A new PBS documentary reveals why Henry David Thoreau’s radicalism resonates today

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Many people recognize the name Henry David Thoreau, but often only know the titles of his famous works like “Walden” and “Civil Disobedience” without actually reading them. A few lines from his writing are well-known – for example, “The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation” and “Our life is frittered away by detail… simplify, simplify!” (I first encountered the latter in a movie, spoken by a character played by Dick Van Dyke). Thoreau is also the origin of the phrase “different drummer,” a connection that surprisingly links him to Mike Nesmith of The Monkees, whose song of the same name became a hit for Linda Ronstadt and the Stone Poneys in 1967.

Since his death in 1862 at the age of 44, Thoreau’s writing has had a lasting impact, inspiring leaders like Malcolm X, Martin Luther King Jr., and Mahatma Gandhi. His ideas about living a meaningful life continue to resonate today, and sadly, his observations about human cruelty and our relationship with nature are still relevant almost two centuries after they were first written.

The relentless human drive to push boundaries – to conquer not just the natural world, but even delve deep within the earth for resources – remains as relevant today as ever. It’s easy to see how the idea that people often look for solutions elsewhere, when the real opportunity is right in front of them, applies to those who dream of escaping a damaged Earth by colonizing Mars. Furthermore, the notion that a government which intentionally creates and continues injustice will eventually be ridiculed, and the call to actively resist such a system, eerily predicts our current situation with both government overreach and growing public resistance. The question, “How can anyone be peaceful in a country where leaders and citizens alike lack morals?” feels particularly resonant. The feeling of having thoughts that challenge the established order, and feeling compelled to act against it, is something many can relate to.

A new PBS documentary, “Henry David Thoreau,” debuting Monday and Tuesday (and available for streaming), seeks to explore the life and writings of the famous author. The film, narrated by George Clooney, aims to move beyond the simplified legend of Thoreau, presenting a more complete and nuanced portrait of the man – acknowledging his flaws while still recognizing his brilliance as a writer, thinker, and naturalist. Directed by Erik and Christopher Loren Ewers and written by David Blistein, the documentary features Jeff Goldblum reading Thoreau’s work, with Ted Danson, Meryl Streep, and Tate Donovan providing additional voices. Ken Burns and Don Henley of the Eagles, who founded the Walden Woods Project, served as executive producers.

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While three hours may seem long for a discussion of Thoreau’s Walden, exploring his life before and after writing the book keeps things engaging. The commentators offer a wide range of perspectives, including not just literary scholars, but also experts in religion, geology, environmentalism, and Native American history. Well-known writers like Michael Pollan, Rebecca Solnit, and Pico Iyer also contribute their insights.

Henry David Thoreau was fortunate to grow up in Concord, Massachusetts, a hub for the transcendentalist movement—a philosophy and literary style that found the divine in all things. He lived near prominent figures like Ralph Waldo Emerson, whom he assisted and lived with, as well as authors Nathaniel Hawthorne and the Alcott family. Thoreau’s mother, an abolitionist who helped slaves escape to freedom via the Underground Railroad, introduced him to Walden Pond at a young age and he later assisted her efforts.

At age 27, in 1845, he constructed a small, 10-by-15-foot cabin near a pond on land owned by Emerson. He lived there for just over two years, seeking a simpler, more intentional life. As he famously wrote, he went to the woods to focus on the most important aspects of existence and truly experience living. While he sometimes spent entire days lost in thought on his porch, he mostly filled his time writing and carefully observing nature.

Despite choosing a simple life, Thoreau wasn’t a complete recluse. People visited him, and he frequently walked into Concord to sell his produce, catch up on town news (which he found invigorating in small amounts), visit family, and handle errands. It was during one of these trips that he encountered the town constable, who demanded six years of unpaid poll taxes. Thoreau had refused to pay as a protest against the government’s support of slavery. He refused to pay and was jailed – though someone anonymously paid the tax for him, much to his annoyance. This event later became the basis for his essay, “Civil Disobedience.”

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Thoreau’s journey of self-discovery connected him to a long tradition of spiritual exploration. Like many young people throughout history, he was creating a personal philosophy, inspired by both local and global influences. As Thoreau scholar Lawrence Buell points out, Transcendentalism can be seen as America’s first youth movement. In his book Walden, Thoreau describes starting his day by reading the Bhagavad-gita and even envisions a connection between the water of Walden Pond and the sacred Ganges River, made possible by the international ice trade.

Beyond his time at Walden Pond, Thoreau worked various jobs. He lectured, surveyed land, and even helped improve his family’s pencil business with new ideas. He and his brother briefly ran a school, leaving a previous teaching position because he refused to use physical punishment. Thoreau explored New England, writing about its wild landscapes, though he often encountered the growing presence of industry like mills and dams. He initially held romanticized views of Native Americans, but his perspective changed as he got to know them as individuals.

Above all else, Thoreau was a writer, and this documentary emphasizes his words. It displays them beautifully, showing scans of both typeset pages and his handwritten journals – which totaled over two million words. Since there aren’t many photos of Thoreau or his family, the documentary relies on existing archival images and artwork, though not everything directly relates to the time period or specific events. The filmmakers use a visual essay style, contrasting the natural beauty of Walden Pond and the rivers Thoreau explored with fast-paced footage of today’s hectic world – a point that’s sometimes a bit obvious. But they worked with the resources available to them.

The beautiful nature footage in this documentary might just motivate you to step away from the screen and go explore the outdoors – maybe even right after you finish watching!

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2026-03-30 21:31