Walden, and On the Duty of Civil Disobedience

In these two American literary classics, Henry David Thoreau offers readers his experiences and thoughts on how to live a more fulfilling life and stand up for what is right. Having spent two years living in solitude at Walden Pond, he stresses the importance of a quiet, reflective life and the rewards of a nonmaterialistic existence in Walden. His essay "On the Duty of Civil Disobedience" discusses his belief in nonviolent protests against an unjust government-in particular, he attacks the US government's approval of slavery and support for the Mexican-American War. These unabridged versions were first published in 1854 and 1849, respectively, but their ideas are timeless.