Journeys of Simplicity: Traveling Light With Thomas Merton, Basho, Edward Abbey, Annie Dillard & Others 

by Philip Harnden

I travel light; as light

That is, as a man can travel who will

Still carry his body around because

Of its sentimental value.

- Thomas Mendip in Christopher Fry's Play The Lady's Not for Burning

A book which shares vignettes of spare poetry about the beauties of unencumbered living. Drawn from disparate sources, both literary and real life, the brief chapters in this book show the minimal material possessions that are required for living fulfilled lives. Some of the vignettes are of well-known figures like Edward Abbey, Thoreau, Merton, Muir, and Werner Herzog;  others, drawn from literature include Ishmael, Father Zossima, and Bilbo Baggins;  yet others were unfamiliar to this reader, including Dolores Garcia, Father Terence and Emma Gatewood.  This book is worth meditating upon as a reminder of what is essential for living a life.

Journeys of Simplicity by Philip Harnden. Skylight Paths Publishing. 2003.


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