I’ve found a copy of Thoreau’s Walden and am making good progress through the first section, Economy. I have to admit to being somewhat underwhelmed so far. Yes, he makes some good points–all we really, truly need is food, clothing, and shelter, and to pursue even those beyond the basic necessities can poison the soul–but it’s not enough that he make them. He has to belabor them–forty pages so far, and I’m only half way through this section.

My promise to you: When I get ready to write my magnum opus on self-reliance I won’t beat any single topic to death for more than, say, twenty to thirty pages tops.