Walden For Hire: A Conversation with Ken Lizotte
Join us for an inspiring evening exploring the entrepreneurial spirit of one of America’s most original minds: Henry David Thoreau.**
Best known for his reflections on simple living and principled resistance, Thoreau is rarely recognized for something equally compelling—his sharp business instincts and inventive professional life. In this dynamic author talk, bestselling author Ken Lizotte reveals the surprising lessons hidden within Thoreau’s career and philosophy, drawn from his groundbreaking book Walden for Hire.
While many associate Thoreau with Transcendentalism and his iconic work Walden, or his influential essay Civil Disobedience, this talk uncovers a different dimension: Thoreau as an innovative professional, creative problem-solver, and quietly successful entrepreneur.
Discover how Thoreau:
- Turned curiosity into opportunity
- Approached farming, manufacturing, surveying, and writing with bold experimentation
- Built multiple income streams on his own terms
- Modeled independence long before the modern gig economy
Lizotte brings to life Thoreau’s unconventional methods—revealing a man who didn’t just reject the status quo, but redesigned it.
The book also features a special conversation with Erik Ewers and Christopher Loren Ewers, Codirectors of Henry David Thoreau, a three-part PBS documentary that reexamines Thoreau’s life and enduring influence.
Whether you’re a business leader, solopreneur, student of history, or simply someone seeking a more intentional professional path, this event offers fresh insight into how one 19th-century thinker continues to shape modern innovation.
Come prepared to rethink everything you thought you knew about Thoreau—and to leave with practical, timeless strategies for carving your own unconventional path.
We are delighted to also offer online access to this event. To attend virtually Register on Zoom
This event is part of The Write Connection at Thoreau Farm, our literary series of programs.