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Walden and Civil Disobedience

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( 38,165 ratings, 1,493 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
In Walden and Civil Disobedience, Henry Thoreau reflects on simple living in natural surroundings, detailing his two years in a cabin he built near Walden Pond. He explores themes of self-reliance, nature, and the pursuit of a meaningful life. In Civil Disobedience, Thoreau argues for individual resistance to unjust government practices.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you are interested in themes of individualism, self-reliance, and the relationship between humans and nature. It offers profound insights on simple living and personal freedom, making it a thought-provoking read for those who question societal norms and value personal conscience over conformity.

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Walden and Civil Disobedience

Disdainful of America's booming commercialism and industrialism, Henry David Thoreau left Concord, Massachusetts, in 1845 to live in solitude in the woods near Walden Pond. Walden, the account of his stay, conveys at once a naturalist's wonder at the commonplace and a Transcendentalist's yearning for spiritual truth and self-reliance.

Henry David Thoreau's masterworkWaldenis a collection of his reflections on life and society. In 1845, he moved to a cabin that he built with his own hands along the shores of Walden Pond in Massachusetts.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description
Walden and Civil Disobedience by Henry Thoreau are two seminal works that reflect on personal freedom, individuality, and the inherent connection between humanity and nature. Walden is the fruit of Thoreau's two-year experiment in simple living on Walden Pond in Massachusetts. It meticulously follows the natural cycle of the seasons, weaving a thoughtful narrative that extends beyond a mere account of life in the woods. Through vivid descriptions and keen insights, Thoreau embarks on a philosophical quest to achieve personal freedom and self-reliance, all while evoking the essence of nature without succumbing to sentimentality or distorting its reality. Despite receiving critical attention upon publication, the book did not achieve substantial commercial success initially. However, it has since been recognised as an American classic, celebrated for its profound reflections on life, society, and our relationship with the natural world. Civil Disobedience, penned during the same period Thoreau resided at Walden Pond, is a powerful political treatise influenced by his first-hand experiences. In 1846, Thoreau was arrested for refusing to pay a poll tax, an act of protest against a government that sanctioned slavery and unjust wars. This essay underscores the importance of individual conscience and moral resistance against unjust governmental actions, articulating a philosophy that has inspired numerous social and political movements worldwide. Written with clarity and conviction, both works continue to resonate with readers, offering timeless reflections on self-reliance, ethical integrity, and the ever-evolving relationship between society and the individual. Whether you seek practical wisdom or philosophical inspiration, Walden and Civil Disobedience deliver enduring insights into the human spirit and the quest for a just and meaningful life.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Walden and Civil Disobedience by Henry Thoreau is often praised for its profound insights into simple living and individual resistance to injustice. Readers appreciate Thoreau's eloquent prose and thought-provoking reflections on nature, society, and personal freedom. However, some find his writing style a bit dense and his ideas idealistic. Overall, it is considered a timeless and inspiring work.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780140390445

Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 26 January 1984

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Penguin Classics

Contributors:

  • Introduction by Michael Meyer

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 16.0mm

Width: 126.0mm

Height: 194.0mm

Weight: 220g

Pages: 432

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About the Author

Henry David Thoreauwas born in Concord, Massachusetts in 1817. He graduated from Harvard in 1837, the same year he began his lifelong Journal. Inspired by Ralph Waldo Emerson, Thoreau became a key member of the Transcendentalist movement that included Margaret Fuller and Bronson Alcott. The Transcendentalists' faith in nature was tested by Thoreau between 1845 and 1847 when he lived for twenty-six months in a homemade hut at Walden Pond. While living at Walden, Thoreau worked on the two books published during his lifetime-Walden(1854) andA Week on the Concord and Merrimack Rivers(1849). Several of his other works, includingThe Maine Woods, Cape Cod, andExcursions, were published posthumously. Thoreau died in Concord, at the age of forty-four, in 1862. Kristen Case teaches at the University of Maine at Farmington, where she is associate professor of English. She is the author of American Pragmatism andPoetic Practice- Crosscurrents from Emerson to Susan Howe (Camden House, 2011) and Little Arias,a collection of poems (New Issues Press, 2015). She is coeditor of Thoreau at 200- Essays andReassessments (Cambridge University Press, 2016) and has published articles on Thoreau, EzraPound, Robert Frost, Wallace Stevens, and William James. She lives inTemple, Maine.

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