Walden

Life in the Woods

By: Henry David Thoreau

Narrated by: Alec Sand

Length: 10 hrs and 5 mins

Publisher's summary

Thoreau's classic account of the solitary life, describing his attempts to simplify his life and sort out his priorities by living alone in a cabin beside Walden Pond for nearly two years, is one of the most influential books ever written. The bible of the environmental movement, Walden vividly portrays Thoreau's reverence for nature, and his understanding of the idea that nature is made up of crucially interrelated parts.

Public Domain (P)2006 Trout Lake Media

Thoreau: The Original Blogger

Do you have any additional comments?

"Walden" is a blog, and Emerson is the world's first blogger. No, really.

- Each chapter is essentially independent of other chapters.
- Some passages are difficult to get through because it seems the author has nothing better to do that write all evening about bean hoeing.
- The author writes as though his words are the world's most important work.
- Interlaced between the opining and hoeing are -true- works of beauty.

I always pictured Thoreau as a mild-mannered man. Perhaps he was--who is to say--but his written words are anything but mild-mannered. Walden is a biting critique of society's impact on man. While Sand's narration is atypical (perhaps he was indeed voice acting in a manner fit for 19th century New England), I believe the passion that Sand brings to the text is one that Thoreau would approve.

I would go from being bored of details in one instant to immediately enthralled by a powerful soliloquy the next. Certainly one of the most moving passages I've ever come across in my life was in Chapter 3 of Walden where Thoreau speaks his thoughts on the act of reading:

"The works of the great poets have never yet been read by mankind, for only great poets can read them. They have only been read as the multitude read the stars, at most astrologically, not astronomically. Most men have learned to read to serve a paltry convenience, as they have learned to cipher in order to keep accounts and not be cheated in trade; but of reading as a noble intellectual exercise they know little or nothing; yet this only is reading, in a high sense, not that which lulls us as a luxury and suffers the nobler faculties to sleep the while, but what we have to stand on tip-toe to read and devote our most alert and wakeful hours to.

I think that having learned our letters we should read the best that is in literature, and not be forever repeating our a-b-abs, and words of one syllable, in the fourth or fifth classes, sitting on the lowest and foremost form all our lives. Most men are satisfied if they read or hear read, and perchance have been convicted by the wisdom of one good book, the Bible, and for the rest of their lives vegetate and dissipate their faculties in what is called easy reading."

Stay astronomical, fellow reader.

Hypnotic description of natural habitat

For anyone who wants to feel connected to the wild, natural world apart from the artifices and synthetic creations of human civilization.

Long and dry

As a nature lover, I felt compelled to listen to this book but I struggled to complete it. I did pull some nuggets of wisdom out of it though.

A man ahead of his time

It still surprises me that this was written in 1854. This man had a keen perception of the trials and faults of his society which are just as apparent today. His ideas of living simply, conflicts with consumerism, not being in debt to anyone, not having to work the youth of your life to enjoy the small bit of retirement at the end are things I have always grappled with. The way he describes the simple pleasures of life can really make you appreciate all you have that had yet to even be invented in his time.

Another book it reminded me of was Edward Abbey's Desert Solitaire. Another story of a man in the wild largely by himself. The beauty of nature and the human experience is found in both these novels.

The narrator talks like how I think someone would sound from that time period and you can feel his angst and appreciation bring to life Henry David Thoreau's words. People had reviewed that they didn't like his narration, so listen to the preview as it maybe not to everyone's taste. I did enjoy it very much.

Amazing book. Starts out relatively slow describing the cost and process to build his cabin, with some interesting, although seemingly irrelevant tangents thrown in. By living essentially alone, it becomes very introspective and wondering. So it is very philosophical in that nature and I find some of his words quite enlightening. I am excited to finish this book.

A classic for the young of mind and poetic of heart

Listen to this book. If you are tired, and looking for the type of voice to reach out and grab you, you've found it

Ispiring

Some of the most beautifully constructed sentences I have ever read! Walden is an ode to the beauty of nature and yet a sad reflection when read with the state of contemporary consumerism in mind.

Reflection in time

It is amazing to see the similarities In Thorough's life and his perspective. Compared to our day and time. 150 years later we are still fighting the same struggle.

Great Read, Hard Listen

What did you love best about Walden?

Great book, and I personally enjoyed the narration. Economy is probably my favorite Chapter/Essay of all time but the entire book I found to be enjoyable.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Walden?

Like I said, Economy is my favorite Chapter. Thoreau has a very subtle analysis of many contemporary situations that has led me to further investigate interactions in my own life. In his words I find echoes of other great philosophers applied to examine his life.

Have you listened to any of Alec Sand’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

This was my first one, and I really enjoyed the sound of his voice.

Any additional comments?

Walden is a great book and this audiobook is a great introduction however it is very difficult to grasp everything Thoreau says in the first go round. If you haven't read Walden, give it a listen and then check out a copy from your library to go over the text a little more carefully to help grasp what Thoreau is saying at a pace that allows you to reflect on what he is trying to say.

A nice recording of a classic philosophy

If you could sum up Walden in three words, what would they be?

My favorite book!

What was one of the most memorable moments of Walden?

Just the logical unfoldment of the philosophy

Which scene was your favorite?

They're all good

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

It makes you think

Any additional comments?

Get it!

Required reading

Everyone should experience this brilliant masterpiece. Thoreau is a genius with words. 2 thumbs up!