What Did Thoreau Do at Walden Pond? Far More Than Walking

A dark image of a cabin in the woods by a lake.

What did Thoreau do at Walden Pond? Did he spend all of his time in nature? How did he make a living? In the 1840s, Henry David Thoreau built a cabin at Walden Pond in the woods of eastern Massachusetts and lived there for two years. During that time, he walked in the woods and connected with nature, kept a large garden, worked odd jobs, read books, journaled, went into town, and entertained guests. Keep reading to learn more about these activities that Thoreau did at Walden Pond. 

The Anglo-Maratha Wars: How the East India Company Took Delhi

An illustration of soldiers in battle during the Anglo Maratha Wars.

Who won the Anglo-Maratha wars? What factors made a difference in the outcome? After setting up in Bengal, the East India Company (EIC) extended its influence over the broader stage of regional powers competing for control. The EIC gained prominence in the Indian subcontinent by engaging in wars against two significant powers: the Mysore Sultanate and the Maratha Confederacy. Let’s look at a brief history of the Anglo-Maratha wars.

Are We in an Ice Age? Here’s What Scientists Say

Are We in an Ice Age? Here’s What Scientists Say

What was North America like during the ice age? When did the last ice age end? Could we still be in one right now? Our human ancestors lived through the ice age, when a third of North America was covered by ice and woolly mammoths wandered the Earth. But, believe it or not, we’re technically still living in an ice age now. Here’s what living in an ice age is really like and what might come next for Earth’s climate.

The East India Company in Bengal: Overseers of Crisis

The British and Indians meeting in a historical landscape in late 18th century.

How did the East India Company govern in Bengal? How did it contribute to one of the worst disasters in the region’s history? What’s the Bengal Bubble? After the collapse of India’s Mughal empire, the East India Company expanded its trading operations and military capacity. The company set its sights on Bengal, a wealthy province on India’s northeastern coast. It took advantage of political chaos to rise to power. Read more to learn about the East India Company in Bengal, specifically how it maintained and used its power and the impact it had on the province.

Henry David Thoreau’s Beliefs About Life and Politics

Henry David Thoreau’s Beliefs About Life and Politics

What did Henry David Thoreau believe about life and politics? How did he diverge from his fellow Transcendentalists? Why did he spend a night in jail? Henry David Thoreau’s beliefs strongly impacted the way he lived. A key figure in the Transcendentalist movement of the 19th century, Thoreau also had distinct political beliefs that influenced later generations. Read more to learn about Henry David Thoreau’s beliefs about life and politics.

The Expansion and Consolidation of British Power in India

British soldiers marching into India with thousands of people as part of the expansion and consolidation of British power in India.

How did India come under British governance? What role did the East India Company play? When and how did the Indian people cast off colonial rule? In The Anarchy, historian William Dalrymple explains the expansion and consolidation of British power in India. He does this by tracing the ascent of the East India Company from a modest group of merchants to the imperialist superpower. Keep reading to learn the background of British colonial rule in India.

Why Did Thoreau Go to the Woods? 4 Ways Walden Drew Him In

A path through a forest with the sun beaming through.

Why did Thoreau go to the woods? Did he follow—or fight—his intuition about getting away from it all? A major subject of Henry David Thoreau’s Walden is the philosophical reasons he decided to move to the woods. He explains that he wanted to live a simpler life, connect with nature, spend time in solitude, and carve out his own path. Read more to learn about the four ideas that motivated Thoreau to move out of Concord and into a tiny cabin on Walden Pond.

Henry David Thoreau’s Personality: Elusive Man of Multitudes

Henry David Thoreau’s Personality: Elusive Man of Multitudes

How do people regard Henry David Thoreau? Do they tend to take him too literally and, as a result, miss who he really was? It’s not unusual for someone to have a mixed reputation—because people are complicated. Henry David Thoreau is no exception. An essayist and a key figure in the Transcendentalist movement, Thoreau is still read by many and revered by some. Keep reading to learn about Henry David Thoreau’s personality from those who knew him and those who’ve read his works.

When Genius Failed by Roger Lowenstein: Overview

When Genius Failed by Roger Lowenstein: Overview

Why did the hedge fund LTCM fail so horribly? What can you learn from LTCM’s failure? In When Genius Failed, Roger Lowenstein explores the spectacular rise and catastrophic 1998 collapse of the hedge fund Long-Term Capital Management (LTCM). He explores the history of LTCM, how its models operated, and how its success turned into a failure. Read below for a brief overview of When Genius Failed.