I got this copy to replace and restart a ring I was on where the book has gotten lost. Priority to this ring will go to people signed up for the old ring first.

Join this Ring!

I'm starting this one to replace PHC's that went missing en route. PM me with your BCID, location and mailing preferences.

The participants so far are:

1. caligula03 -- CA, USA, (Me!)
   
2. 16stepper -- AZ, USA
   
3. NorgeGirl -- Canada, North America only
   
4. nwpassage (aka compscigirl), Canada, anywhere
   
5. billhookbabe -- UK, UK
   
6. Scarlett17 -- UK, anywhere
   
7. symphonicca, Austria, Europe only
   
8. caracas -- Germany, anywhere?
   
9. mnog -- Portugal, anywhere
   
10. Lizabeth86 -- CT, USA
    
11. kelwood -- OH, USA
    
12. Mokona -- MI, USA, anywhere
    
13. stardustedangel -- NC, USA, USA only
    
14. caligula03 -- home to me. :)
    

The Tao of Pooh is an odd mixture of literary criticism and philosophy. Hoff uses the A. A. Milne books to deconstruct the writings of Lao-tse. In turn he deconstructs Lao-tse's Tao Te Ching to reconstruct Milne's books. Orchestrating this exchange of ideas is the author as he converses with Pooh and the other characters from the Hundred Acre Woods. By "Bisy Backson" chapter, Hoff's thesis runs out of steam. "Bisy Backson" goes from being a clever mixture of criticism and allegory to just being a disconnected rant about the evils of modern life. For a more interesting cautionary tale on this subject, I recommend Momo by Michael Ende. To get the most enjoyment out of The Tao of Pooh, savor the first five chapters, skim the next two and then go back to savoring at "Nowhere and Nothing."

Release planned for Saturday, June 26, 2004 at 16stepper in n/a, n/a Controlled Releases.

Mailing on Saturday.

Received this ray today. Can't wait to read it! Putting on the stack o' rays.

A fun, if fluffy, introduction to Taoism containing good life lessons for non-Taoists. My favorite chapter was Cottleson Pie, especially because it featured my favorite Pooh character, the Heffalump. Will be mailing this on to the next person in line as soon as I have an addy. Thanks for starting this again, although I got a PM over the weekend saying that the original ring book had been found in a used bookstore by another bookcrosser! Imagine!

***NorgeGirl has passed.

Released on Tuesday, January 11, 2005 at about 3:00:00 PM BX time (GMT-06:00) Central Time (US & Canada) at Bookring in Bookring, A Bookring Controlled Releases.

RELEASE NOTES:

Into the air and winging its way to Canada.

Book arrived today! I will try and get it read & on its way again by next week. Thanks caligula03 (originator) and 16stepper (who mailed it here)!

Done! This is a quick, easy read. I was a little worried that I wouldn't "get it" because I've never read any of the Winnie the Pooh books, and know nothing about Tao. But the book was very accessible. I found it fun and charming. I will definitely keep an eye open for a copy for my PC, and would be more open to reading the Winnie the Pooh books now, as well as other books about Tao.

I will have this on its way again as soon as I can get an address for the next in line.

Mailed today! The post office said it'll take about 6 weeks to get "across the pond" as they say.

This gem arived today, hope to get to it by the middle of April, if not before.

What a sweet little book, and such a gentle introduction to Toaism. I enjoyed applying some of the lessons to myself.

Off it goes now to Scarlett17.

Many thank for sharing caligula

I didn't learn much about Taoism, but re-visiting Winnie the Pooh was a delight. I've always been a Pooh fan, especially because of his simple naive beliefs. I never realised that that was because he was into Chinese philosophy! Here I was thinking he was merely a loveable bear of very little brain, and all along he was a follower of eastern wisdom. I consider myself corrected!

Got this in the mail last week, but was in Halifax visiting my sister so didn't get it until now.... sorry for the delay!! :) Am reading " American Gods" right now, and then will be on to this little gem. Thanks for passing it along--- will get to it quickly!

Hmmm... so did I like this book? I thought it was cute, quirky. A quick read more or less. However, do I feel like I have a good impression of Taoism, or about Pooh? Not really. I agree with some of the previous readers that this book just runs out of steam at the end, and feels quite jumbled and unfocussed.

I also took exception to how the author seemed to almost ridicule or chortle at other religions and their take on the world--- As well as other people and their ways of existing. While there are different ways of doing things, and there are more and less efficient ways of doing them, I felt like he was making those who do not follow taoism to be thick or stupid, instead of simply out of the loop.

I say this, not as one affiliated with a religion at all. I am a spitiualist i guess, at heart, in that I think there are lots of ways to appreciate the good in the world and its people. And this book just reinforced my reasons for thinking this way--- often the moment you have a religious label ascribed to you, you have to think others are dumb and misguided, at the least, or heathens and sinners, at the worst. Either way, not my cup of tea really.

Anyway, all this to say that I didn't mind the book, but thought I was going to enjoy it way more than I did. Too much self-rightousness about taoism, too much intolerance of those who don't ascribe to its principles, and too chaotic in the author's thesis and goals for the book. However, I am still happy i got to read it once and for all, and figure out for myself what I thought.

I've PMed the next in line--- will send it on when i hear from them! Thanks caligula03! :)

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June 2: Still haven't heard from caracas so have PMed mnog--- fingers crossed she answers. Otherwise, I'll try the next!

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July 9: After a long delay and finally getting an address from someone, sent off this morning to Kelwood. Thanks for getting back to me so quickly, Kelwood, and sorry to all for the delay! :)

This arrived while I was on vacation so I'm just getting around to catching up on bookcrossing - not to mention laundry. I'm interested to see what Pooh has to say, since he is one of my all-time favorites. Plus, I already see that one of my favorite quotes is in here - "You can't help respecting anyone who can spell Tuesday, even if he doesn't spell it right; but spelling isn't everything. There are days when spelling Tuesday simply doesn't count."

I think I liked reading the Pooh parts as much as the Taoism parts. I love the story of Pooh and Piglet and Rabbit getting lost. Pooh finally gets hungry and leads Piglet to safetly by listening to his honey pots. (I get that way with chocolate chip cookies!) Rabbit, who thinks way too much, is totally lost of course. Many good life lessons to be gained from Pooh.

Released today via media mail to Mokona who is just up the road from me. Enjoy!

Yay! Arrived today, and I will get started asap. Thank you so much! :)

RELEASE NOTES:

Mailing back to caligula03!

Thanks again for sharing this book! :)

Thank you everyone for a successful ring! :)

RELEASE NOTES:

To the meeting.