Henry David Thoreau 1817-1862
American Author and Naturalist
Henry David Thoreau thought the world around him was too focused on making and spending money. In 1845, he built a small cabin on the shore of Walden Pond, near Concord, Massachusetts. There, he could live a simple life.
Thoreau stayed for two years. He observed nature and wrote about what he saw and thought. He went for a four-hour walk every day and spent another four hours reading. He planted and grew potatoes, corn, peas, turnips, and beans.
During his time at Walden Pond, Thoreau saw that all of nature seemed to fit together. Today we might call that an ecosystem. An ecosystem is a community that works together as a unit. Thoreau kept a journal. This became his book, Walden. One hundred and fifty years after it was first published, Walden is still a popular guide on how to live a good, simple life.
Critical Thinking
During his time on Walden Pond, what are some of the things that Thoreau did to try and live a simpler life?