In his formative years, Benjamin Hoff spent significant time reading, drawing upon influence from his parents, who were both avid readers. Although he had never sought writing as a formal profession, the opportunity was serendipitous; his first published work occurred when he was in the third grade as a school newsletter contributor. As time progressed, Mr. Hoff’s foray into the world of writing led him to serve as an investigative reporter in his adult years, followed by opportunities as a scriptwriter, tree pruner, songwriter, singer and guitarist. He received a Bachelor of Arts from Evergreen State College in 1973 to supplement his professional ventures.
Mr. Hoff’s first book, “The Tao of Pooh,” was published in 1982, and soon became renowned for its innovative approach to Taoism. One decade later, he wrote “The Te of Piglet.” In both books, Mr. Hoff utilized the fictional characters of Pooh and Piglet to explain the Chinese philosophy of Taoism. Notably, they remained on The New York Times’ bestseller list for 49 weeks and 59 weeks, respectively. Mr. Hoff penned “The Singing Creek Where the Willows Grow: The Rediscovered Diary of Opal Whiteley” in 1986, a biography of the author and nature educator, Opal Whiteley. The book quickly rose to prominence as a classic analysis of Whiteley’s life and work, garnering Mr. Hoff an American Book Award in 1988. The book was republished as “The Singing Creek Where the Willows Grow: The Mystical Nature Diary of Opal Whiteley” in 1995.
Most recently, Mr. Hoff wrote “The Eternal Tao Te Ching,” which will be available for purchase on December 7, 2021. He was listed in The New York Times’ Bestselling Paperback Authors of 1994. He attributes his immense success to his diligent work ethic and determination to write about subjects that will pique curiosity in readers worldwide. Looking toward the future, Mr. Hoff intends to continue writing, editing and indulging in his many interests, which include photography and playing guitar.