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Finding Your Walden: How to Strive Less, Simplify More, and Embrace What Matters Most
Discover Henry David Thoreau’s philosophy of living a good life and learn how to apply it to your own.
The hero for our time is someone few people get right. Thoreau wasn’t a hermit in the woods. He lived during a time like ours, of rapid technological and economic changes, political division, and a pandemic. Thoreau, like us, reassessed his What does success really look like? What is my duty as an ethical citizen of a less-than-ethical world? How can I live a good life amid (insert hand-sweeping gesture) all of this?
His Pare down to trade up.
Finding Your Walden combines classic literature with happiness studies, exploring how experts—psychologists, career coaches, and doctors—support Thoreau’s ideas as guideposts for today’s Great Reassessment. It combines insights of the 1854 classic with people who embrace the pare-down-to-trade-up philosophy today, whether through major life changes (such as tiny homes or sabbaticals) or smaller life hacks (like digital sabbaths or meditation practices). Their stories inspire us to apply creativity, simplicity, and peace to the experiment of life.
Finding Your Walden isn’t about shunning money or success. It’s about grappling with the purpose of the first and the meaning of the second. Whether you love Walden or haven’t read it, you can join Thoreau on a path to discover an intentional life during a volatile time—you just need to make a stop at a cabin on the way.
The hero for our time is someone few people get right. Thoreau wasn’t a hermit in the woods. He lived during a time like ours, of rapid technological and economic changes, political division, and a pandemic. Thoreau, like us, reassessed his What does success really look like? What is my duty as an ethical citizen of a less-than-ethical world? How can I live a good life amid (insert hand-sweeping gesture) all of this?
His Pare down to trade up.
Finding Your Walden combines classic literature with happiness studies, exploring how experts—psychologists, career coaches, and doctors—support Thoreau’s ideas as guideposts for today’s Great Reassessment. It combines insights of the 1854 classic with people who embrace the pare-down-to-trade-up philosophy today, whether through major life changes (such as tiny homes or sabbaticals) or smaller life hacks (like digital sabbaths or meditation practices). Their stories inspire us to apply creativity, simplicity, and peace to the experiment of life.
Finding Your Walden isn’t about shunning money or success. It’s about grappling with the purpose of the first and the meaning of the second. Whether you love Walden or haven’t read it, you can join Thoreau on a path to discover an intentional life during a volatile time—you just need to make a stop at a cabin on the way.
- GenresSelf Help
208 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 5, 2025
22 people are currently reading
2408 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
May 4, 2025
A quick read and a nice little guidebook to deal with some of the “issues of the day.”
In an effort to slay the Beast who is Bezos by myself, I bought this book at a local brick and mortar bookstore in my hometown of Charlotte, NC. Shout out to Charlotte and Park Road Books. The author lives in Charlotte, which I assume is why I was able to get a signed copy before the actual publication date.
I think we can all freely admit that we are over-saturated with our own digital footprints. I know I am. Other than the book being a mini-bio of Henry David Thoreau, it also functioned as a mitigation tool for the aforementioned digital saturation.
There were also suggestions on how to otherwise (beyond digitally) live a well-balanced and simpler life. Among the tools documented were the minimalist lifestyle, community engagement, family and friend time, work-life balance, vacation, staycation, meditation, and more.
Each chapter ended with a handful of questions to contemplate and throughout, the author provided references to other authors and techniques. I’ve already ordered a book that she references a handful of times. Congrats to the author on her first publication.
In an effort to slay the Beast who is Bezos by myself, I bought this book at a local brick and mortar bookstore in my hometown of Charlotte, NC. Shout out to Charlotte and Park Road Books. The author lives in Charlotte, which I assume is why I was able to get a signed copy before the actual publication date.
I think we can all freely admit that we are over-saturated with our own digital footprints. I know I am. Other than the book being a mini-bio of Henry David Thoreau, it also functioned as a mitigation tool for the aforementioned digital saturation.
There were also suggestions on how to otherwise (beyond digitally) live a well-balanced and simpler life. Among the tools documented were the minimalist lifestyle, community engagement, family and friend time, work-life balance, vacation, staycation, meditation, and more.
Each chapter ended with a handful of questions to contemplate and throughout, the author provided references to other authors and techniques. I’ve already ordered a book that she references a handful of times. Congrats to the author on her first publication.
September 4, 2025
This was the perfect book at the perfect time for me. I devoured it in 2 days and made 91 highlights.
It breaks down Thoreau’s important points from Walden, using his quotes but explained in today’s language. The author is a guide through Walden’s thoughts on defining for oneself a life worth living.
It breaks down Thoreau’s important points from Walden, using his quotes but explained in today’s language. The author is a guide through Walden’s thoughts on defining for oneself a life worth living.
July 2, 2025
Finding Your Walden is a refreshingly simple look at a complicated character—Henry David Thoreau—and the timeless wisdom he offers in our fast-paced modern world. McGivney strips away the academic pretense often surrounding Thoreau, instead offering a deeply accessible and honest interpretation of his ideals. With warmth and clarity, she invites readers to consider what “living deliberately” truly means today.
This book isn’t just a reflection on Thoreau’s life at Walden Pond—it’s a gentle guide to simplifying your own. Through thoughtful anecdotes, modern analogies, and quiet encouragement, Finding Your Walden helps readers carve out space for what truly matters: nature, stillness, purpose, and authenticity. McGivney is as soothing as she is inspiring, offering a grounded perspective in a world overwhelmed by noise.
Whether you're already a fan of Thoreau or completely new to his work, this book is a great read. It's not just a tribute to a philosophical giant—it’s a call to action, or rather, a call to stillness. By the final page, you may find yourself longing for your own version of Walden—a simpler life filled with meaning, reflection, and peace.
This book isn’t just a reflection on Thoreau’s life at Walden Pond—it’s a gentle guide to simplifying your own. Through thoughtful anecdotes, modern analogies, and quiet encouragement, Finding Your Walden helps readers carve out space for what truly matters: nature, stillness, purpose, and authenticity. McGivney is as soothing as she is inspiring, offering a grounded perspective in a world overwhelmed by noise.
Whether you're already a fan of Thoreau or completely new to his work, this book is a great read. It's not just a tribute to a philosophical giant—it’s a call to action, or rather, a call to stillness. By the final page, you may find yourself longing for your own version of Walden—a simpler life filled with meaning, reflection, and peace.
July 4, 2025
One of my favorite books EVER!!!!
August 11, 2025
I have limited time for leisure/fun reading. This was a quick read. Put it down a couple times, but it kept pulling me back until I finished it. Excellent interpretation of Walden with nice historical background. Emerson and Thoreau among my favorites. Now I want to go back and read Walden again with a new perspective.
August 10, 2025
Lovely and inspiring the entire way through.
Grateful to have come across this book.
Grateful to have come across this book.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews