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3.48 AVERAGE
3.48 AVERAGE
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Hmm. Reading Thoreau has never been easy for me, it takes time and many pondering. But I remember that it was immersive. Walden and Civil Disobedience were among my favorite nonfiction writings of all time, and looking at the book still in my shelf and survived numerous book sales/swaps/etc, they still are. So I had high hopes when I came across this one. Thoreau philosophizing about walking, what's not to like.
Sadly, he didn't moved me this time. I was quite entranced with the first one-third of the essay - very Waldenish - but it went everywhere from there. He likes America a lot because the stars shine brighter, the moon is bigger and so on. "Westward the star of empire takes its way". He also says all good things are wild and free. Cultivation of land be damned. He wanted to live among the savages, even. "The wildness of the savage is but a faint symbol of the awful verity with which good men and lovers meet." But no, he heard that apparently Singapore had tigers that could carry you away in the night is just too much wildness for him, so yeah, he'll stick with America. No tigers. Then he went on criticizing poetries and literature for "not adequately expresses this yearning for the Wild." Oookay.
Well, there are other weird sentences and musings which I won't bother copying them here. Nonetheless, there are still his usual quotable ones, some itsy bitsy gems here and there. But, at the end of this particular walk with Walden, I only got confused, lost my way, and definitely not er, "lit up with a great awakening light as warm and serene and golden as on a bankside in autumn".
Sadly, he didn't moved me this time. I was quite entranced with the first one-third of the essay - very Waldenish - but it went everywhere from there. He likes America a lot because the stars shine brighter, the moon is bigger and so on. "Westward the star of empire takes its way". He also says all good things are wild and free. Cultivation of land be damned. He wanted to live among the savages, even. "The wildness of the savage is but a faint symbol of the awful verity with which good men and lovers meet." But no, he heard that apparently Singapore had tigers that could carry you away in the night is just too much wildness for him, so yeah, he'll stick with America. No tigers. Then he went on criticizing poetries and literature for "not adequately expresses this yearning for the Wild." Oookay.
Well, there are other weird sentences and musings which I won't bother copying them here. Nonetheless, there are still his usual quotable ones, some itsy bitsy gems here and there. But, at the end of this particular walk with Walden, I only got confused, lost my way, and definitely not er, "lit up with a great awakening light as warm and serene and golden as on a bankside in autumn".
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
Henry David Thoreau's classic essay, "Walking," was an ardent lecture unlike anything the world had ever heard in 1851. It was later published 11 years later in 1862 by The Atlantic Monthly. Yet despite being over 160 years since his rousing speech, its applicability might be even more relevant today than it was in the mid-1800s.
There are so many poignant points, ideas and thoughts expressed by Thoreau, the reader is made to rethink our home, planet earth, and its profound majesty and fragility in the same breath. This is a timeless classic that reminds the reader of our ecosystem's wonderful wild places to discover and explore and also implores the reader to keep the wild places wild and preserve our homes for our children and the generations to come.
After reading his stimulating prose, it caused me to seek out new opportunities to get outside and enjoy this lovely place we all call home.
I received this as an eBook from Dover Publications via NetGalley in exchange for an honest and unbiased review of the title. I did not receive any compensation from either company. The opinions expressed herein are completely my own.
There are so many poignant points, ideas and thoughts expressed by Thoreau, the reader is made to rethink our home, planet earth, and its profound majesty and fragility in the same breath. This is a timeless classic that reminds the reader of our ecosystem's wonderful wild places to discover and explore and also implores the reader to keep the wild places wild and preserve our homes for our children and the generations to come.
After reading his stimulating prose, it caused me to seek out new opportunities to get outside and enjoy this lovely place we all call home.
I received this as an eBook from Dover Publications via NetGalley in exchange for an honest and unbiased review of the title. I did not receive any compensation from either company. The opinions expressed herein are completely my own.
This is a nice little essay on the importance of hiking as spiritual activity; it teaches us to forget our minds that continuously strive for more knowledge and simply enjoy blissful ignorance.
The landscapes Thoreau describes are more vivid than photographs. One can be easily blown away by the passion of Thoreau when he speaks about the Wild and the West. Every reader of this essay, I think, will recollect their most happiest travels and will be able to enjoy once again that sensational feeling of something great and unexplainable that our eyes had a chance to witness.
For me, the thinking of Thoreau stretches a little bit too far, though. They sometimes say - "Not all who wander are lost," but in Thoreau's language, this phrase more or less transforms into "All who not wander are lost." I believe that mankind wouldn't be mankind without achievements of science, without the convenience of big towns with shops and offices, without busy families spending their days raising children. In sum - we wouldn't be where we are now without our ability to sit inside for hours and make things done - yet this is exactly what Thoreau seems to dislike so much. I am yet to read about his life in detail, but it looks like he was not overwhelmed with responsibilities and managed (or was simply lucky or rich) to construct his life in such a way that he was able to hike for hours every day.
"The most alive is the wildest," he says. This phrase makes me immediately skeptical, as being wild does not guarantee to have a meaningful and happy life. I've witnessed enough people who, after years of traveling around the world, still suffer from anxiety, unable to settle and find happiness.
That's said - this essay is a perfect "vitamin supplement" for those looking to break through the dullness of daily life. Just take this vitamin in moderation as it doesn't have to replace all other nutrients that this life can give.
The landscapes Thoreau describes are more vivid than photographs. One can be easily blown away by the passion of Thoreau when he speaks about the Wild and the West. Every reader of this essay, I think, will recollect their most happiest travels and will be able to enjoy once again that sensational feeling of something great and unexplainable that our eyes had a chance to witness.
For me, the thinking of Thoreau stretches a little bit too far, though. They sometimes say - "Not all who wander are lost," but in Thoreau's language, this phrase more or less transforms into "All who not wander are lost." I believe that mankind wouldn't be mankind without achievements of science, without the convenience of big towns with shops and offices, without busy families spending their days raising children. In sum - we wouldn't be where we are now without our ability to sit inside for hours and make things done - yet this is exactly what Thoreau seems to dislike so much. I am yet to read about his life in detail, but it looks like he was not overwhelmed with responsibilities and managed (or was simply lucky or rich) to construct his life in such a way that he was able to hike for hours every day.
"The most alive is the wildest," he says. This phrase makes me immediately skeptical, as being wild does not guarantee to have a meaningful and happy life. I've witnessed enough people who, after years of traveling around the world, still suffer from anxiety, unable to settle and find happiness.
That's said - this essay is a perfect "vitamin supplement" for those looking to break through the dullness of daily life. Just take this vitamin in moderation as it doesn't have to replace all other nutrients that this life can give.
informative
slow-paced
Trying some Thoreau today. Parts of this I enjoyed. Other times I didn't get what he was saying.
slow-paced
pfffff un ensayo sobre caminar... nobody gets me like him