Thoreau and the Art of Life Reflections on Nature and the Mystery of Existence

Featuring nearly 100 luminous watercolour illustrations, Thoreau and the Art of Life collects eloquent passages from the writings of the seminal author and philosopher. Drawn mainly from his journals, the short excerpts provide fascinating insight into his thought processes by presenting his raw, unedited feelings about the things that meant the most to him. The book reflects Thoreau's deep beliefs and ideas about nature, relationships, creativity, spirituality, ageing, simplicity, and wisdom. By eloquently expressing his thoughts about life and what gives it value, he leads the reader to a closer examination of life. Thoreau's work asks us to live our own truths with joy and discipline and to recognize that we live in a universe of extraordinary beauty, mystery, and wonder. An avid reader of Thoreau, editor and illustrator Roderick MacIver organized the passages by themes. The book includes a chronology and brief biography. Thoreau's words of wisdom combined with MacIver's vivid illustrations of the American landscape will resonate with nature enthusiasts and a broad range of readers interested in art, environmentalism, literature, and philosophy.

Henry David Thoreau (1817—1862) is best known for his book Walden and his essay Civil Disobedience.

Roderick MacIver’s artwork appears in collections worldwide. The founder of Heron Dance, an organization celebrating the human connection to nature through art, he lives in New York’s Adirondack Mountains.