Its surprisingly funny, especially for being 150 odd years old.

Walden is a call to action, and a good one at that, if it is bragging its bragging with the express purpose of saying that all that was done could be done by any reader. Thoreau’s rule of thumb that rent for a year could afford you a life of independence seems to still be a reasonable idea, while the exact budgeting and methods he lays out may not be as useful today they are reasonable guides. It is important to note that he is not advocating independence from community, help, friendship, and family bit rather an independence from a system built on its own back.

The Economy is the portion of this work that should be standard reading, the opinions stated and the issues faced still hold weight in hyper consumerism as they did in the 1800’s.

All in all it is a classic for a reason, Walden is a delight to read that uses humour, charm, and heart to persuade the reader towards its arguments that life is for the taking.

If you read it and loved it, listen to “Knock Knock” by SMOG