#417: Expect Great Things — The Mystical Life of Henry David Thoreau

#417: Expect Great Things — The Mystical Life of Henry David Thoreau

Henry David Thoreau is one of America’s most influential thinkers and writers. 164 years after it was published, Walden continues to inspire readers to get out into nature and march to the beat of their own drummer.

But what was the worldview of the man who wrote those immortal words?

Well, for one thing, Thoreau believed in the existence of fairies.

That’s one of the insights my guest mined as he explored the intellectual and spiritual life of Henry David Thoreau. His name is Kevin Dann and in his book, Expect Great Things: The Life and Search of Henry David Thoreau, he takes readers on a tour of the inner life of a uniquely American philosopher.

Today on the show I talk to Kevin about the mystical life of Henry David Thoreau, and why Kevin would actually say that mystical isn't quite the right word to describe Thoreau. And yes, we dig into Thoreau’s belief in fairies and how, despite his magical outlook on life, he was also a keen scientific observer.

You’re never going to read Walden the same way after listening to this episode.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jaksot(1158)

An Undercover Cop’s Tips on How to Influence Others and Navigate Life

An Undercover Cop’s Tips on How to Influence Others and Navigate Life

It’s not uncommon for former law enforcement officers and intelligence agents to write self-help books where they share how the lessons they learned in their professional careers can apply to people i...

11 Marras 202446min

When to Eat — The Optimal Schedule for Metabolic Health

When to Eat — The Optimal Schedule for Metabolic Health

When it comes to weight management and all-around good metabolic health, we most often think about what to eat. But my guest would say that it's also crucial to think about when to eat,Emily Manoogian...

6 Marras 202440min

A Bible for Heroes — The Influential Book Read By History's Eminent Men

A Bible for Heroes — The Influential Book Read By History's Eminent Men

In 18th century America, this book was second in popularity only to the Bible.It was a favorite of many thinkers and leaders throughout history, including Emerson, Napoleon, Machiavelli, Nietzsche, an...

4 Marras 202452min

Are You a Thrill Seeker or a Chill Seeker?

Are You a Thrill Seeker or a Chill Seeker?

This episode starts off a little differently than others — with a short quiz, something called the Brief Sensation-Seeking Scale, which will tell you whether you're what psychologists call a high sens...

30 Loka 202432min

Ouch! That Stings! Why Rejection Hurts So Much (And How to Deal With It)

Ouch! That Stings! Why Rejection Hurts So Much (And How to Deal With It)

“Nothing takes the taste out of peanut butter quite like unrequited love,” Charlie Brown once said. Indeed, being spurned by one's crush, or, for that matter, by a friend or potential employer, not on...

28 Loka 202440min

How to Avoid Death by Comfort

How to Avoid Death by Comfort

Note: This is a rebroadcast.Nietzsche's maxim, "What doesn't kill you makes you stronger," isn't just a sound philosophical principle. It's also a certifiable physiological phenomenon; toxins and stre...

23 Loka 202456min

Lee Child the Writer, Jack Reacher the Character, and the Enduring Appeal of Lone Wolves

Lee Child the Writer, Jack Reacher the Character, and the Enduring Appeal of Lone Wolves

In creating the Jack Reacher character, Lee Child launched a series of books that now boast 100 million copies in print and have been turned into movies and a popular Amazon streaming series.Today on ...

21 Loka 202447min

Money CAN Buy Happiness (If You Use It In These Ways)

Money CAN Buy Happiness (If You Use It In These Ways)

Money can't buy happiness. It sounds good as a bumper sticker platitude.But the truth is, money can buy happiness. At least sometimes. In certain circumstances. If we view it and use it in the right w...

16 Loka 202447min

Suosittua kategoriassa Koulutus

rss-murhan-anatomia
psykopodiaa-podcast
voi-hyvin-meditaatiot-2
rss-narsisti
adhd-podi
rss-rahamania
psykologia
kesken
ihminen-tavattavissa-tommy-hellsten-instituutti
rss-valo-minussa-2
rss-vapaudu-voimaasi
leikitaanko-laakaria
jari-sarasvuo-podcast
rss-duodecim-lehti
rss-tietoinen-yhteys-podcast-2
mielipaivakirja
rss-turun-yliopisto
rahapuhetta
rss-niinku-asia-on
rss-liian-kuuma-peruna