Thoughts Afield: Spring Summer Fall Winter

by Harold E. Kohn

1959. Essays from a pastor.

Hardcover

First published January 1, 1959

Reviews

[Mariah Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book! Something like Parables From Nature for grown-ups. ; )

[Jeff Cliff · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book is a great example of what can go wrong with writing, and thinking in solitude for extended periods of time and generally not following Richard Hamming's advice to Keep your Door Open, locking yourself in a forest log cabin for the winter. A case study in what not to do, and what, if I ever do write a novel, I'd hope to avoid.

Sure, some things do take an extended amount of focus, and being able to work without being interrupted is necessary to do some things requiring a long-haul focused, uninterrupted mind - but this goes too far. It goes well into being locked away from people who might be able to show you what really needs to be said, and what you are saying that is sheer nonsense. Kohn is a smart man, and has a skill with language and metaphor that rivals the best writers who've ever written in the english language. But the wisdom he imparts is half-baked, always crippled by his requirements that man's god be the centre of the universe (if not man himself, as the 'highest developed creature'), that the universe and god give one whit about man's existence, and so on. There are little bits of insight here and there, though nothing worth relaying here, but generally it's endless, if fascinating trivia, organized around a general principle of christianity's dogmas and pillars of belief. It justifies cruelty, and the limits of human potential with the an oh-so-christian cover of grace excusing it.

But it's also a book that is written very close to nature in some sense. It is unusual in that many people who choose to take up writing are not in any way 'close to the land' in the sense that Kohn is. He would probably be just fine as a hunter-gatherer (especially if allowed firearms), and so takes part in a tradition going back quite deep into human history. One can't help but think that perhaps some of the wisdom he's trying to drop is that old, as well. But even though it is - you're still just getting mere bits of information, out of a 100 page book, at a near total waste of effort and energy reading it when those lessons might be better learned from oral tradition by other people living off the land anyway, should you ever require it.

People interested in learning the interesting biological facts would do well to find some other, more current resource for the biological kingdom and the parts of it that are in forests. Perhaps a forestry / biology textbook might suffice. Doing so would also allow you to avoiding some of his blunders, see his chapter on balance which flies in the face of the discussion of vegetational concepts in All watched over by machines of loving grace (I think episode 2/3?). Of course this book was written in the 1950's around the time that the balance hypothesis was still assumed to be true, but even so - he wrote an entire chapter about seeing things for what they are, yet totally missed this property of the very nature he was trying to reason about. )

[Chuck · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thoughts Afield is a book of short essays organized by the four seasons. The author uses beautifully written pictures of the Michigan outdoors to bring Godly principles to life without being too "preachy".

Although published back in 1959, the essays still feel very relevant (with exception for his hope that mankind had had enough of war and would learn to live in peace!).

I found this book to be a very pleasant read!

[Haley]

I read this slowly, one brief chapter (thought) at a time, and found it a pleasant read. The author stirs in one the desire to sit outside and observe and enjoy the nature and wildlife around. I wished for a quiet bench in the woods, or to sit under a shady tree on a lovely day and just relish the outdoors quietly.

I'd love the read this again sometime.

[Sheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short essays by a pastor that originally appeared in a local paper (the Charlevoix Courier, in Charlevoix Michigan), with beautiful black and white illustrations by the author. Meditations on nature and how it illustrates how the world works, from a generally Biblical perspective. More encouraging or restful than brilliant. I quite like his art.

[Sandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book as the first in the series but she is getting married now so I hope that doesn't spoil it. I like stories about independent women. On to the next one!