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4.5
Camping with Kierkegaard is a refreshing read which somehow manages to blend the seemingly polar opposites of self-help and technical philosophy with the solace of the outdoors. Simmons’ voice is casual and easy to read…I would often intend to read a few pages and quickly get sucked into devouring several chapters in one sitting. This is a must-read for anyone who has ever looked back on their years and wondered, “why did I spend so much time making myself miserable by chasing [insert goal here], when I could have still pursued my goals, but done so with purpose and intention?” Gently, Simmons calls on us to slow down and live faithfully; as he says: to take risks with direction, knowing our days are limited. It is a critique against our success-above-all-else culture’s mindset to put off today’s contentment for tomorrow’s goals. Simmons does not presume to dole out solutions from an ivory tower, but like a good teacher, helps you find the right questions so that you may, in time, reach your own conclusions.Camping with Kierkegaard is a wonderful book for anyone whose spiritualty is intrinsically tied to the woods. It’s a wonderful book for anyone looking to make the most of themselves and their finite days. It’s simply a wonderful book for anyone who is human, asking all the same questions on meaning and purpose that, in the end, merge into just one: what is worthy of our finitude?
