
THE - BREATH OF LIFE - BY - JOHN BURROUGHS
PREFACE
I. THE BREATH OF LIFE - I
II. THE LIVING WAVE - I
III. A WONDERFUL WORLD - I
IV. THE BAFFLING PROBLEM - I
V. SCIENTIFIC VITALISM - I
VI. A BIRD OF PASSAGE - I
VII. LIFE AND MIND - I
VIII. LIFE AND SCIENCE - I
In this thoughtful meditation, the author invites listeners into a quiet study beneath apple trees, where curiosity about life’s origins mingles with the gentle rustle of summer breezes. He balances the precise language of chemistry and physics with the lyrical wonder of poetry, exploring how the birth of a child or the bloom of a flower seems to elude any laboratory’s grasp. By weaving together personal reflection, scientific observation, and philosophical inquiry, he sketches a landscape where mystery and reason share the same horizon.
The narrative moves like a leisurely walk along a shoreline, letting ideas drift and collide without demanding a final answer. It raises timeless questions about whether life can be reduced to mechanical laws or whether a deeper, perhaps unknowable, force animates the universe. Listeners will find a compelling blend of clear prose and contemplative wonder, offering a space to ponder the “shoreless seas” of existence while enjoying the soothing cadence of a reflective mind.
Language
en
Duration
~7 hours (416K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Bryan Ness, Jamie Atiga, Leonard Johnson and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
Release date
May 7, 2006
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
Subjects

1837–1921
Best known for warm, observant essays about birds, woods, and the changing seasons, he helped turn everyday nature writing into a beloved American form. His work blends close attention to the outdoors with an easy, companionable voice that still feels inviting today.
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