1. “I wanted to live deep and suck out all the marrow of life”

2.  Born in Concord, Mass. in 1817 and lived there most of his life.  Graduated from Harvard at 20

3.  Taught at his old grammar school, but refused to physically discipline the students and resigned.  Started a progressive school with brother that was successful. But it closed about 3 years later.

4.  While at Harvard, he read and was influenced by Emerson.  The two became friends and he moved in with Emerson, working as a handyman (1841-1843)

5.  He contributed to The Dial, the Transcendental magazine Emerson started.  Poetry, literary essays, and the first of his nature essays.

6.  Wrote about everything: war, slavery, wealth, vegetarianism, gardening.  Most of his journal entries were turned into essays or parts of books  Most of his journal entries were turned into essays or parts of books.

7.  Life changer: built a cabin on land Emerson owned at Walden Pond in 1845

8.  First book was published while he was there – inspired by his brother’s death.  Spent time at Walden Pond reading, writing, meditating, observing.

9.  Explores what’s important in life.  Reflects changes in New England and response to industrialization.  Became the cornerstone of environmentalism.