Walden

Walden by Thoreau is a book full of both environmental analysis and philosophical advice, making the book a great read. It is recommended to anyone uninteresting in a purely scientific book; however, it is not written like a novel, it is more of a record book of Thoreau’s time in Walden. The book itself is very accurate on his stay, and the reader is able to feel as if they are part of the experience; by the end of the book, the reader feels as if he or she has grown along with Thoreau because of his experience. However, for a short read it is not tightly written, and the text can be confusing at times. Thoreau writes in both a scientific view and a transcendental view, and this narrative can change even during mid-sentence. In addition, Thoreau pokes fun at his readers, using sarcasm, irony, and paradoxes to confuse and challenge the readers. This can make the book tedious because some parts need to be read over to truly understand his point. Overall, Walden provides readers with a new perspective on both environmental issues as well as self-awareness. 2009-2010 Environmental Science Student: This is a book like nothing you’ve ever read. It is difficult to get thorough and at certain points very boring. If you like to think outside the box and enjoy philosophy and relationships of inanimate objects, this may be the perfect choice. Walden is ultimately just a vehicle for Thoreau to make baseless claims predicated upon his treasury of tidbits and odd knowledge. But the question and the theme of this work relates to…Why the pond, Thoreau? After having left Concord MA due to "disdain of America's growing commercialism and industrialism", and the slavish materialism of that society in his time period he isolates himself near a pond. He does this in an attempt to witness the simple life in order to be peaceful within. Always planning to rejoin society after his stay he classifies this time in his life as a sojourn in to the wild. Had Thoreau been blessed with living in the modern world, he could have just written "Living by a Pond on Your Own For Dummies" and saved himself (and us) a lot of trouble. But in all honesty I chose this book because it is a classic, and why not read one of American History’s original philosophers? Thoreau makes you think, or really just tells you of his own thoughts on every subject he comes across. The text changes tone as his subject does. Some sections read like a diary others a dissertation.

A classic book for sure. The first chapter, economy, in paticular lays out many interesting ideas and principles that are valuable to consider. For example, the observation that most business efforts fail due to the individual or groups unwillingness to put in the required energy and time is an astute observation that will likely always be true. Much of the rest of the book lays out his struggles and life in general during his time at Walden Pond. The first chapter is a must read for those interested in thoughts and perspectives that have developed American culture as we know it or remember it to have been.

I have to say, while this book at first seems boring, it takes a couple of reads to really appreciate the rich philosophy that Thoreau saturates this book with. His transcendentalist views give a different look on life, in fact they redefine it. "I trust none will stretch the seams in putting on the coat, for it may do good service to him whom its fits." -Thoreau