# Henry David Thoreau — The Story of Utopias character guide

> Henry David Thoreau in The Story of Utopias by Lewis Mumford.

**Role:** minor

**Also known as:** Thoreau

**First appearance:** 0003-the-story-of-utopias

## Who they are

American transcendentalist whose Walden experiment is referenced.

## In the story

### [The Constitution of the Family in Christianopolis](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_utopias_se/chapters/vi)

Thoreau's 'Walden' is referenced as an extreme expression of the philosophy of sufficiency and simplicity.

### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_utopias_se/chapters/ii)

Quoted for the idea that less is accomplished by hacking at branches than by striking at the root.

### [Looking Backward into the Future](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_utopias_se/chapters/iv)

Referenced as part of the Concord school concerned with community well-being.

### [XII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_utopias_se/chapters/xii)

Referenced for the advice to build castles in the air and then place foundations under them.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_utopias_se/characters/henry_david_thoreau
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_utopias_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_utopias_se/characters