Product Description
Designed for school districts, educators, and students seeking to maximize performance on standardized tests, Webster’s paperbacks take advantage of the fact that classics are frequently assigned readings in English courses. By using a running thesaurus at the bottom of each page, this edition of Civil Disobedience by Henry David Thoreau was edited for students who are actively building their vocabularies in anticipation of taking PSAT¿, SAT¿, AP¿ (Advanced Place… More >>
#1 by Natasha C. Knobel on January 26, 2010 - 3:59 am
it wasn’t what I expected to receive with the English to Spanish stuff in it
Rating: 3 / 5
#2 by Scott Walker on January 26, 2010 - 5:35 am
His opening paragraph says it all: “That government is best which governs not at all.”
He ends with a brief stay in the local jail for tax evasion.
Prose on the state, government, patriotism, taxes and politicians.
Have not we all wanted to stand up at one time, then only to leave it as an afterthought, then to be forgotten.
Rating: 4 / 5
#3 by Bagels on January 26, 2010 - 7:50 am
This is a thoroughly American view on political theory given the emphasis on the individual coupled with the call for civil disobedience. Definitely not for the faint hearted, go into this with a grasp of the events of the day and a willingness to read the entire essay at least twice to fully appreciate Thoreau’s points.
Rating: 4 / 5
#4 by Robert W. Smith on January 26, 2010 - 9:02 am
Thoreau’s writing on “Duty of Civil Disobedience” is brilliant! I have LONG been a fan of the writings of HDT and once journeyed to Walden to see the cabin he lived in but a brief time. This book is so often cited as required reading among those who advocate non-violent protests. While I clearly see why it provides useful information for these purposes, I found myself disappointed by the rustic, “whiskey-rebellion” kind of thinking of anti-taxation given that he also advocates the reader’s taking benefits from the state. I’m now conflicted. I find the writings and man a genius, even in those instances in which I disagree with the extent of his anti-taxation position.
Rating: 5 / 5
#5 by Jonas Seelig De Bortoli on January 26, 2010 - 11:26 am
This was the first Thoreau’s book I read, and it inspired me to read some other of his writings. They are all inspirational, above average, writings. Well, about this book, a strong critic to United States government of his time (why not to extend that to ours, since it seems not much has changed…). He takes a position against slavery, as well as the war with Mexico.
I believe this is one of the most well written works fighting for the liberty of expression and against slavery I ever read.
His ideas about an unexistent State are at least discussible, since it seems very difficult to people live without any organizational structure. But, of course, we SHOULD discuss about State’s authority, as well its limits…
Thoreau’s own natural life was his inspiration, and (as we can see in his texts) he loved nature, and he spent a lot of time of his life around it. He liked freedom, and in this work he depicts his ideas about freedom, and how it should be applied to him, as well as all mankind.
Rating: 4 / 5