Reviews - Walden: And, Civil Disobedience

The more I think about this book. The more it annoys me. Being an environmentalist this books is posed as a sort of bible to simple living; but as I keep thinking about it I can’t help but feel this book is an exercise in privilege. The tone of classism is a condescending view the author pushes especially when he calls the only man who visits him (a farmer) and shows any kindness “a dog living a dog’s life.” And when people in a town he visits express concern or gossips about him he redacts and acts as if he is the correct and smart one in the situation. I was hoping for more self reflection on how nature affected him and the book has it but the overall mansplaining-like prose is annoying especially when the author compares his project of building a shack on a pond to a god creating a world you realize he is just an asshole. The “Live a simple by but removing one’s desires” message is the 1800s equivalent of an admitting really smart guy mansplaining empathy to you except unlike finance bros on shrooms I don’t believe Thoreau gained any deeper knowledge of himself.

Civil Disobedience is a fire essay so it gets two stars for that.

morganbradyyy's review against another edition

1.0

Actually the most boring book I have ever read. Thoreau literally wrote down every thought he had and put it in a book and it shows. This man invented mansplaining.

danidep's review against another edition

3.75

hopeful reflective slow-paced

mighty_dumpling's review against another edition

2.5

hopeful informative lighthearted reflective relaxing slow-paced

The first half is full of little wisdoms that can be debated for a greater value. It's the part I enjoyed.

The second half is boooring. Walden talks about the life on the shed but in such a bloated, self-loving way I just couldn't get to like.

I respect Walden for having done this experience and thank him for the book. Maybe I will do this, too in the future. His views on society are scewered at best as he blatantly ignores some pressing issues while romanticizing others.

Content Warnings

miss_tarols's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous reflective medium-paced

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