For one hundred and seventy years, Thoreau's book has invited readers to re-examine their lives. Offering himself as an example ("not wanting, when [he] came to die, to discover that [he] had not lived"), he questions pressure to adopt soul-scorching socioeconomic norms and, at the same time, he celebrates nature's power to renew and reinvigorate. We will read Walden slowly together—one or two chapters per session. This will enable us to savor the wit and style that make Thoreau's analysis of the human condition, including its environmental context,  so potent. Participants will need to bring a complete, unabridged copy of Walden to each session. Those who do not already own a copy can consult the class manager, who will have information about suggested paperbacks.