4.09/5
Author: Henry David Thoreau, Brooks Atkinson
Publication Date: Sep 5, 1992
Formats: PDF,Hardcover,Kindle,Paperback
Rating: 4.09/5 out of 4500
Publisher: Modern Library
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Jul 21, 2018
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I first read this paean to a rustic, forgotten - and mostly vanished - way of life in the Purple Passion Pit.Feb 01, 2008
I am giving 5 stars to "Life without Principle," "On Civil Disobedience," and the following chapters from Walden: Economy, Where I Lived and What I Lived For, Reading, Solitude, Higher Laws, Conclusion. The rest of the book was about nature. While I'm thumbs up when it comes to experiencing nature, I'm thumbs down when it comes to reading about it. I wish I could appreciate the way he describes grass blowing in the wind and ants fighting with each other, but I just couldn't, so I'm not rating I am giving 5 stars to "Life without Principle," "On Civil Disobedience," and the following chapters from Walden: Economy, Where I Lived and What I Lived For, Reading, Solitude, Higher Laws, Conclusion. The rest of the book was about nature. While I'm thumbs up when it comes to experiencing nature, I'm thumbs down when it comes to reading about it. I wish I could appreciate the way he describes grass blowing in the wind and ants fighting with each other, but I just couldn't, so I'm not rating his nature writings. His philosophy, however, is great. He can be a sarcastic little bastard too. I didn't learn much from his philosophy, since I already have his beliefs and a very simple lifestyle, albeit not in the woods. But it was very comforting having a dead friend to hang out with for awhile.Aug 19, 2018
G.K. Chesterton once said, “There are no boring subjects, only disinterested minds.†I believe this vision of the world is one of the main themes that runs throughout Walden. Thoreau writes about seemingly every minute detail during his experience at Walden Pond, and he mixes in his precious New England Transcendentalism, captivating nature writing, and clever cultural commentary (commentary that I thought is pertinent even today). I really enjoyed this account of Thoreau’s first of two years G.K. Chesterton once said, “There are no boring subjects, only disinterested minds.†I believe this vision of the world is one of the main themes that runs throughout Walden. Thoreau writes about seemingly every minute detail during his experience at Walden Pond, and he mixes in his precious New England Transcendentalism, captivating nature writing, and clever cultural commentary (commentary that I thought is pertinent even today). I really enjoyed this account of Thoreau’s first of two years (After 262 pages of describing his first year he writes, “Thus was my first year’s life in the woods complete; and the second year was similar to it.†I guess even nature becomes mundane) on the shores of Walden Pond.Sep 01, 2011
This book is a treasure for lovers of the simplicity movement. It is now one of my favourite, and one which I would come back to again and again.Nov 30, 2012
I find Thoreau's command of the written language to be astounding. I very much liked this book and I'm surprised that I wasn't required to read this in high school or college.Nov 03, 2017
The thing is, I look for simplicity in philosophical writing for I agree with Albert Einstein when he talked about how if one cannot explain something to a child, one doesn't truly know it. My knowledge and my understanding are intertwined, and thus when I don't understand (tangents, for example, are difficult for me because I get bored and skim and then only understand some bits), it isn't fun to read.Sep 04, 2015
I never have understood why this dense book is assigned for schoolkids to read. Yes, it is unprecedented in American literature, a great book--without being particularly "good reading." It's formidable, and I have never gotten through it, chapter after chapter. I find it a great dippers' book, and maybe those who assign it are exactly that, dippers. Several of Thoreau's other works are more engaging and accessible, from the Maine Woods (perhaps my favorite) to Cape Cod, even A Week on the I never have understood why this dense book is assigned for schoolkids to read. Yes, it is unprecedented in American literature, a great book--without being particularly "good reading." It's formidable, and I have never gotten through it, chapter after chapter. I find it a great dippers' book, and maybe those who assign it are exactly that, dippers. Several of Thoreau's other works are more engaging and accessible, from the Maine Woods (perhaps my favorite) to Cape Cod, even A Week on the Concord and Merrimack Rivers, and especially, Selections from the Journals (see my GRds rev). The Maine Woods has its challenges, too--for example, Thoreau's fascination with, and dictionary of, native Indian language (Abnaki, not Pasamoquoddy). Also, as ever in Thoreau, botanical classifications in Latin--his Harvard education actually benefitted him as Bill Gates' arguably did not, except for affiliations (no reason to go to school, yet the prime reason in 21st C for most status schools like Harvard Biz).Oct 04, 2011
Have to agree with E.B. White (author of Charlotte's Web, among other things) who once said that every high school senior should be given a copy of Walden upon graduation. Many of course will choose not to read it but for those who do, and make it through the slog that is the first chapter, Thoreau's timeless classic offers much wisdom on thoughtful living. Why thoughtful living? Because Walden is full of what of what buddhists refer to as the fire of attention. Each chapter, even the dreadful Have to agree with E.B. White (author of Charlotte's Web, among other things) who once said that every high school senior should be given a copy of Walden upon graduation. Many of course will choose not to read it but for those who do, and make it through the slog that is the first chapter, Thoreau's timeless classic offers much wisdom on thoughtful living. Why thoughtful living? Because Walden is full of what of what buddhists refer to as the fire of attention. Each chapter, even the dreadful first, Economy, is full of an intense attention to detail both philosophical and practical. Walden may have been written by a 19th century New Englander but it's implications travel far beyond that limited scope of time and space. At the very least, readers of Walden in any age will be encouraged to forgo the way of the lemming and instead give a little thought to each step taken in life, as opposed to just mindlessly stumbling off the proverbial cliff of life. ...moreJul 18, 2016
I'm just gonna say it, I like Ralph Waldo Emerson's essays and poetry better. His writing is more refined and stylistically pleasing. Reading "Civil Disobedience" is like bachelorhood being shoved in your face. Thoreau clearly isn't speaking of a method of action that could ever be followed by the family-man or woman or young adult. I understand his ideology and thought-process, but it doesn't seem to include an ounce of practicality in it.Jul 15, 2016
Only read two chapters, but they were interesting to read, it shows how a government is run, by good men or honest men ? it makes us wonder if our current government is right or is it wrong?May 21, 2019
It is a pity--as so
often is the case--that I only got round to reading Thoreau after I had
left school. There is enough wisdom in Walden alone to last a lifetime. It is worth reading more than once.
Here is just one brief example. However
mean your life is, meet it and live it; do not shun it and call it hard
names. It is not so bad as you are. It looks poorest when you are
richest. The faultfinder will find faults even in paradise.
Jan 13, 2015
At long last. It took me a while to make it through this. It's not something that I could power through 30 pages of on my lunch break. Reading Walden is a lot like watching paint drying. And I mean that in the most complimentary way possible. Like if you could really experience the paint drying.Aug 02, 2011
Thoreau is kind of a douche. Not gonna lie. This is a guy who thought that he would get back to nature by living in a shack on mommy and daddy's property. He makes some good points of philosophy but so does the drunk at the end of most bars. All in all, I think that Thoreau is vastly overrated.Jun 21, 2007
I was going to say something silly and Garden State-y about how Walden changed my life, but am rewording because the experience of reading this book was more like...confirmation. Which is to say, I've chosen a certain way to live that I believe is the right one for me, and reading Walden was like being told, "That's right, that's what you need to do. Keep on keeping on, you're heading in the right direction." Except that the life Thoreau writes about is not directional in the least. But you get I was going to say something silly and Garden State-y about how Walden changed my life, but am rewording because the experience of reading this book was more like...confirmation. Which is to say, I've chosen a certain way to live that I believe is the right one for me, and reading Walden was like being told, "That's right, that's what you need to do. Keep on keeping on, you're heading in the right direction." Except that the life Thoreau writes about is not directional in the least. But you get what I mean.Nov 05, 2012
If Edgar Allan Poe was the original goth, Henry David Thoreau was the original obnoxious vegan. His tone at the beginning of the book is like a know-it-all kid in his first year of self-employment: smarmy and convinced he's cracked the code on the only right way to live. As the book goes on, he mellows out a little. I guess living in the woods was good for him. While still being condescending of his neighbors (“…his little broad-faced son worked cheerfully at his father's side the while, not If Edgar Allan Poe was the original goth, Henry David Thoreau was the original obnoxious vegan. His tone at the beginning of the book is like a know-it-all kid in his first year of self-employment: smarmy and convinced he's cracked the code on the only right way to live. As the book goes on, he mellows out a little. I guess living in the woods was good for him. While still being condescending of his neighbors (“…his little broad-faced son worked cheerfully at his father's side the while, not knowing how poor a bargain the latter had madeâ€), it’s the side-stories, like meeting fishermen, ice-cutters and packs of free-roving hounds, and the native american legends of the lake, that make up the parts worth reading. I wanted to like this book, because I appreciate how it’s inspired some people I respect (Don Henley?), but it was so difficult to read, it put me to sleep every time I tried to read a page until I switched to the audio version. ...moreAug 04, 2007
This book just edged out the Richest Man in Babylon and Money: How to Get as Much as You Can of It!!!! as my favorite book of all time. Not getting results at work? This book can help! A classic self-help manual, this book can teach you how to make money and become the most popular person of all time, just like its handsome, wealthy, much adored author. You can even learn how much it costs to build a 1840's style log-cabin. Did you know that pumpkins make good chairs? I bet that even if you did, This book just edged out the Richest Man in Babylon and Money: How to Get as Much as You Can of It!!!! as my favorite book of all time. Not getting results at work? This book can help! A classic self-help manual, this book can teach you how to make money and become the most popular person of all time, just like its handsome, wealthy, much adored author. You can even learn how much it costs to build a 1840's style log-cabin. Did you know that pumpkins make good chairs? I bet that even if you did, you probably thought that Martha Stewart was the first person to think of it. Well, she wasn't. H. Dave Thoreau (as his numerous fellow tea party goers knew him) was! Read the book that inspired Abercrombie to team with his old buddy Mr. Fitch to invent the shopping mall. Read the book that the OED has credited as the earliest to use such immortal terms as LOL; OMFG; :-) ; foshizzle; phat beatz; and shopaholic (with a hint towards the later evolution of the term into chocoholic). If you can find this book in print (it's pretty rare), I'd check it out. You might even discover a surefire way to convince that girl (or guy) you have your eye on to start noticing you and figure our the quickest way to get a raise while working even less hours at your glorious bureaucratic administrative/management position!!! ...moreJun 12, 2017
It's not that I'm not interested in the remaining stories, but there's only so much Thoreau I can take at once. I'll try the rest on the collection as individual e-books.Jul 11, 2017
On or about July 23, 1846 Henry David Thoreau was detained in Concord for nonpayment of the poll tax, and he spent the night in the Concord Jail. He described his experience in jail thus: "The rooms were whitewashed once a month; and this one, at least, was the whitest, most simply furnished, and probably the neatest apartment in the town." He described his fellow inmate ("room-mate") as someone accused of "burning a barn" who had been incarcerated for three months waiting for trial. He was On or about July 23, 1846 Henry David Thoreau was detained in Concord for nonpayment of the poll tax, and he spent the night in the Concord Jail. He described his experience in jail thus: "The rooms were whitewashed once a month; and this one, at least, was the whitest, most simply furnished, and probably the neatest apartment in the town." He described his fellow inmate ("room-mate") as someone accused of "burning a barn" who had been incarcerated for three months waiting for trial. He was "quite domesticated and contented, since he got his board for nothing, and thought that he was well treated." They each had a window of their own to look out and Thoreau noted that "It was like traveling to a far country, such as I had never expected to behold, to lie there for one night." The next day some anonymous person paid the tax and Thoreau was once again a free man.Apr 28, 2010
The introduction to the edition I read quoted American philosopher and Harvard professor Stanley Cavell as saying "Emerson and Thoreau... are the founding philosophers of America" and comparable in complexity to Plato. As you can tell from my disparate ratings below, I nevertheless found reading Thoreau a decidedly mixed bag. Given their influence on the environmental movement and non-violent mass protest movements, I'd highly recommend reading Walden and the article "Civil Disobedience" no The introduction to the edition I read quoted American philosopher and Harvard professor Stanley Cavell as saying "Emerson and Thoreau... are the founding philosophers of America" and comparable in complexity to Plato. As you can tell from my disparate ratings below, I nevertheless found reading Thoreau a decidedly mixed bag. Given their influence on the environmental movement and non-violent mass protest movements, I'd highly recommend reading Walden and the article "Civil Disobedience" no matter what your personal beliefs. If you then find you really love this man's philosophy and writing style, then... well there sure is plenty more to read. This is one book where my rating suffered from including too much. If it had included just the works mentioned above I'd have added at least a star.Oct 04, 2017
It seems to me that Walden is - especially in a modern context – one of the most un-American books ever written. Students or devotees of Hinduism and Buddhism will find much common ground here. For example, his belief in limiting the number of material possessions:Nov 06, 2019
Correction.. I finished the Walden section of this book for ENL 160.Sep 24, 2017
Certainly not in the headspace for what Thoreau had in this collection of his works. Perhaps if I had read just one or two of his essays or works instead of trying to read them all together and I would have had more patience. But I don't. One of those that I'll revisit in another decade to see if life experience changes my thoughts and lens through which I read this.Apr 26, 2019
Took me sooo long to get through - but the book is very insightful and I'm extremely glad I read it, though I doubt I would read it again.Jan 04, 2019
Good anthology of important works. Still relevant today for its environmental and political insights.Feb 05, 2010
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