“Though I do not believe that a plant will spring up where no seed has been, I have great faith in a seed. Convince me that you have a seed there, and I am prepared to expect wonders.”
– Henry David Thoreau
Kevin Dann is a historian, naturalist, and troubadour, and author of ten books, including Expect Great Things: The Life and Search of Henry David Thoreau; Bright Colors Falsely Seen: Synaesthesia and the Search for Transcendental Knowledge; Across the Great Border Fault: The Naturalist Myth in America; and Lewis Creek Lost and Found. Dann has taught at Rutgers University, University of Vermont, and the State University of New York. In the spring of 2009, Dann walked from Montreal to Manhattan to commemorate the 400th anniversaries of Hudson’s and Champlain’s voyages, and, having crossed the Brooklyn Bridge, decided to stay here. (adapted from drdann.com)
In this episode, Kevin shares his journey with Thoreau with us, the importance of careful attention to reality, and the two questions he would ask Thoreau if he had the chance. You can learn more about Kevin’s work at drdann.com.
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EPISODE SHOW NOTES
Recent Books by Kevin Dann
- Expect Great Things: The Life and Search of Henry David Thoreau
- Bright Colors Falsely Seen: Synaesthesia and the Search for Transcendental Knowledge
- Across the Great Border Fault: The Naturalist Myth in America
- Lewis Creek Lost and Found.
Resources Mentioned
- Expect Great Things: The Life and Search of Henry David Thoreau by Kevin Dann
- “Thoreau the Weird: A New Interpretation of His Philosophy” by John Kaag (NY Times Book Review)
- Walden by Henry David Thoreau
- Week on the Concord and Merrimack Rivers by Henry David Thoreau
- Page 99 Test
People
- Henry David Thoreau
- Plotinus
- John of the Cross
- Simone Weil
- Thomas Merton
- Johann Woflgang von Goethe
- Ralph Waldo Emerson
Drinks Pairings
Black strap molasses and nut milk
Highlights
3m Importance of being surrounded by books and rules of thumb
9m15s Why did I want to interview Kevin Dann on Thoreau?
11m The intimacy of journals
21m30s the literary genius of Thoreau and Walden‘s place in education
25m The rhythms of meditation and walking
27m America’s perennial need to simplify
28m35s You are the first to note that Thoreau uses the words ‘sympathy’ and ‘love’ repeatedly in his journals, what do you think that says about him?
36m Can you speak to the mentoring relationship and friendship between Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau?
41m10s Can you share about Thoreau’s spirituality? And his experience of the Christ visiting him at Walden?
48m55s Thoreau’s attention and presence
53m27s If you could go on a walk with Thoreau and ask 2 questions, what would you ask him?
58m What drink would you recommend to pair with this conversation on Thoreau?
Photo credit: Death To Stock Photo
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