A meandering ode to the simple act and accomplished art of taking a walk. Profound and humorous, companionable and curmudgeonly. Walking, by America's first nature writer, is your personal and portable guide to the activity that, like no other, awakens the senses and soul to the 'absolute freedom and wildness' of nature.
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"I believe I read this many years ago but revisited it this week as I attend the AVA convention in Orlando. I love to walk (it's right up there with reading) and this is a nice short essay basically that promotes walking not only for our soul but as a reflection of society and foreward yearning during the time this was written. I loved the quote regarding merchants who sit in their stores or offices all afternoon rather than taking a walk as Thoreau believes. He wonders why they haven't all committed suicide. I understand that as days without walks make me want to tear my hair out. He talks a lot about nature and going towards the southwest as all good explorers do. Good reminder to watch where you walk and though I can enjoy a city walk as much (or more) than a walk in the woods - Thoreau definitely had the right idea. What would he think of civilization in America now where so few people walk - encased in their cars and air-conditioned buildings. It leaves no room for grounding into the earth."
— Bookreaderljh (4 out of 5 stars)
" My favorite book of all time! "
— April, 2/10/2014" "...in Wildness is the preservation of the World." Thoreau's two essays in my version of the text, "Walking" and "Night and Moonlight" focus on the importance of not only appreciating existing wildness around us, but cultivating wildness in ourselves and the surrounding areas. Almost contradicting himself in some parts, he suggest that the Farmer is above the Indian, in that he believes that some cultivation and agriculture is better than leaving things lie. At the same time, he holds the view of his time that the Indians (read, Native Americans) are a primitive culture with no complex technology, saying that they would cultivate the land with a "clam shell." Despite this evidence of his time period and a few slight contradictions, I found these essays to be fresh and informative, still applicable in a time when nature seems to be slipping away through our fingers. Thoreau's places where "no man has stood before and no man will ever stand" are growing few and far between. "
— Gillian, 2/8/2014" Rebecca Solnit, despite doing this like 200 years after this, did it better. But the reason I like Thoreau as a rhetorician is that he's never too annoying. He's very literal and he's very clear and rarely has incomprehensible, highfalutin' ideas. "
— Jennifer, 2/3/2014" Seemed to drag a bit when he got off the topic of walking. More philosophizing than naturalist observation, but then he was dying when he wrote this. He uses some really wonderful turns of phrase. "
— Karen, 2/3/2014" Thoreau's philosophy on the importance of considering nature in everyday life through the application of one rather simple action which most either neglect or haven't time for... walking... "
— Marts, 1/22/2014" It is not a written experience on walking rather a walking experience in writing, whatever that means. "
— Deema, 1/14/2014" As always Thoreau writes of Nature in a way that makes you yearn to be outdoors in the elements and observe what is in the world around you. "
— Jim, 1/13/2014" nice short read philosophising on why we walk, and nature. "
— Dylan, 1/4/2014" simple, to the point and brilliant. "
— Jessica, 12/29/2013" I've never read anything by Thoreau before. He certainly paints some pretty pictures. "
— Matthew, 12/5/2013" I always feel guilty that I don't enjoy Thoreau more. I found Walking interesting, but I was glad when I was done reading. Luckily it was a short book. I'll continue to read Thoreau. Maybe some day I'll see the light. "
— Pat, 11/29/2013" One of my favorite books and authors. Really fueled my wanderlust to the the next level while reinforcing a lot of my beliefs about society. He doesn't really hold much back. And the last paragraph of the book...Chills. "
— Lauren, 11/18/2013" Thoreau is a sanctimonious prat. "
— MJ, 11/15/2013" Beautiful language but maybe I wasn't in the mood. It's comforting to go back and walk through nature. "
— Ron, 11/7/2013" Thoreau is probably the wittiest writer I've ever read. While he can sometimes be a little verbose and dry, I keep coming back to him for those little gems scattered throughout his work. "
— Colin, 10/14/2013" This one is a classic. I read it years ago, but forgot how many famous and remarkable Thoreau lines come from this short essay. Best known is "In wildness is the preservation of the world." But it is a meditation on wilderness and walking and the meaning of American history, too. "
— Dan, 9/3/2013" More succint and accessible, but also more harsh and passionate (less reflective) than Walden--Thoreau at his philosophical best. "
— Heather, 4/1/2013" I really enjoyed this essay from Thoreau. Insightful, poignant and yet surprisingly easy to read due to his style of writing. It wouldn't be out of place in a current issue of the Atlantic. In fact as our lives get busier and more hectic this essay remains as relevant today as it was in mid 1800's. "
— Innes, 3/10/2013" It's a little book. I can't take those seriously. But I saw it on here and I read it. I thought it was just a novelty item. "
— Kimberly, 2/4/2013" One of my favorite works by my favorite author "
— Ken, 1/18/2013" I'm in BIG re-read phase of life right now and I'm feeling curious what my 34 yr old eyes have to say about some classics I read in my early 20's. I'm feeling Thoreau and Walking is a short read to ease back into him.... I will tackle Walden again after. "
— Adam, 11/24/2012" There were parts that I thought "I couldn't agree more." "
— Ryan, 11/9/2012" i like walking. so does henry david thoreau. its cool to geek out over simple things with a dead dude. i find myself exclaiming things like "totally" and "yeah yeah yeah" while reading this. i fucking love walking and reading "
— gretta, 5/7/2012" "I cannot preserve my health and spirits without sauntering through the woods and over the hills and fields, absolutely free from all worldly engagements." "
— Anna, 4/17/2012" Maybe I wasn't in the right frame of mind for this. The first 1/3 was promising, but it wandered after that. Perhaps it is better read in small portions from the porch of a mtn. cabin or a quiet trail somewhere. Nevertheless, it just didn't do it for me like Walden did. "
— Brian, 11/22/2011" There were parts that I thought "I couldn't agree more." "
— Ryan, 4/20/2011" I read this book while on a very rainy day on a tropical island (Palau Selingnaan)- it reminded me how important it is to value nature and live in the moment. "
— Lily, 4/13/2011" A little inspirational book on the defense of wilderness. Get outside and enjoy what you have. :) "
— Jenni, 2/10/2011" Being one who likes to saunter in nature, this book struck a chord in me and I enjoyed every word. This philosophy is quite opposite of that of Locke which I just read. I too find myself in nature. "
— Scott, 12/30/2010" Not bad, has some really good bits. "
— Megan, 12/7/2010" Yet another essay to read. I felt that while Thoreau was very intelligent and made some interesting points, I felt that this essay was repetitive and got boring after a while. I generally liked <u>Walking</u>, but it was nothing special. "
— Gretchen, 11/7/2010" incredibly inspiring piece of writing- made me talk a long walk in nature "
— Natalie, 9/9/2010" This wasn't as good as I was expecting. Though there's a choice quote about the Hindoos and their wisdom in there somewhere... just after the Hottentots. Okay, it's dated, but I think I got what he was saying. Still not a big fan of this one. "
— Parag, 5/4/2010" With great ideas and lots of good quotes, this is an inspiring little book. Its writing isn't perfect and at times, it left me unsure of what Thoreau is really writing about, but still a book I'd recommend. At least it won't take more than an hour or two to read! "
— Jarkko, 3/29/2010" Gratifying summary of why I walk by a fellow traveler "
— Bob, 5/11/2009" A wounderful essay. It applies better to today I feel than it did when he wrote it. "
— Jim, 2/14/2009" This book is not for everyone, but if you are the type of person who can pack lunch and head for the woods to lose your self and the "wonderful life" you will relate. <br/> <br/>I read parts of this book weekly it is by my bed side. "
— Joseph, 2/12/2009Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862) was an American essayist, naturalist, philosopher, and poet. Born at Concord, Massachusetts, and educated at Harvard, he began his career as a teacher. Through his older friend and neighbor, Ralph Waldo Emerson, he became a part of the Transcendentalist circle and one of that group’s most eloquent spokespersons. He is best known for his book Walden and his essay “On the Duty of Civil Disobedience.”