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Going Out for a Walk
"Going Out for a Walk", is an essay by Max Beerbohm, written in 1918 and was published in 1920 in the essay collection And Even Now. The essay fights the notion that taking a walk is a matter of the brain needing release and more so conflicted when there is a talkative companion.
67 pages, Paperback
First published August 18, 1920
3 people want to read
About the author
Max Beerbohm
281 books92 followersSir Henry Maximilian Beerbohm, as "Max," known British writ, apparently wrote
Caricatures of Twenty-five Gentlemen
in 1896.
Henry Maximilian Beerbohm served as an English essayist, parodist.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Max_Bee...
Henry Maximilian Beerbohm served as an English essayist, parodist.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Max_Bee...
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
May 30, 2022
The premise of the essay is dreadfully uncomplicated. Anybody can comprehend this easy and admired topic.
More often than not, people are especially doting as regards walking and they put forth too much in this activity. The essayist does not condemn walking. He is simply critical of the notion of walking for walking’s sake.
If one goes for a walking under obligation, it hinders one’s thinking process. It is in moderation that walking should be done.
The title “On Going out for a Walk” is implied for “Not going out for a walk.” Beerbohm is not supportive of going for a walk.
He initiates the essay with an announcement, “It is a fact that not once in all my life have I gone out for a walk.”
Without a doubt he is not against going out for a walk but he acrimoniously criticises the walk-mongers who do this action just for the sake of walking. People over-exert themselves while going for a walk. Beerbohm justifies his opinion that walking should be in restraint, not in surplus. It would be right to say that the title of the essay is appealing, fitting and stimulating
Beerbohm in a confessional tenor says that he has never gone out for a walk though he was taken out for walks. He gives a jerk to the customary approach of the people who think that there is something intrinsically dignified and righteous In the desire to go for a walk. There are some people who have the delusion that they must make an impression upon others to go for a walk. He calls such people “walk-mongers”.
The author has unyielding reasons to rationalize his point of view: “People seem to think there is something inherently noble and virtuous in the desire to go for a walk. Any one thus desirous feels that he has a right to impose his will on whomever he sees comfortably settled in an arm-chair reading.”
The essay has the constituent of humour. The author is grateful to London where, keeping in mind its pollution and climate, nobody would ask him to come out and go for a walk. If somebody forces him to do so, he has many convincing excuses like writing some imperative letters, description of the activities of a companion. The essay is full of humour and irony.
The main irritant for the essayist is in the belief of the people “walking for walking’s sake”. Such a walk hampers the working of the brain.
Many writers and intellectuals face a lot of distraction when they are forced to leave their attentiveness on their creative art and are urged to go on a walk. He makes an assault on these walk-mongers when he asks an awe-inspiring question, “The ideas that came so thick and fast to him in any room, where are they now ?... gone is the light from his fine eyes.”
The state of affairs deteriorates when a gifted and thinking person is accompanied by a loquacious companion. The companion will pamper in extolling the person. Many times he would waste time on useless talks. A sensible man would never tolerate such a companion especially in a walk. The poor man will definitely become mentally a wreck.
After such an astringent lesson in the morning that person will never dare to think of another walk.
A man says Beerbohm, with his reasoning faculties, would never go for a walk. Such a walk will give birth to a conflict between the soul and the body. Body will push the man to rally ahead but the brain will pull the body with solid reasons.
The brain would ask the relevance of such an activity. The body would do it because It is a noble and grand act to go for a walk, but the brain would call it “tomfoolery”.
The author concludes the essay by saying that strenuous physical efforts are no longer required. The brain would give preference to other vehicles of exercise. Extremism in this field is not going to pay dividends. The author endorses moderation in this field of activity. Whatever the people may say, the author is not going to be swayed by them. He says,
“Even f you go to some definite place. for some definite purpose, the brain would rather you took a vehicle: but it does not make a point of this: It will serve you well enough unless you are going for a walk.”
Beerbohm has given a nudge to the people with orthodox thinking about certain concepts. He makes us think about the utility of walking. He clearly states that walking has got no effect if it is done under pressure. Some people put forth too much physical exercise but it can be counterproductive. The relevance of walking touches its lowest point when one Is accompanied by a talkative person. The essay is really thought-provoking because it puts to test longstanding beliefs about walking.
Beerbohm is more often than not personal in his writings, It is quite obvious from this essay. He does not have any liking for walking. He confesses that he had never been on a walking trip, enjoying the scenic beauty of nature.
He considers walking an ineffective activity.
I assume he composed the essay during the course of his walk, he considers it to be a fruitless task. He agrees that walking in moderation is a fine exercise but if anybody insists him to do a physical exercise — walking —, he would be the last person to do so.
More often than not, people are especially doting as regards walking and they put forth too much in this activity. The essayist does not condemn walking. He is simply critical of the notion of walking for walking’s sake.
If one goes for a walking under obligation, it hinders one’s thinking process. It is in moderation that walking should be done.
The title “On Going out for a Walk” is implied for “Not going out for a walk.” Beerbohm is not supportive of going for a walk.
He initiates the essay with an announcement, “It is a fact that not once in all my life have I gone out for a walk.”
Without a doubt he is not against going out for a walk but he acrimoniously criticises the walk-mongers who do this action just for the sake of walking. People over-exert themselves while going for a walk. Beerbohm justifies his opinion that walking should be in restraint, not in surplus. It would be right to say that the title of the essay is appealing, fitting and stimulating
Beerbohm in a confessional tenor says that he has never gone out for a walk though he was taken out for walks. He gives a jerk to the customary approach of the people who think that there is something intrinsically dignified and righteous In the desire to go for a walk. There are some people who have the delusion that they must make an impression upon others to go for a walk. He calls such people “walk-mongers”.
The author has unyielding reasons to rationalize his point of view: “People seem to think there is something inherently noble and virtuous in the desire to go for a walk. Any one thus desirous feels that he has a right to impose his will on whomever he sees comfortably settled in an arm-chair reading.”
The essay has the constituent of humour. The author is grateful to London where, keeping in mind its pollution and climate, nobody would ask him to come out and go for a walk. If somebody forces him to do so, he has many convincing excuses like writing some imperative letters, description of the activities of a companion. The essay is full of humour and irony.
The main irritant for the essayist is in the belief of the people “walking for walking’s sake”. Such a walk hampers the working of the brain.
Many writers and intellectuals face a lot of distraction when they are forced to leave their attentiveness on their creative art and are urged to go on a walk. He makes an assault on these walk-mongers when he asks an awe-inspiring question, “The ideas that came so thick and fast to him in any room, where are they now ?... gone is the light from his fine eyes.”
The state of affairs deteriorates when a gifted and thinking person is accompanied by a loquacious companion. The companion will pamper in extolling the person. Many times he would waste time on useless talks. A sensible man would never tolerate such a companion especially in a walk. The poor man will definitely become mentally a wreck.
After such an astringent lesson in the morning that person will never dare to think of another walk.
A man says Beerbohm, with his reasoning faculties, would never go for a walk. Such a walk will give birth to a conflict between the soul and the body. Body will push the man to rally ahead but the brain will pull the body with solid reasons.
The brain would ask the relevance of such an activity. The body would do it because It is a noble and grand act to go for a walk, but the brain would call it “tomfoolery”.
The author concludes the essay by saying that strenuous physical efforts are no longer required. The brain would give preference to other vehicles of exercise. Extremism in this field is not going to pay dividends. The author endorses moderation in this field of activity. Whatever the people may say, the author is not going to be swayed by them. He says,
“Even f you go to some definite place. for some definite purpose, the brain would rather you took a vehicle: but it does not make a point of this: It will serve you well enough unless you are going for a walk.”
Beerbohm has given a nudge to the people with orthodox thinking about certain concepts. He makes us think about the utility of walking. He clearly states that walking has got no effect if it is done under pressure. Some people put forth too much physical exercise but it can be counterproductive. The relevance of walking touches its lowest point when one Is accompanied by a talkative person. The essay is really thought-provoking because it puts to test longstanding beliefs about walking.
Beerbohm is more often than not personal in his writings, It is quite obvious from this essay. He does not have any liking for walking. He confesses that he had never been on a walking trip, enjoying the scenic beauty of nature.
He considers walking an ineffective activity.
I assume he composed the essay during the course of his walk, he considers it to be a fruitless task. He agrees that walking in moderation is a fine exercise but if anybody insists him to do a physical exercise — walking —, he would be the last person to do so.
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