by bill-youngs | Oct 24, 2023 | Fireside Talks
History 452 Graduate Students: This essay has a word or two about the seemingly unlikely connection between mechanical and humanistic talents in three leading naturalists. In looking for the final version of the ms, I was unable to find the latest draft; so the...
by Brian O'Riley | Sep 14, 2023 | Fireside Talks
During the past couple of months in History 453 we have often discussed the spiritual value of wilderness; and during the past couple of weeks we have studied a closely-related concept, the therapeutic value of wilderness — think Nash and “Wild.”....
by Brian O'Riley | Sep 14, 2023 | Fireside Talks
(This post, written several years ago, reviews some of our previous lessons about wilderness in general and Walden Pond in particular.) As we continue our History 453 visit to Walden Pond this weekend, I will show you more of the pond and its most famous resident,...
by Brian O'Riley | Sep 14, 2023 | Fireside Talks
Note: I originally wrote this post several years ago — it is still relevant! Hello, Friends, Several years ago I wrote a Fireside Talk from the shores of Walden Pond — the most famous pond in the universe (really!) and the “wilderness” home of...
by Brian O'Riley | Nov 22, 2019 | Fireside Talks
(Note: I wrote this post two years ago, but it is as relevant for our class today as it was then.) November 22, 2019 I am writing this post from my lodging near Walden Pond. Let’s begin with a map: I’m staying across the road at “Thoreau’s...
