TOW#12 IRB post the Tao of Pooh

“The Tao of Pooh”? More like the How of Tao. Benjamin Hoff’s novel, “The Tao of Pooh”, explains the ins and outs of Taoism though his talks with a popular character of literature, Winney the Pooh. By alluding to this well-known children’s book character and including many anecdotes from his stories, Hoff offers a more approachable view of Taoism for the common man. Throughout the entirety of this book, Hoff is often having conversations with Pooh bear. Every time Hoff talks to Pooh, Pooh has questions about Taoism, and Hoff answers him by explaining it in simple terms. For example, in the first chapter Pooh asks what Taoism is, and instead of answering him by explaining the different social policies and lifestyles that apply to Taoism he shows Pooh a paining and build off of the visual representation. This puts the ideals of in easy to swallow tidbits. Most people are afraid to step out of their comfort zone of western religion, let alone consider Taoism. Hoff talks to Pooh, a very popular figure in many children’s lives, to lighten the mood to make it seem happier and funnier than a social idealism. By alluding to Pooh it makes Taoism seem simple, something that even the simplest of living things can do. Pooh also changes the way that Hoff explains the practices of Taoism to make them seem simpler. By dumbing it down it not only makes it easier for Pooh to understand, but also easier for his audience to comprehend. He also includes many excerpts from Winney the Pooh stories. These anecdotes serve almost the same purpose as Pooh himself, to give the audience something to identify with. By comparing the Taoist teachings to something from their own lives, it makes the material much easier for the audience to digest. This insight into the workings of Taoism would not have been effective at all without the inclusion of one of the most well know figures in childhood literature.