If Thoreau Had a Bicycle: The Art of the Ride

In this delightful book of reflective essays, Mark Cramer leads readers on 39 bicycling day trips through the environs of Paris, his adopted home. Inspired by Henry David Thoreau’s daily walks in nature, Cramer pedals through forests, along rivers, and into French towns, each trek prompting fresh reflections on the environment, economic growth, simplicity, and wellbeing. His key takeaway: A life of adventure is well within reach, locally. We need only travel lightly, observe with eyes of wonder, and be open to surprise encounters.

Mark Cramer has a Ph.D. in literature, but he prefers the label of practitioner of a steady-state way of life. He and his wife Martha have taken the path of degrowth for the past quarter century, notably practicing the art of car-free living. He's blended some 40 jobs and avocations on three continents, including university professor, investigative reporter, urban farmer, and bicycle journalist.