Walden Contemporaneous

Thoreau's Values for Today

Non-Fiction - Cultural
262 Pages
Reviewed on 02/23/2023
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    Book Review

Reviewed by Foluso Falaye for Readers' Favorite

Norman Weeks' Walden Contemporaneous explores Henry David Thoreau's mid-nineteenth-century book, Walden, utilizing its words of wisdom to provide answers to difficulties Americans face today. Norman discusses how discovering Henry's work impacted him and how similar their points of view are. He provides a fascinating peek into his own life, including his travel adventures and his hunt for work while attempting to escape being recruited into the Vietnam War, which he never supported. The book delves into Thoreau's life choices, including his determination to connect with nature and live modestly. Norman Weeks investigates why Thoreau's philosophy made sense in his day, and why choosing it over today's consumerism and the intense use of technology is a rational road to fulfillment and happiness. Can the ideas and experiences of a brilliant misfit from two centuries ago help today's generation?

I enjoyed reading Walden Contemporaneous since it is a blend of memorable and valuable ideas from two distinct eras. It comprises memoirs and intellectual analyses of two extraordinary people who chose to live consciously. I completely agree with Norman Weeks that insatiable desire is a major issue today, even though many countries throughout the world have more food and comfort than ever before. Also, I liked that Norman does not take Thoreau's comments at face value. He examines them carefully and recognizes the presence of contradictions, paradoxes, and ambiguities. As a result, I felt certain that I was reading his logical, and unapologetically candid ideas. Any mature mind will benefit from Walden Contemporaneous' significant insights on historical and contemporary challenges in several sectors such as education, economy, society, religion, and more. The book is a must-read for misfits and everyone interested in happiness, nature, philosophy, or anthology.