Posted by octopusprime on April 8, 2004, at 20:30:44
In reply to What book changed your life?, posted by rainyday on April 5, 2004, at 15:51:43
The book that changed my life was "The Tao of Pooh", by Benjamin Hoff. I highly highly recommend it.
It is a primer on the eastern philosophy of Taoism using parables from Winnie the Pooh. It is a fast read, very accessible, and really gives you a lot to think about.
For example, there is a big section on "The Wisdom of the Small" - which is great for the budding socialist in you. (ok the budding socialist in me :) And of course, there is a lot on the wisdom of doing nothing, the curse of idle busy-ness, the wisdom of going with the flow, and the wisdom of listening to nature and being attuned to one's surroundings. It is a very interesting philosophy for those who want to peacefully co-exist with the universe.
I read this boook again when my grandmother passed away. My grandmother had some lovely AA Milne (Winnie the Pooh) books at her place, and my sister and I would go over and read them. I remember so much "Halfway down the Stairs" and other poems from my childhood. My grandmother, should she have been a Winnie-the-Pooh character, would have been rabbit - when I try to conjure my grandmother's voice in my head, sometimes I just hear Rabbit. When she passed away, they read some Winnie the Pooh at her funeral, and I re-read the Tao of Pooh. And I was comforted by nature coming full circle.
"The Te of Piglet" is also pretty good, but not as world-view-changing as the first book for me.
poster:octopusprime
thread:332966
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/books/20040211/msgs/334300.html