Thoreau As Spiritual Guide: A Companion to Walden for Personal Reflection and Group Discussion

by Barry M. Andrews

Walden, one of America's classic works on non-fiction, gets a fresh examination from a faith-based, and meditative perspective. Thoreau and the Trancendentalists tried to achieve a balance in their lives between work and leisure, nature and civilization, society and solitude, spiritual aspirations and moral behavior. This guide helps one "walk" through Walden again and find its soul while expanding your own.

Genres: Spirituality, Philosophy

69 pages, Paperback

First published May 15, 2000

Reviews

[Mind the Book · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kloka ord funna i 'local authors'-hyllan i ö-indiebokhandeln Eagle Harbor Book Co. på Bainbridge Island utanför Seattle.



"... the cry was ever 'Duty, Duty! Work, Work! They failed to address with equal power, the Soul, and did not also shout Joy! Joy! Delight! Delight!"

Utöver historik och andlig introduktion till Transcendentalismen består boken av kapitelsammanfattningar av Walden och därefter frågor att fundera på. Materialet kan användas som vägledning i diskussionsgrupper eller för personlig utveckling - mot ett bättre och mer balanserat samhälle.

Utmärkt underlag, i urval, för reflektion:

How much leisure do you have? In Thoreau's view leisure was for the pursuit of self-culture, the cultivation of the soul. How do you "spend" your leisure time? What, for you, are "the finer fruits of life?"

What role does reading play in your life? What do you read, and what do you read for?

Have you ever felt that you had more lives to live? Did you make any changes in your life as a result? How do you keep your life from becoming routine?

Thoreau says he needs "a broad margin" to his life. Do you try to provide a broad margin to your life? What are some of the ways you do so?

Where do you feel most at home? How would you describe the experience of being centered and grounded? Might any spot be a place for a home?

Have you done anything to simplify your own life? What did you do? What did you discover about yourself as a result?

[...] "something as intangible and indescribable as the tints of morning or evening. It is a little star-dust caught, a segment of the rainbow which I have clutched." What is "the true harvest" of your daily life?

[Carmen]

Considering preaching on Thoreau as a father to UUs for Father's Day.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this before reading Walden, and it gave a clear and concise breakdown of the main points in each chapter. It was a really lovely companion guide. There are excellent discussion questions as well as additional reading suggestions, so it's a great resource for book clubs or for digging deeper into any areas of particular interest. You could even read this book without reading Walden and still get a thorough appreciation of Thoreau's ideas and ambitions. We read both books for our Unitarian Universalist history book club.

[Harold Jr. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Superb book for doing just what the title says - engaging in personal reflection and group discussion.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good companion to reading or rereading Walden.

[Erin Regneri · Rating 4 out of 5]

HDT is my personal spiritual guru. As a nature-worshipper, a UU, and one who has extensively studied, (and has a huge dead celebrity crush on), Thoreau, this book was well worth my time. It took me just a little deeper into Thoreau's world of Walden Pond, and was really inspiring to continue trying to live in the world as he did.

[Andrea Wandersee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a lovely book - it gave many of the highlights of Walden and some thoughtful analysis and questions for reflection.