Wanderlust

A History of Walking

By: Rebecca Solnit

Narrated by: Liisa Ivary

Drawing together many histories - of anatomical evolution and city design, of treadmills and labyrinths, of walking clubs and sexual mores - Rebecca Solnit creates a fascinating portrait of the range of possibilities presented by walking. Arguing that the history of walking includes walking for pleasure as well as for political, aesthetic, and social meaning, Solnit focuses on the walkers whose everyday and extreme acts have shaped our culture, from philosophers to poets to mountaineers. She profiles some of the most significant walkers in history and fiction - from Wordsworth to Gary Snyder, from Jane Austen's Elizabeth Bennet to Andre Breton's Nadja - finding a profound relationship between walking and thinking and walking and culture. Solnit argues for the necessity of preserving the time and space in which to walk in our ever more car-dependent and accelerated world.

©2000 Rebecca Solnit (P)2014 Audible Inc.

A great work

This is an historical odyssey of walking. Incredible research and storytelling. I learned a lot and really enjoyed listening to it.

“FEET: We All Have Them” would be a better title

Wanderlust is a misleading title. Although there is some fascinating historical context in this book, the essays are only loosely connected. It is a better read than a listen.

Thoroughly engaging

Walking through the world has power. What we see while walking helps is crow as people. Those we walk with and March beside will have long-lasting impacts if we meet one another where we are.
A worthy listen.

a walk through many pieces of history

This book is packed with historical facts. I happened to listen to it while taking my morning walks and I feel that greatly impacted the way I received the information. I recommend this book to anyone especially those looking for a listen while they walk, especially if you enjoy walking outdoors.

Exhaustive and Exhausting

Wanderlust is in-depth, to the point that it meanders a bit too much. I loved learning about the cultural ideas behind walking and how the idea of walking has changed throughout history. Wanderlust was a fun listen; a solid 3.5.

Wonderful

This book is so full of wandering through so many walking adjacent topics while staying true to the point of the history of bipedalism. This provides for such a rich and brilliant read and education. The breadth and depth of this oft overlooked but absolutely daily and essential human endeavor is only just shy of a must read.

Great Overview Of The Topic

I enjoyed the vastness of examples that were found in the book. At times, it felt like there was too much of nothing. Meaning, this book might have a greater impact if it were 40% of its size. Sometimes I was wondering why I was presented with certain information before connecting it to the nucleus message of the book.

I found a great amount of jewels while reading this book.
This book has only inspired me to look deeper into the practice of walking in nature.

Walking as Art

The dying art of walking, and how that reads to current affairs. Wanderlust is a journey through past and present as Rebecca guides you along the walking path laid out in time that has fueled the ages of literary, artistic & philosophic genius. Where are we headed next? We have the power to change our direction at any time,

Lovely Book (wish I’d read it)

I love Rebecca Solnit and was thrilled that there was an audio version of this book available since I likely wouldn’t have been able to find the time to read it anytime soon. Unfortunately, the narrator’s performance was a huge detractor. Her tone through the entire book is best described as dour, I’m glad I was able to experience the book, but probably wouldn’t have purchased it if I’d known how dreary the narration would be.

Walking and It’s Story

A treatise on walking, it’s origins and purpose, it’s expansion into a form of political, social, cultural, and personal statement throughout history. Walking as a statement of status. Walking and it’s place within literature. Walking and it’s decline and (maybe) demise in America.
Like all of Solnit’s books, I find it to meander a bit, but always in a good way, and always making me stop to pull up Wikipedia and search out historical or literary figures from 100, 500, or 5000 years ago (Egeria, who knew?).
Liisa Ivary does a great job with Solnit’s text, which itself is great as usual.
Recommend to Solnit or de Botton readers, anyone interested in walking as a movement or anyone who enjoys a colorful trek through an encyclopedic mind.