[WhoIsSatoshi]

I feel this article is more of a critique of character than it is that of Thoreau's writing. I stumbled into Walden in my 30s and figured I'd continue my classic exploration. After a month of trying to get through the first few chapters, all I could tell myself was that I hated this book, and couldn't figure out why in hell people were praising it. I wanted to make sense out of it, get a grand picture: I wanted to extract the wisdom Thoreau was surely pouring through the pages! I was miserable, my experience was horrible. Reading felt forced, the text itself dense and unenjoyable. After some thought, I resolved to just get through the pages, and not try to make sense out of it, just cruising through. From then on, the pages and the words took on a different meaning - it wasn't about an idea to be extracted, but about simply enjoying the words on the pages. The moment I stopped trying to make sense out of the book, I started enjoying the words on their own, and they turned out to be the most beautiful friends through my reading.

"Walden" is my favorite book to this day. If you try to analyze it, you might get lost in the weeds - I feel this is what happened with the author of that article here - there's a story in it: Don't focus on it, just let your mind wander and enjoy the pure, humble beauty laid bare throughout.

[controversy]

Thoreau's philosophy is an existential one. It is rooted in his ethos. As such, an ad hominem attack is a valid rebut to his system. The man extolled the virtues of living on one's own. On reducing to the essences life by means of a certain self-reliant stoicism. The man did not practice what he preached. Therefore his entire view is bollocks. It's not humble, it's narcissistic meanderings.

[_0ffh]

>The man did not practice what he preached

Maybe the point is that he would have liked to be able to put what he preached into practice, but wasn't. Maybe he couldn't even admit that to himself. Still, this longing might make his preachings resonate with others sharing that same desire. Just speculating here.