Civil Disobedience [Hardcover]

Henry David Thoreau (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1557094179 | ISBN-13: 978-1557094179 | Publication Date: September 1, 2000 0

Originally published in 1849 as "Resistance to Civil Government," Thoreau's classic essay on resistance to the laws and acts of government that he considered unjust was largely ignored until the Twentieth Century when Mohandas Ghandi, Martin Luther King, Jr. and anti-Vietnam War activists applied Thoreau's principles.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Henry David Thoreau's Civil Disobedience was originally published in 1849 as Resistance to Civil Government. Thoreau wrote this classic essay to advocate public resistance to the laws and acts of government that he considered unjust. The practical application of Civil Disobedience was largely ignored until the twentieth century when, at different times, Modanda Ghandi, Martin Luther King, Jr. and anti-Vietnam War activists applied Thoreau's principles.

About the Author

American author, naturalist, philosopher, and leading transcendentalist Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862) is best known for his book Walden and his essay Civil Disobedience. His lasting contributions to American literature focus on natural history, self-sufficient living, and individuality.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Applewood Books (September 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1557094179
• ISBN-13: 978-1557094179
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.3 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #224,598 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #12 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Nonfiction > Current Events > Civil Rights & Liberties
  • #71 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Literature & Fiction > World Literature > United States > History & Criticism
  • #96 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Literature & Fiction > World Literature > United States > 19th Century

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

100 of 103 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A masterpiece of individualism and the fight for justice., November 25, 2004

By 

Ragnarok Books - See all my reviews

This review is from: Civil Disobedience (Green Integer: 41) (Paperback)

Civil Disobedience is one of the most importance works of philosophy ever written. Like all great works of philosophy, it is as relevant today as it has ever been, as it transcends space and time. Don't let the abolitionist nature mislead you: this book is not merely about abolition and slavery. Rather, it is about Man Against the State, individuality, and Thoreau's philosophy of how one man can stand up to government and society, driven by his own convictions of right and wrong, as summarized by the timeless quote "Any man more right than his neighbors constitutes a majority of one already".

Thoreau's main point is that the best - and many times, the only - method for fighting injustice is through passive disobedience. By refusing to cooperate with the machinery of injustice, the individual can become the friction that stops the machine. Active resistance is bound for failure, as the machine (the State, society, etc.) is too formidable for the individual to fight. But, by refusing to cooperate, justice can be achieved and injustice toppled.

If you are looking for a marvelous primer on individuality and the fight for justice, start with this book.

39 of 39 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "It is not so desirable to cultivate a respect for the law, so much as for the right."-Henry David Thoreau, February 27, 2009

By 

Medusa (Troy, MI) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Civil Disobedience (Paperback)

In "Civil Disobedience" Thoreau presents political theories in which he dissects democracy and the interaction between citizens and their government.
Understandably, Thoreau was deeply concerned about injustices he witnessed during his life, such as enslavement of one sixth of the population and the invasion of Mexico by the United States.
Thoreau does not oppose the institution of government; he believes that when a government becomes "abused and perverted", it ceases to represent the will of the people. When a government makes decisions that promulgate harm and injustice, it is the duty of its citizens to rebel and break those chains of injustices.

Arguably, the strongest idea Thoreau presents, is the notion of individualism. Thoreau encourages skepticism of the government and rejects blind loyalty to it. Thoreau perceives citizens, who give blind loyalty to their government's decisions without questioning them, as participants in every injustice committed by that government. Whether this point of view is correct or not, it is worth debating, especially in view of the horrific injustices that are extant in today's world and the way the masses so easily accept them without considering the negative impact on others.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A testament to American Individualism, December 31, 2009

By 

Bagels (Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Civil Disobedience (Kindle Edition)

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.