In 1845, Henry David Thoreau built a simple cabin on the shores of Walden Pond outside of Concord, Massachusetts beginning the most famous experiment in simple living in American history. The product of his two-year stay there was a volume of classic essays, Walden, one of the great books of American letters and a masterpiece of reflective philosophizing. Accounts of his daily life are interwoven with musings on the virtues of self-reliance and individual freedom, on society, government, and other topics -- all expressed with wisdom and remarkable style.

• More Information About Walden.

  Walden: Or, Life In The Woods - Part 1

Length: 29:05 minutes.

  Walden: Or, Life In The Woods - Part 2

Length: 27:21 minutes.

  Walden: Or, Life In The Woods - Part 3

Length: 30:00 minutes.

  Walden: Or, Life In The Woods - Part 4

Length: 28:06 minutes.

As the idea of simplifying our hectic, day to day schedules grows more and more appealing, many have embraced the tenets of the burgeoning Voluntary Simplicity movement. Encouraging lives that are inwardly rich and outwardly simple, voluntary simplicity has captured the imagination of thousands of over-extended Americans. It is estimated that 15 percent of America's 77 million baby boomers will have joined the movement by the end of the decade.

Cecile Andrews is one of the guiding forces of the movement, having abandoned her career as a college administrator in order to devote herself full time to developing, leading, and writing about voluntary simplicity circles. In The Circle Of Simplicity: Return To The Good Life Andrews offers her thoughtful take on what has gone wrong, closely examining all that is troubling about our modern lives, and fashioning a pragmatic blueprint for change. Andrews philosophical, down-to-earth suggestions for discovering ways to simplify day to day life -- whether that means changing careers, cutting consumption, carrying less debt, improving the environment, or spending more time with family and friends -- provide the first steps toward replacing a workaday routine with greater enjoyment and fulfillment.

Andrews's approach promotes the idea of Simplicity Circles, small groups of people who gather together to help each other simplify their lives. The idea for simplicity circles draws its inspiration from a number of sources, including Swedish and Danish educational models, Native American wisdom, and Quaker spiritual practices. Having led scores of workshops and seminars on voluntary simplicity, Andrews is an unrivaled source on the ways to organize and conduct effective circles. Through her years of applied experience, she has learned what succeeds and what doesn't, and her emphasis, appropriately, is on keeping it simple and keeping it working.

The Circle Of Simplicity guides readers through the basic steps for setting up a simplicity study circle. Eschewing the idea of leaders, circles should be democratic, authentic sessions among small groups that foster reflection, conversation, and genuine dialogue. Andrews offers the nuts and bolts for insuring that study circles work to the benefit of all participants, including practical advice on meeting places and times, keeping journals, and encouraging flexibility.

• More Information About Cecile's Andrews.

  The Circle Of Simplicity - Part 1

Length: 41:56 minutes.

  The Circle Of Simplicity - Part 2

Length: 45:57 minutes.

  The Circle Of Simplicity - Part 3

Length: 41:40 minutes.

  The Circle Of Simplicity - Part 4

Length: 42:15 minutes.

Revolutionary and life changing, the voluntary simplicity movement is about achieving financial freedom and living well for less. Getting A Life shows how real people have left the rat race for a more meaningful - and financially manageable - life that reflects their own true values and individual goals.

Getting A Life authors, Jacqueline Blix and David Heitmiller, a married couple, explain how they gradually changed their lives using the nine steps in the bestselling book Your Money Or Your Life to transform their own relationship with money. Getting A Life offers proven, practical ideas on how to use each step of the program. With honesty and humor, the authors and more than two dozen other families and individuals share their personal experiences on such issues as paying for health care, raising children in a materialistic world, and breaking the link between what you do for a living and who you are. Getting A Life shows you how to adopt voluntary simplicity in your own life and what to expect once you do.

• More Information About Getting A Life and Your Money Or Your Life.

  Getting A Life - Part 1

Length: 48:58 minutes. Content: Introduction to Your Money Or Your Life, Getting A Life and voluntary simplicity; The Way We Were - Jacqui and David Tell Their "Before" Story.

  Getting A Life - Part 2

Length: 49:06 minutes. Content: Psychology of the Good Life; Seeds of Change; Discovering the Your Money Or Your LIfe Program; Introduction to the Nine Steps; Step 1 - Making Peace with the Past; Step 2 - Being in the Present, Tracking Your Life Energy; Step 3 - Where is it all Going, Monthly Tabulation.

  Getting A Life - Part 3

Length: 50:08 minutes. Content: Step 3 - Monthly Tabulation Continued; What is "Enough?" & the Fulfillment Curve; Step 4 - Three Questions that will Transform Your Life; Step 5 - Making Life Energy Visible; Step 6 - Valuing Your Life Energy - Minimizing Spending; Step 7 - Valuing Your Life Energy - Maximizing Income; Step 8 - Capital and the Crossover Point.

  Getting A Life - Part 4

Length: 49:20. Content: Step 9 - Managing Your Finances.

An Elder Shares Her Priceless Wisdom

"Live. Adapt to other people. Be aware of where you are, what you are doing, and why you are doing it."

-- Helen Nearing

Come sit at the side of Helen Nearing and share the rich harvest of her life's lessons with The Good Life of Helen Nearing. For over 90 years, she has followed her personal truth, and embodied the qualities that bring the deepest fulfillment. Now this modern wise woman offers you her heart's wisdom in a session that will leave you thoughtful and inspired. With the ease of someone who has lived an examined life, Helen unfolds her thoughts on many topics, including how to gain a clear vision of your life's path; creating your own opportunities; empowerment and self-discipline; and how to live with commitment and integrity. From a storehouse of ideas which have withstood the test of personal experience, elder Helen Nearing offers you the blessings of her words on this one-of-a-kind personal meeting.

Excerpts from Loving & Leaving The Good Life are used with the permission of Chelsea Green Publishing Company.

• More Information About The Good Life.

• More Information About Loving & Leaving The Good Life.

• More Information About Simple Food For The Good Life.

  The Good Life Of Helen Nearing - Part 1

Length: 48:31 minutes.

  The Good Life Of Helen Nearing - Part 2

Length: 48:09 minutes.