Description
Book SynopsisFeaturing nearly 100 luminous watercolor 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, aging, 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: love and friendship;
art, creativity, and writing; aging, disease, and death; human society
and culture; nature and the human connection to the natural
world; and wisdom, truth, solitude, and simplicity. 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.
“It is something to be able to paint a particular picture, or to carve a statue, and so to make a few objects beautiful, but it is more glorious to carve and paint the very atmosphere and medium through which we look, which morally we can do. To affect the quality of the day, that is the highest of arts. Every man is tasked to make his life, even in its details, worthy of the contemplation of his most elevated and critical hour.”
—Henry David Thoreau
