“Live in each season as it passes; breathe the air, drink the drink, taste the fruit, and resign yourself to the influence of the Earth.”
When it comes to books about living off the grid, Henry David Thoreau’s Walden is sure to be one of the first that comes to mind. In his memoir about living in a cabin in the woods by Walden Pond in Massachusetts, books like Walden have become more and more popular as many of us find ourselves caught up in our hectic routines.
Join us here at What We Reading as we explore some of the best books like Thoreau’s memoir. These books cover cabins in the woods, Arctic tundras and the overall feeling of stepping out into the wilderness, and all are sure to inspire a sense of adventure!
Consolations Of The Forest: Alone In A Cabin In The Middle Taiga – Sylvain Tesson
In 2010, Sylvain Tesson undertook a project that saw him living alone in a cabin for six months. His location of choice was an old Soviet cabin on the shores of Lake Baikal in the middle of Taiga. Isolated, cold and unimaginably silent, Consolations of the Forest is Tesson’s justification for this radical quest for freedom as well as the documenting of all the hardships, challenges and ultimately rewards that followed.
Tesson explains the practical requirements for living an isolated existence, but also the incredible emotional challenges that threatened to overwhelm his sanity. For an enthralling read that truly captures the ins and outs of living off the beaten path, Consolations of the Forest is an absolute must-read.
The Singing Wilderness – Sigurd F. Olson
Sigurd F. Olson was a wilderness guide for over thirty years, developing an unmatched level of knowledge of the mysterious lakes and rivers in the Quetico-Superior country. The Singing Wilderness is Olson’s own personal account of how he opted for a life in the wilderness, taking readers through the simple events that brought meaning to his life. One of the best books like Walden for capturing the beauty in the wilderness, The Singing Wilderness is a timeless series of essay-writing that shows readers how to take the joy from the everyday.
At Home In The Woods: Living The Life Of Thoreau Today – Bradford Angier And Vena Angier
At Home in the Woods began when husband and wife duo Bradford and Vena Angier chose to follow in the footsteps of their hero, David Thoreau. Forging their own Walden story, they abandoned their life in the city for a more rustic existence in the woods of British Columbia. Following the couple during their first year of living a remote life, At Home in the Woods is one of the best books like Walden that is sure to awaken the adventurer in any reader!
Into The Wild – Jon Krakauer
In April 1992, Christopher McCandless hitchhiked to Alaska and forged a path alone to the snowy wilderness north of Mt. McKinley. Having burnt his wallet, given $250,000 in savings to charity, and disposed of all his possessions, McCandless’ decomposed body was discovered by a moose hunter just four months later. Author Jon Krakauer retraces the origins of and tragic fate of McCandless and his journey in Into The Wild.
Whilst the end result may undoubtedly be harrowing, through Krakauer’s work, readers gain an invaluable insight into the lust for adventure and new experiences that propelled McCandless, a trait that more than a few readers may find resonating with themselves in the process.
A Year In The Wilderness: Bearing Witness In The Boundary Waters – Amy Freeman And Dave Freeman
Explorers, adventurers and educators, Amy and Dave Freeman present a beautifully-told tale of spending a year living in the Boundary Waters in A Year in the Wilderness. Spending a year in northern Minnesota, the book spans the couple’s life.
The pair use visceral language and breathtaking imagery to illustrate the beauty of the wilderness, attempting to illuminate to readers the importance of preserving it for generations to come. A stunning tribute to one of the United States’ most breathtaking natural treasures, not only do the Freemans whisk readers to the heart of their adventure, but also raise awareness for the vital message behind it.
Wild: From Lost To Found On The Pacific Crest Trail – Cheryl Strayed
A New York Times bestseller and now a major motion picture, Cheryl Strayed’s Wild is one of the best books like Walden for capturing the feeling of journeying into the wilderness. Wild is a powerful and moving memoir about Stayed’s 1,100-mile hike of the Pacific Coast Trail.
With her life at a crossroads and no training for the ordeal, Wild is an incredible journey of discovery and of realisation for Strayed as she hikes from the Mojave Desert through California and then to Washington State. Not only a stunning read illustrating the beauty of America’s wilderness but also a sparkling note on pushing forward through adversity, Wild is not to be missed!
The Final Frontiersman: Heimo Korth And His Family, Alone in Alaska’s Arctic Wilderness – James Campbell
Plenty of would-be adventurers have attempted to tame life in the snowy wilderness of Alaska, however, few have succeeded as consistently as Heimo Korth. Having first traded Wisconsin for Alaska in his twenties, Korth now lives over two hundred miles away from civilisation with his family.
Documenting everything from the dangers of swollen rivers to the importance of the migrating Caribou, James Campbell’s The Final Frontiersman is a compelling look at one family’s commitment to a sustainable nomadic existence.
Part-time reader, part-time rambler, and full-time Horror enthusiast, James has been writing for What We Reading since 2022. His earliest reading memories involved Historical Fiction, Fantasy and Horror tales, which he has continued to take with him to this day. James’ favourite books include The Last (Hanna Jameson), The Troop (Nick Cutter) and Chasing The Boogeyman (Richard Chizmar).
