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Walden

or Life in the Woods

By Henry D. Thoreau, John Updike (Preface)

(83)

| Paperback | 9780691096124

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Book Description

Originally published in 1854, Walden, or Life in the Woods, is a vivid account of the time that Henry D. Thoreau lived alone in a secluded cabin at Walden Pond. It is one of the most influential and compelling books in American literature.

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Critics

Walden ovvero la vita nei boschi

La presentazione e le recensioni di "Walden ovvero la vita nei boschi", opera di Henry D. Thoreau pubblicata da Rizzoli. Nel luglio 1845, Henry Thoreau lasciava la sua cittadina natale per andare a vivere in una capanna nei boschi del vicino lago di ... (read full critics)

Qlibri published on Fri, 28 Oct 2011

4 Reviews

1 person find this helpful

MY FAVOURITE BOOK

Written during the two years Thoreau spent living in the Walden woods in a cabin which he built. What an amazing book! His writings stem from his experiment in self-sustaining living and explore the topic of "how we should best live our lives." What a clear thinker! Thoreau is definetly the kind of ... (continue)

Written during the two years Thoreau spent living in the Walden woods in a cabin which he built. What an amazing book! His writings stem from his experiment in self-sustaining living and explore the topic of "how we should best live our lives." What a clear thinker! Thoreau is definetly the kind of guy who is not swayed by the dictations or trivialities of society, and always keeps an eye to what is important. Great expositions on politics, philosophy, and living; LIVING...what it really means to be ALIVE! Thoreau was also one of the first great naturalists and gives detailed accounts of the wildlife and habitat around his cabin...often these descriptions serve as nice metaphors for various aspects of the human condition, society, and the natural world in general.
The ending is spectacular. It's beautiful, hopeful, and inspirational. He's extremely wise and does not fall prey to the same traps that ensnare lesser men. He's positive, inquisitive, curious, boisterous, and joyful! Most of all, he's pragmatic, and practical in the most satisfying way! Thoreau helps me be the kind of person I want to be to get the most out of life. He is my hero.
I started this on a riverboat traveling down the Li River from Guilin to Yangshuo, southern China. I finished it in Kingston, a small city in Canada, 7 months later.
Re-read for sure.
You will get very little from Walden if you read it hunting for contradictions, if you make a great fuss over the fact that he had dinner in town with friends sometimes. There is much to dispute with Thoreau, but the useful disagreements lie in the essentials, not the details." - Bill McKibben, from an annotation for Walden.

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audioreader said on Jul 22, 2009 | 1 feedback

i went to the woods because I ...

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lee said on Sep 8, 2011 about the Hardcover edition | Add your feedback

i appreciate how he appreciates solitude and that distance is a form of intimacy ...

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Littleferryboats said on Mar 1, 2010 | Add your feedback

I wasn't a big fan of this book. I think the conclusion was probably the best part.

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Dave Sanders said on Oct 2, 2008 | Add your feedback