Featuring nearly 100 luminous watercolor illustrations, <i>Thoreau and the Art of Life </i>collects eloquent passages from the writings<i> </i>of the seminal author and philosopher. Drawn mainly from<i> </i>his journals, the short excerpts provide fascinating insight into<i> </i>his thought processes by presenting his raw, unedited feelings<i> </i>about the things that meant the most to him. The book reflects<i> </i>Thoreau&#8217;s deep beliefs and ideas about nature, relationships, creativity,<i> </i>spirituality, aging, simplicity, and wisdom. By eloquently<i> </i>expressing his thoughts about life and what gives it value, he<i> </i>leads the reader to a closer examination of life. Thoreau&#8217;s work<i> </i>asks us to live our own truths with joy and discipline and to recognize<i> </i>that we live in a universe of extraordinary beauty, mystery,<i> </i>and wonder.<i> </i><br><br>An avid reader of Thoreau, editor and illustrator Roderick<i> </i>MacIver organized the passages by themes: love and friendship;<i> </i>art, creativity, and writing; aging, disease, and death; human society<i> </i>and culture; nature and the human connection to the natural<i> </i>world; and wisdom, truth, solitude, and simplicity. The book<i> </i>includes a chronology and brief biography. Thoreau&#8217;s words of<i> </i>wisdom combined with MacIver&#8217;s vivid illustrations of the American<i> </i>landscape will resonate with nature enthusiasts and a broad<i> </i>range of readers interested in art, environmentalism, literature, and<i> </i>philosophy.