Walden and On the Duty of Civil Disobedience cover art

Walden and On the Duty of Civil Disobedience

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Walden and On the Duty of Civil Disobedience

By: Henry David Thoreau
Narrated by: Robin Field
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About this listen

 In the early spring of 1845, Henry David Thoreau built and lived in a cabin near the shore of Walden Pond in rural Massachusetts. For the next two years, he enacted his own Transcendentalist experiment, living a simple life based on self-reliance, individualism, and harmony with nature. The journal he kept at that time evolved into his masterwork, Walden, an eloquent expression of a uniquely American philosophy.

During the same period, Thoreau endured a one-day imprisonment for his refusal to pay a poll tax, an act of protest against the government for supporting the Mexican War, to which he was morally opposed. In his essay, "On the Duty of Civil Disobedience," Thoreau defends the principles of such nonviolent protest, setting an example that has influenced such figures as Gandhi and Martin Luther King, Jr., and endures to this day.

Public Domain (P)1997 Blackstone Audio, Inc. Essays Nature & Ecology Outdoors & Nature Science United States World Literature Nonfiction

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Critic reviews

"Walden is a major philosophical statement on the American character....as readable and perhaps even more timely than when it was written." ( Masterpieces of World Literature)
All stars
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This is a great narration of my favourite book ever. The voice fits Thoreau very well. Definitely listen while this is in the audible library, and definitely pay for it if not.

6 STARS

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Great. Just put the speed up a little, since Robin Field likes to take his time with each word.

Awesome

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it's a good book, especially as for something written so long ago. still relevant. it's just so slow... the author took their time;)

good but slow

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I'll be honest, the guy isn't clueless and knows a lot of stuff. And I sometimes find myself agreeing with him. But, in the end, it still feels like the ponderings of a teenager who judges people for things like buying a house instead of building it itself or living in a tent.

It doesn't help that it is read by an old guy with the cadence of a churchpreach.

Preachy, judgemental ponderings

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A classic book and I really enjoyed the narration on this, it suited it well.

great listen

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Such an incredible talent with words (and sentences!) made this exploration of nature, and our place within it, an absolutely engaging pleasure. So refreshing to read a philosophy that has respect for plants, animals, and the planet beyond how it relates to us as a species. Although occasionally inconsistent, this lack of single-minded dogma added to the sense of freedom that the writing imparted. It was well read too. Highly recommended!

A deep love of nature combined with insightful, relevant philosophy!

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Another brilliant narration by Robin Field. He excels at American non-fiction works of the nineteenth century, and I must explore his range further.

Two Classics Very Well Read

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i got to chapter 4, then after looking up the book to discover the chapter titles (as they are not given on audible), I came across the chapters in summary with quotations given. at this point i realised that this audibook is in the wrong order. chapter 4 on the audiobook is in fact chapter 2 of the book. what a waste of time! returning immediately.

chapters in the wrong order

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