Through his interpretations, he clarifies the loop-holes in the other philosophies or religions as in Confucianism and Buddhism. He claims that Taoism is the only perfect Way and tends to insult many other beliefs and religions while trying to send this message through. The main principles of Taoism studied in this book are the Uncarved Block, the Cottlestone Pie principle, the Pooh Way, That Sort of Bear, and the Great Secret.

The Uncarved Block, also known as P’u, is the idea that “things in their original simplicity contain their own natural power”. Hoff describes all the flaws of the other Winnie the Pooh characters, and how Pooh is the only one that truly holds this principle. To be simpleminded is to know The Way one is meant for. Hoff exemplifies that Pooh can’t describe the essence of the Uncarved Block, because he just is it . That is the nature and meaning of the Uncarved Block.

The Cottlestone Pie principle is another of the important principles of Taoism. This principle can also be described as the idea that “things are as they are”. It is rather similar to the Uncarved Block principle. For example, when Pooh recites each verse to the Cottlestone Pie riddle, he ends each phrase with “Ask me a riddle and I reply: “Cottlestone, Cottlestone, Cottlestone Pie””. The phrase “Cottlestone Pie” symbolizes the idea that “things are as they are”. For example, in one of the verses of the riddle, Pooh says “A fly can’t bird, but a bird can fly”. The answer, of course, is “Cottlestone, Cottlestone, Cottlestone Pie”. Thus, “a fly can’t bird, but a bird can fly”, because “things are as they are”. This is a major Taoist principle, symbolizing “Inner Nature”; “ things are as they are”.

The Pooh Way, or Wu Wei, literally means “without doing, causing, or making”. This principle is based on the idea that when we work with our Inner Nature, and the nature of the things around us, we will learn to go with the flow of life, wasting little effort. In one of Chuang-tse’s writings quoted in the book, he describes an old man that went with the water as a Taoist goes with life: “I go down with the water and come up with the water. I follow it and forget myself. I survive because I don’t struggle against the water’s superior power.”. Thus, the man survives, because he follows the water, symbolizing life, through its ups and downs. He survives because he doesn’t struggle against the water, but rather goes along with it. He survives life because he doesn’t struggle against it, but goes with it. Thus, with little effort, he is happy. “Without doing, causing, or making”, he goes along with life effortlessly and happily.

That Sort of Bear is a principle that states everyone is “special”. To find our Way and what we are made to do best, we must look in our Inner Self. Hoff exemplifies this principle, in a Chinese story he quoted, titled “The Stonecutter”. The stonecutter is a man who was dissatisfied with himself and with his life position. When he finally became what he thought to be “most powerful than anything else on earth”, a rock, he found that there was one flaw that could destroy even a rock; the stonecutter. Thus he realized his old life profession was more valuable than he had put it out to be. This is what the ” That Sort of Bear” principle exemplifies; we are all “special” in our own way and what we must do is find that Way by looking into our Inner Self.

The Great Secret is “the key that unlocks the doors of wisdom, happiness, and truth”. And how would one obtain this Great Secret? Well, all one must do, is nothing. One may observe themselves and the world around them, and do what about it? Nothing. Nothing is after all something. And yet something “is really nothing at all”. This is a sort of indication of what the Taoists call T’ai Hs. This is the Great Nothing. Emptiness and nothingness are the keys to achieving a fresh mind; a mind so clear that it develops fresh, new ideas. After one begins at childhood and gains knowledge through adolescence, advanced adulthood is when they will begin to empty their minds; to reach that childlike state of a fresh mind that produces clear ideas. Like Chuang-tse describes with the character of Yen Hui in yet another passage quoted in the book, when one reaches nothing, they have found the Way. “I forget my body and senses, and leave all appearance and information behind. In the middle of Nothing, I join the Source of All Things.” This is the Great Secret. This is T’ai Hs. This is the Way.

According to Benjamin Hoff, these are the true principles of Taosim. By following them, you become a true Taoist.