#08-325: The Land of Little Rain

Death Valley (Wikimedia)

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Note: Mary Austin's little book is a masterpiece of nature writing, a sure-fire antidote for city living.

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Get Ready: What is the allure of deserted. lonely places? Why do so many seek "spiritual" experiences there?

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#08-247: The New England Transcendentalists

Emerson - Thoreau - Alcott
(Wikipedia)

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Note: Transcendentalism was one of the first uniquely American philosophies, and has had a widespread effect.

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Get Ready: Is it possible for a modern religion to give nature a central place?

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#08-118: Mark Twain

Mark Twain in later years
(Wikipedia)

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Note: Mark Twain's colorful life provided the inspiration for many of his best-known works. Find out where it all came from!

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Get Ready: Are there any experiences in your life--something you did, or a true story someone told you--that would make good material for a short story or even a novel?

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#08-032: A True Story, Word for Word as I Heard It, by Mark Twain

"Aunt Rachel" (actually Mary Ann Cord)
(Chemung County Historical Society)

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Note: Samuel Clemens, better known as Mark Twain, is widely known for such impressive books as Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn. But many of his shorter stories and essays packed a powerful punch as well. Let's read about one.

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Get Ready: Is it possible to maintain a positive attitude even though one has experienced great suffering?

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#04-024: Count Leo Tolstoy

Count Leo Tolstoy
(Wikipedia)

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Note: A Russian nobleman who took up the cause of the poor, Leo Tolstoy was a literary giant. Follow his spiritual journey in this lesson.

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Get Ready: What is the reputation of the book War and Peace?

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#01-124: How to Avoid Name-Calling

One nobleman insults the corpse of another
(Wikipedia)

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Note: Today, even "politicians" call people names--one of the first things we were taught not to do in Kindergarten!

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Get Ready: Have you ever had your feelings seriously hurt by name-calling? Have you ever called someone else a name--and regretted it?

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#01-115: Emerson and Whitman

Emerson (left) and Whitman (right)
(Wikipedia: Emerson, Whitman)

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Note: These two 19th-century authors (among others) helped establish the American philosophy of individualism. Let's meet them!

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Get Ready: Do you feel it's more important to live as an individual, or as a member of a larger group?

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