Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Books can be dangerous

Helen Exley once said, "Books can be dangerous. The best ones should be labeled, "This could change your life." Today, I found this note to Louisa May Alcott on top of her grave site in Sleepy Hallow Cemetery in Concord, MA. Truthfully, I did not come to the cemetery for Alcott, although I appreciate her work, I came to the cemetery for Emerson and ever more specifically Henry David Thoreau. Thoreau's Walden changed my life. I am here at Walden Pond now. And it has been nothing short of an environmental pilgrimmage. I feel it all - the wildness, the beauty- just like Thoreau wrote about in his book. I feel the words in the air. I can hear him say "Live Deliberately, Jamie." I intend to, Mr. Thoreau. I promise.

Oh books! Enlighten me. Forever. What book (s) have changed your life?

1 comment:

  1. One of the most influential books for me is "Man's Search for Meaning" by Viktor Frankl. Highly recommend everyone read this book.

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