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Pooh and the Millennium : In Which the Bear of Very Little Brain Explores the Ancient Mysteries at the Turn of the Century
It is a universal truth that Winnie-the-Pooh is among the most important beings of the twentieth century. His influence on Western philosophy and on Eastern thought has been well documented. In this witty, scholarly book, John Tyerman Williams sees the dawning of the new millennium as a moment for a major revelation: At the heart of the Ancient Mysteries sits Winnie-the-Pooh.
In astrology, alchemy, the interpretation of the tarot -- even Arthurian legend -- the scope of Pooh's influence far exceeds what even his most ardent admirers have hereto-fore believed. The arguments are amusing and irrefutable.
This entertaining volume makes it clear that the World of Pooh is spiritually and mentally infinite, equal in stature to the great mythical worlds. It is a Very Comforting Thought to have as we meander through the Hundred Acre Wood, right into the twenty-first century.
--front flap
In astrology, alchemy, the interpretation of the tarot -- even Arthurian legend -- the scope of Pooh's influence far exceeds what even his most ardent admirers have hereto-fore believed. The arguments are amusing and irrefutable.
This entertaining volume makes it clear that the World of Pooh is spiritually and mentally infinite, equal in stature to the great mythical worlds. It is a Very Comforting Thought to have as we meander through the Hundred Acre Wood, right into the twenty-first century.
--front flap
243 pages, Hardcover
First published October 2, 1997
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
August 3, 2019
I will be very honest with you: I didn't finish this. I couldn't.
As someone who spent 6 years as an English major, I am all about drawing correlations between texts and building up an argument. I'm especially for the creation of really compelling arguments, ones that make you see texts in a whole new light. This book… definitely does that, though not in a way that I can take seriously. I honestly thought it was satire by page two. Is that too harsh? (Looking back on this years later, it just has to be satire. Brilliant if it is.)
Let's put it this way: I respect the author's assertions that Pooh displays some very compelling philosophical practices. The Tao of Pooh, for example, made a very charming argument that I gravitated to and appreciated. This one, however… really reaches. Even Williams says that it's so simple that all he has to do is show the basic symbolisms and correlations that prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that Pooh is actually the grand master of truth. That's all it becomes: the honey pot is the alchemic pot, honey is gold, gold is the goal, Pooh goes up, up is enlightenment, he comes down, down is earth… It's so simple, you can't deny it! Therefore of course it must be true!
It's the way that Williams does this that grates on me. There are so many moments where he says "Other readers would draw a simplistic and lowly conclusion that Pooh is being greedy and stupid here, but this is absurd because my opinion is clearly right!" It's one thing to disagree with someone or a group of people, but he doesn't do it with any grace. He is right, the others are of low intellectual quality and are wrong, and that is that. What really got on my nerves was how Williams asserts from the very beginning that Milne's intentions were to usher us into the second millennia. It's not a suggestion, but an outright assertion that Williams makes: this was the intention of Milne. How? How do you know this? (Unless he has spoken with Milne himself, he doesn't.)
And oh, the reaching. There are far too many moments where very basic things are blown out of proportion, such as the illustration with Pooh sitting on the edge of Christopher Robin's bath. The illustrator has him looking up and away, as if, Williams feels, in some sort of rapt mystic trance. …or he could just be a stuffed bear sitting on the edge of a bath tub.
There were plenty of compelling moments in the text, such as the assumed star signs of the characters, and a moment where Pooh is sitting on a rock looking at a dragonfly, drawing a correlation between the closeness of the constellations of the Dragon and the Great Bear. Cool! I thought. But past that, I just cannot get into the alchemy, the druids, the feminine mysteries… it goes on and on and on. I'm all for viewing Pooh as an example for us all, but this? This was just far too much... unless, of course, that's the point.
As someone who spent 6 years as an English major, I am all about drawing correlations between texts and building up an argument. I'm especially for the creation of really compelling arguments, ones that make you see texts in a whole new light. This book… definitely does that, though not in a way that I can take seriously. I honestly thought it was satire by page two. Is that too harsh? (Looking back on this years later, it just has to be satire. Brilliant if it is.)
Let's put it this way: I respect the author's assertions that Pooh displays some very compelling philosophical practices. The Tao of Pooh, for example, made a very charming argument that I gravitated to and appreciated. This one, however… really reaches. Even Williams says that it's so simple that all he has to do is show the basic symbolisms and correlations that prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that Pooh is actually the grand master of truth. That's all it becomes: the honey pot is the alchemic pot, honey is gold, gold is the goal, Pooh goes up, up is enlightenment, he comes down, down is earth… It's so simple, you can't deny it! Therefore of course it must be true!
It's the way that Williams does this that grates on me. There are so many moments where he says "Other readers would draw a simplistic and lowly conclusion that Pooh is being greedy and stupid here, but this is absurd because my opinion is clearly right!" It's one thing to disagree with someone or a group of people, but he doesn't do it with any grace. He is right, the others are of low intellectual quality and are wrong, and that is that. What really got on my nerves was how Williams asserts from the very beginning that Milne's intentions were to usher us into the second millennia. It's not a suggestion, but an outright assertion that Williams makes: this was the intention of Milne. How? How do you know this? (Unless he has spoken with Milne himself, he doesn't.)
And oh, the reaching. There are far too many moments where very basic things are blown out of proportion, such as the illustration with Pooh sitting on the edge of Christopher Robin's bath. The illustrator has him looking up and away, as if, Williams feels, in some sort of rapt mystic trance. …or he could just be a stuffed bear sitting on the edge of a bath tub.
There were plenty of compelling moments in the text, such as the assumed star signs of the characters, and a moment where Pooh is sitting on a rock looking at a dragonfly, drawing a correlation between the closeness of the constellations of the Dragon and the Great Bear. Cool! I thought. But past that, I just cannot get into the alchemy, the druids, the feminine mysteries… it goes on and on and on. I'm all for viewing Pooh as an example for us all, but this? This was just far too much... unless, of course, that's the point.
June 17, 2022
Am I, too, an Ursinologist?! 🧸
Because I love all things Pooh I was intrigued, but I have a much harder time seeing Pooh as the Great Magus of astrology and alchemy (etc.) than I do seeing Taoism in the classic script (see previous posts The Tao of Pooh and The Te of Piglet).
With the repeated use of such words as “clearly” and “obviously” and phrases such as “this leaves very little doubt,” I DID become doubtful and a little offended at his treatment of the audience: is the author trying to trick us, or trying to be funny? In the end I simply let most of it go over my head (since I don’t otherwise study the Tarot, for example). Do you think our Bear of Very Little Brain would be pleased with me? I, for one, don’t think he would be disappointed!
Take away: anyone can twist anything into supporting whatever it is they already believe or want to believe. But I will concede to agree with this: “Any interpretation hostile to Winnie-the-Pooh is self-evidently illegitimate” (86). 😅
This was a pretty fast read, however (perhaps bc I just wanted to get it over with), and included lots of the original art (which I love to see). But the author’s arguments did not make sense, did not convince, and on the whole read like gibberish; frankly I don’t think it was even meant to be a serious work.
1/5 ⭐️
If you want to delve into Pooh Bear scholarship (yes, that’s a thing!), then you can join me and we’ll have these conversations! ☺️ Until then I’ll just keep regretfully wishing A.A. Milne had written a book about all the hidden meanings within his Masterpiece himself, so we wouldn’t have to put up with this sort of nonsense!
P.S. After I’ve exhausted the mind of Pooh (and I haven’t yet!), I do want to read biographies on Milne and on his illustrator, E.H. Shepard, so if you have any recs please send them my way! 💛💛💛
Because I love all things Pooh I was intrigued, but I have a much harder time seeing Pooh as the Great Magus of astrology and alchemy (etc.) than I do seeing Taoism in the classic script (see previous posts The Tao of Pooh and The Te of Piglet).
With the repeated use of such words as “clearly” and “obviously” and phrases such as “this leaves very little doubt,” I DID become doubtful and a little offended at his treatment of the audience: is the author trying to trick us, or trying to be funny? In the end I simply let most of it go over my head (since I don’t otherwise study the Tarot, for example). Do you think our Bear of Very Little Brain would be pleased with me? I, for one, don’t think he would be disappointed!
Take away: anyone can twist anything into supporting whatever it is they already believe or want to believe. But I will concede to agree with this: “Any interpretation hostile to Winnie-the-Pooh is self-evidently illegitimate” (86). 😅
This was a pretty fast read, however (perhaps bc I just wanted to get it over with), and included lots of the original art (which I love to see). But the author’s arguments did not make sense, did not convince, and on the whole read like gibberish; frankly I don’t think it was even meant to be a serious work.
1/5 ⭐️
If you want to delve into Pooh Bear scholarship (yes, that’s a thing!), then you can join me and we’ll have these conversations! ☺️ Until then I’ll just keep regretfully wishing A.A. Milne had written a book about all the hidden meanings within his Masterpiece himself, so we wouldn’t have to put up with this sort of nonsense!
P.S. After I’ve exhausted the mind of Pooh (and I haven’t yet!), I do want to read biographies on Milne and on his illustrator, E.H. Shepard, so if you have any recs please send them my way! 💛💛💛
May 20, 2021
Boken förklarar flera fenomen och teorier och är bra som allmänbildande medel om man vill lära sig mera om till exempel alkemister.
Dock är kopplingarna till Nalle Puh långsökta, tvingade ibladn så löst baserade att de verkar dragna rakt ur luften. Man får intrycket av att Williams med våld tvingar teorier, filosofier och tankesätt på berättelsen om Nalle Puh vilket inte ger ett bra intryck. Det känns som två plussidor av en magnet som var för sig har positiva egenskaper men som inte kan sammanföras med ett gott resultat.
Jag har mycket svårt att tänka mig att Milne själv har placerat ut alla dessa faktorer som han lyfter fram och att han har i åtanke att de ska representera samma sak som Williams ser. Till exempel baseras en stor del av kapitlet om hermetismen endast på två rader i själva berättelsen, där Puh använder ett barns logik. Kopplingarna och argumenten känns alltså mycket lösryckta. Att de många hänvisningarna och bilderna på träd skulle betyda att Puh är druid känns också långsökt då de ändå bor i en skog; vad skulle finnas där om inte träd? Dock gillade jag kopplingen till Arthursagan som Williams gör.
Dessutom verkar Williama lyfta upp sig själv som en gud för att han har uppmärksammat dessa saker och trycker gång efter annan ner läsare som är skeptiska och näst intill rakt ut kallar dem ignoranta och idiotiska.
Dock är kopplingarna till Nalle Puh långsökta, tvingade ibladn så löst baserade att de verkar dragna rakt ur luften. Man får intrycket av att Williams med våld tvingar teorier, filosofier och tankesätt på berättelsen om Nalle Puh vilket inte ger ett bra intryck. Det känns som två plussidor av en magnet som var för sig har positiva egenskaper men som inte kan sammanföras med ett gott resultat.
Jag har mycket svårt att tänka mig att Milne själv har placerat ut alla dessa faktorer som han lyfter fram och att han har i åtanke att de ska representera samma sak som Williams ser. Till exempel baseras en stor del av kapitlet om hermetismen endast på två rader i själva berättelsen, där Puh använder ett barns logik. Kopplingarna och argumenten känns alltså mycket lösryckta. Att de många hänvisningarna och bilderna på träd skulle betyda att Puh är druid känns också långsökt då de ändå bor i en skog; vad skulle finnas där om inte träd? Dock gillade jag kopplingen till Arthursagan som Williams gör.
Dessutom verkar Williama lyfta upp sig själv som en gud för att han har uppmärksammat dessa saker och trycker gång efter annan ner läsare som är skeptiska och näst intill rakt ut kallar dem ignoranta och idiotiska.
June 28, 2026
Tässä kirjassa esiintyvän kirsikanpoiminnan laajuus on tajunnanräjäyttävää. Opus on kuin opas miten vetää yhtäläisyyksiä minkä tahansa satunnaisten asioiden välille. Kenties se oli tarkoituskin. Tekstin tyyli ja sävy joiltain kohdin puoltaisivat sitä tulkintaa mutta kokonaisuus ja osan tulkinnoista vakuuttavuus taas eivät.
Vaikka kirja on totaalista hölynpölyähän pullollaan (alkuperäisiä upeita Nalle-Puh -sitaatteja lukuun ottamatta), silti viihdyin tarpeeksi, että onnistuin lukemaan tekeleen yhdessä vuorokaudessa loppuun saakka. Koin vieläpä oppineenikin jotakin, mutta en kuitenkaan osaa suunnata sormeani osoittaakseni mitä. Kenties jotakin siitä, miten satiirin satiirius tulisi olla tarpeeksi ilmeistä, ja siitä, miten lukijan halua suojella ylpeyttään voidaan käyttää, jotta saadaan laihimmatkin perustelut näyttämään tukevammilta
– ja sitten jotakin muinaisista mysteereistä.
Niin taikka näin, suosittelen lukeman tämän sijasta ihka-alkuperäistä Nalle-Puhia.
Vaikka kirja on totaalista hölynpölyähän pullollaan (alkuperäisiä upeita Nalle-Puh -sitaatteja lukuun ottamatta), silti viihdyin tarpeeksi, että onnistuin lukemaan tekeleen yhdessä vuorokaudessa loppuun saakka. Koin vieläpä oppineenikin jotakin, mutta en kuitenkaan osaa suunnata sormeani osoittaakseni mitä. Kenties jotakin siitä, miten satiirin satiirius tulisi olla tarpeeksi ilmeistä, ja siitä, miten lukijan halua suojella ylpeyttään voidaan käyttää, jotta saadaan laihimmatkin perustelut näyttämään tukevammilta
– ja sitten jotakin muinaisista mysteereistä.
Niin taikka näin, suosittelen lukeman tämän sijasta ihka-alkuperäistä Nalle-Puhia.
March 20, 2020
In Which Pooh is revealed to be Magus, Druid, and Esoteric Spiritual Leader.
This book is fascinating for anyone who loves Pooh as I do. At many times, it seemed as though the author was so desiring the story to display esoteric traits that he almost plucked them from thin air. It reads like a persuasive essay where the author will prove his point at all costs. A very entertaining and clever essay, to be sure, but simple persuasion all the same. Throughout, one wonders whether Milne consciously placed all the symbols that the author expounds upon. I do plan to investigate this possibility, but I believe that the symbolism simply comes from the inherent classicism and mythology of Pooh's world, not purposeful esoteric teaching from Milne.
This book is fascinating for anyone who loves Pooh as I do. At many times, it seemed as though the author was so desiring the story to display esoteric traits that he almost plucked them from thin air. It reads like a persuasive essay where the author will prove his point at all costs. A very entertaining and clever essay, to be sure, but simple persuasion all the same. Throughout, one wonders whether Milne consciously placed all the symbols that the author expounds upon. I do plan to investigate this possibility, but I believe that the symbolism simply comes from the inherent classicism and mythology of Pooh's world, not purposeful esoteric teaching from Milne.
August 4, 2024
Found on the shelves of a used book store in Maine, this book was written to be enjoyed on a deck during your summer vacation. At last, I know that I am not merely a fan of The Great Bear, but a true Ursinologist. The scales covering my eyes have been lifted, and I better understand the wondrous messages Milne shared in the guise of a children's book.
I just wonder if Williams experienced much pain with his tongue planted so firmly in his cheek?
I just wonder if Williams experienced much pain with his tongue planted so firmly in his cheek?
September 6, 2017
This book deserves no stars.
August 5, 2020
A fun silly light read it was delightful.
January 29, 2025
This seems like a tongue in cheek joke that went way too far. The author is clearly brilliant and well-read, but I'm not sure what the point was.
Read
May 28, 2024jaa...
October 11, 2009
Kirjaa ei toki ole tarkoitettu otettavaksi mitenkään vakavasti, mutta en todellakaan näe tällaiselle hömpälle mitään tarvetta. Tuntuu, että kirjailija ratsastaa Milnen upeilla tarinoilla ja yhdistelee niihin löyhästi ties mitä taikauskoisia assosiaatioita, joita toki sopiikin asettaa naurunalaiseksi. Ongelma on vain siinä, että nauru on vähissä, Puh-lainauksia lukuunottamatta. Lisäksi pintapuoliset raapaisut eivät edes tuota tarpeeksi pseudotietoa kirjailijan tutkimuksista, mikä olisi voinut hieman lieventää lukijan huijatuksi tulemisen tunnetta.
Ei olisi pitänyt lukea, ainakaan loppuun asti.
Ei olisi pitänyt lukea, ainakaan loppuun asti.
January 12, 2013
There's REALLY nothing to this. I thought when I picked it up at the book store it was going to be something like Tao of Pooh - boy, was I both wrong and disappointed. It's a bunch of non-sense that drones on without end (until you give up on it at least). I'm not buying the various Pooh characters are attached and driven by astrological signs no more than I think I am. Even for a New Age believer, this book is a long stretch on having any value. I'm surprised Milne's estate hasn't stepped in on this.
November 29, 2015
Enjoyed this volume a lot! Not to be taken seriously or scrutinized too closely, but the author's satire of the established vocabulary and formula for criticism is amusing. I especially enjoyed Chapter 10 on Kanga and the parallels between Roo's kidnapping and the Persephone myth.
aabandoned
November 10, 2021Had picked it up hoping for something similar to Benjamin Hoff’s ‘Tao of Pooh’ and ‘Te of Piglet’.
However, I just couldn’t get through what was either absurdism and satire or someone who was entirely too deep into the esoteric.
However, I just couldn’t get through what was either absurdism and satire or someone who was entirely too deep into the esoteric.
Currently Reading
June 2, 2010Interesting read, projects Pooh Bear as the Great Bear, all knowing and full of wisdom based on his love of honey. Sounds good to me. anything golden, sticky and tasty has to be good.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews