Book Reviews




The Essays of Henry David Thoreau, Edited by Lewis Hyde



This collection of essays include the following and more:


A Winter Walk
Civil Disobedience
Slavery in Massachusetts
Life Without Principle


The book interestingly combines together Thoreau's essays on politics and 
nature,which have often been seperated in previous collections of his 
writings. This gives the reader a basis to explore the parallels or 
differences between his views about the natural world and of politics. Mr. 
Hyde, the books editor, remarks, "...I find that I hear a number of things 
differently when I turn back to the earlier essays with the Brown case 
echoing in my ears"(pg.xlvi).


image of John Nash
A Beautiful Mind, by Sylvia Nasar


This is quite an informative and thoroughly written biography of John 
Forbes Nash Jr., the Nobel Laureate.  The book gives an account of the 
trials and trivialties which John Nash has encountered from the beginning 
of his life up to the early 90's. The contents of the motion picture which 
followed the book's publication is really less than 50% of whats revealed 
in the actual book.


Photo courtesy of -gap.dcs.stand.ac.uk

My Friend, My Friend: The Story of Thoreau's Relationship With Emerson, By Harmon Smith


The book gives an account of how Emerson and Thoreau met, gradually became 
close friends, then later grew apart. According to the book, Emerson's 
relationship to Thoreau was a major influential factor in how Thoreau 
devoloped as a writer. Even as the two grew apart, Emerson continued to 
shape Thoreau's ideals in ways which the book gives an interesting account 
of.

Tuesdays With Morrie, By Mitch Albom

This book is a real small treasure. It's few pages are filled with an 
enlightening and true story about the bonds of friendship between a 
teacher and a student. The student is actually Mitch Albom, the author of 
the book. The book gets into the murky topic about dying, yet in a way 
which shines a bright light onto the topic. Morrie once said, "When you 
learn how to die, you learn how to live." --Yet another quote for one to 
think about.

Back to Home
   
Last revised 5/04