Walden, and On The Duty Of Civil Disobedience by Henry David Thoreau
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"Walden, and On The Duty Of Civil Disobedience" by Henry David Thoreau is a philosophical essay and social critique written in the mid-19th century. This work reflects Thoreau's reflections on simple living in natural surroundings, drawing from his personal experiment of living alone in the woods near Walden Pond. Thoreau emphasizes themes of self-sufficiency, the critique of materialism, and the importance of individual conscience and civil disobedience in the face of unjust
laws. The opening of "Walden" begins with Thoreau recounting his two years of solitude in a self-built house by Walden Pond, where he lived simply and engaged in manual labor. He addresses the curiosity of his townsfolk about his lifestyle choices and presents his views on the societal pressures that guide people into lives of "quiet desperation." Through vivid imagery and philosophical musings, Thoreau discusses the burdens of inherited possessions and societal expectations, asserting that many people live unexamined lives. He calls for a re-evaluation of what is considered necessary for a fulfilling life, suggesting that true happiness derives from simplicity, individual thought, and an intimate connection with nature. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
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About this eBook
| Author | Thoreau, Henry David, 1817-1862 |
|---|---|
| Title | Walden, and On The Duty Of Civil Disobedience |
| Credits | Judith Boss, and David Widger |
| Reading Level | Reading ease score: 68.3 (8th & 9th grade). Neither easy nor difficult to read. |
| Language | English |
| LoC Class | PS: Language and Literatures: American and Canadian literature |
| Subject | Civil disobedience |
| Subject | Authors, American -- 19th century -- Biography |
| Subject | Thoreau, Henry David, 1817-1862 -- Homes and haunts -- Massachusetts -- Walden Woods |
| Subject | Wilderness areas -- Massachusetts -- Walden Woods |
| Subject | Natural history -- Massachusetts -- Walden Woods |
| Subject | Solitude |
| Subject | Government, Resistance to |
| Subject | Walden Woods (Mass.) -- Social life and customs |
| Category | Text |
| eBook-No. | 205 |
| Release Date | Jan 1, 1995 |
| Last Update | Feb 20, 2026 |
| Copyright | Public domain in the USA. |
| Downloads | 24826 downloads in the last 30 days. |
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