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A review by magnalia
Walking by Henry David Thoreau
3.0
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.