Pooh stories, I was intrigued by the idea of using the characters to teach Taoism, something that may be a little difficult for people who have never heard of it to understand at first. A friend loaned me the book, and I had to buy a copy of it for myself later! Besides teaching Taoism, the reader begins to see how the beloved characters reflect who we are. Suddenly, Christopher Robin seems to be wise indeed to have chosen such wonderful friends. In my house, we have already determined that I am a Pooh (although with a strange Tigger streak at times) and my husband is definitely Eeyore. Any adult who has ever lost him or herself in the Hundred Acre Wood and not wanted to come back should read this book.
Rating:
Summary: Somebody Has to Bash this Book...
Review: Somebody has to bash this book and I guess it's going to be me. Now get this straight before I saw anything: I like Pooh and I like Taoism. I don't attack the subject matter of this book. However, I attack the style, misrepresentation of religions (other than Taoism), and the misrepresentation of Pooh in this book. Although I can see this book was intended for young adults, I find the style condescending, as if Hoff thinks he's speaking to the uneducated masses waiting for enlightenment. There is definitely the feel of being taught by a teacher in elementary school as one reads this book. Furthermore, while some might find the childishness of Hoff "delightful", I found it nothing of the sort. I thought the book was boring and tedious. I don't know why people enjoy this book when there are real philosophy books out there, like the wonderful "Zen and Art of Motorcyle Maintenence". Most disturbing about this book was its misrepresentation of other religions and its general condemnation of non-Taoist thought. For a young-adults book, I've never seen pages so loaded with mind-narrowing prejudice! His treatment of Buddhism and Confucianism are ludicrous and disturbingly inaccurate. I'll leave it to the reader to find the obvious discrepencies between Hoff's imaginary philosophies and the real philosophies he attempts to describe. Further, I've never felt so insulted by a book as this; his virtually says that all scholars are fools. Does everyone passively accept that being enlightened requires ignorance? I sure as heck don't! Finally, Pooh was the unfortunate mascot Hoff manipulated to give credibility to his views. Hoff would ask a question to Pooh and Pooh would respond by condemning certain schools of thought. The real Pooh would never do that! Pooh is a simple and non-offensive character who gets along with the world because of both of these qualities. In short, I was morally offended by this book many consider to be a classic, and I think Hoff should have learned some lessons from childrens' books with good messages before he wrote this loaded polemic.
Rating:
Summary: Best book on Tao ever
Review: I picked this book up at a used bookstore because it was cute. It turned into much more than that. Hoff presents the Tao in a simple way, just like it should be presented. This book is simple enough to be read to a child but complex enough for the most intelectual adults to read over and over again. I highly recomend it for anyone who is well familiar with taoism or to anyone who is just curious about it. Also highly recomended for anyone who wants a feel good read.
Rating:
Summary: Practical Wisdom
Review: Desiring an understanding of Taoism lead me to The Tao of Pooh. Unexpectedly, Pooh metamorphised into some sort of mythological character. Distancing myself I could understand how this may appear to be a novelty. But I assure you, it is not. Through Pooh Hoff explains the tenets of Taosim. I was impressed with the philosophical and practical points presented. Though I felt, and this was probably be design, that there is more. That Taoism demands further study. In any event, an excellant introductory. Pooh just it.
Rating:
Summary: Taoism through conversation with Winnie the Pooh
Review: I make all my close friends read this book or I get it for them for gifts. This is a must read in order to be my friend. I love this book because you can pick it up when you aren't feeling good and read any chapter. It makes so much sense and its so easy but its so hard to keep applying to our daily lives and Pooh makes us be able to laugh at ourselves for stressing about it. Read this book. Make your friends read this book. The more people that do, the friendlier this place will be. Less road rage, less superficial people and hopefully more people that reason like Pooh and you.
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