The Way of Ping: Journey to the Great/ A Frog in Search of a new Pond [Hardcover]

Stuart Avery Gold (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 27, 2009

The sequel to the international bestseller Ping: A Frog in Search of a New Pond—a parable about taking risks and discovering a new path.

In this new adventure, the now legendary Ping has become the teacher. His travels take him to a pond whose dwellers, ruled by Toad the Elder, have never questioned the certainty of their surroundings. But two young frogs, Daikon and Hodo, inquisitive and rebellious, convince Ping to take them on a journey that will change their lives forever.

This delightful story captures the fears and doubts faced by all who choose to leave the familiar to make their way in an unknown world, and teaches them to find their true path. As Ping says, "It is never too late to be what you can become."

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

This slender sequel to Ping: A Frog in Search of a New Pond is another Zen-inspired entrepreneurial parable, at once trite and profound. Gold, former COO of the Republic of Tea, does not belabor the business aspect of his tale, which can be read as an insightful guide to internal growth and transformation. In this book, Ping visits a pond whose inhabitants have never ventured outside their small habitat. Two young frogs, Daikon and Hodo, daring to aspire further, ask Ping to take them to the ocean, which represents enlightenment. The book becomes a quest, with plenty of opportunity for Ping to instruct the youngsters on the Way (e.g., The Way is the path of strength.... Always possess the courage to continue the journey, even if you are scared to pieces). The frogs navigate a boulder in their path, hop up 100-foot shoots of bamboo and trudge through an eerie Slither Swamp. Finally, from the heights of a mountain, they view both dawn and the ocean. While the first book, where the young Ping is instructed by an Owl, may have been more spontaneous and compelling, this sequel is charming and effectively communicates its message. (Jan.)
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Review

"The Way of Ping is charming and profound…An insightful guide to internal growth and transformation." —Publishers Weekly

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 96 pages
• Publisher: Newmarket Press (January 27, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1557048207
• ISBN-13: 978-1557048202
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.3 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #969,211 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Nothing new, March 8, 2009

By 

Susan Keeping (Kitchener, Ontario) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Way of Ping: Journey to the Great/ A Frog in Search of a new Pond (Hardcover)

I am not one for "pop psychology" and I feel this book falls into that category. Everything that is talked about in this book seems to me to be common sense. I kept hearing things like "the other man's grass is always greener", "slow and steady wins the race"; empty platitudes that you hear often. I learned nothing new from reading this book.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Who Moved My Frog?, April 14, 2009

By 

EgusHdus (Hua Hin, Thailand USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Ping: A Frog in Search of a New Pond (Hardcover)

Oh, my. Everyone here raves about "what a great idea this is", "reminds me of...", "just like", "similar to ...."

Yeah, well that's the trouble. It IS similar to....

And this "Ping the Frog" is no traditional fairy tale character which make ME think it was the product of some WISEGUY, sitting around thinking, "H-m-m-m-, how can I write one of those crappy, throw-away mis-management books, without an original thought in MY head, and still make a bundle? I know! I'll STEAL really good concept, and then produce not one, but TWO books, and then try to spin off some marketing on the merchandising!

Isn't America great?"

Folks, boycott bad writing and thievery. Re-read "Who Moved My Cheese".

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Read Richard Bach instead, July 4, 2009

By 

Karen A - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: The Way of Ping: Journey to the Great/ A Frog in Search of a new Pond (Hardcover)

Ping is intended to be a parable about 'realizing your true nature and never-ending potential.' An effective parable has literary merit, and is driven by metaphor. In this case, the story of frogs seeking enlightenment is a transparent vehicle to provide the hero, Ping, with opportunities to lecture on a kind of stew of Taoism, Buddhism, Zen, and Norman Vincent Peale. The writing is poor and the lectures are tedious.

Sorry, but for this reader this is not a successful book.