A Philosophy of Walking

Synopsis

What does it really mean to walk? For philosopher Frédéric Gros, walking is far more than a way of getting from one place to another. It is an act of freedom, reflection, resistance, and renewal. Drawing on the lives and writings of thinkers, artists, and wanderers including Friedrich Nietzsche, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Henry David Thoreau, Arthur Rimbaud, Immanuel Kant, and Mahatma Gandhi, Gros explores how walking has shaped some of history's most original minds.

Moving effortlessly between philosophy, biography, literature, and personal meditation, A Philosophy of Walking celebrates the quiet power of placing one foot in front of the other. Whether wandering through forests, crossing mountains, or strolling city streets, walking becomes a way of escaping modern life's relentless pace and rediscovering clarity, creativity, and presence. Elegant, thought-provoking, and deeply restorative, this contemporary classic is an invitation to slow down and see the world anew.

About the Author

Frédéric Gros is a French philosopher and professor of political thought at Sciences Po Paris. A leading scholar of Michel Foucault, he has written extensively on philosophy, ethics, war, law, and civil disobedience. His work is celebrated for making complex philosophical ideas accessible through graceful, engaging prose. A Philosophy of Walking is translated from the French by John Howe.

Publisher

Verso

Publication Date

July 11, 2023

Format

Paperback

Pages

272

Subjects

Philosophy · Nature Writing · Walking · Essays · Literary Nonfiction · Environmental Thought

ISBN

9781804290446