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- Title: On the Duty of Civil Disobedience (Version 2)
- Author: Henry David Thoreau
- Narrator: Bob Neufeld
- Length: 01:02:51
- Version: Abridged
- Release Date: 01/01/2015
- Publisher: LibriVox
- Genre: Non-Fiction, Philosophy
- ISBN13: SABLIB9788717
As I pressed play on this LibriVox recording of Thoreau’s seminal essay, I was immediately transported back to my graduate seminar at Harvard where we debated the ethical boundaries of civil disobedience across cultures. The crisp New England air seemed to permeate Bob Neufeld’s narration, his measured baritone perfectly capturing Thoreau’s transcendentalist cadence. What fascinates me most is how this 19th century text continues to resonate across temporal and cultural boundaries – a phenomenon I’ve observed firsthand while teaching comparative resistance literature from Tokyo to Berkeley.
Through a cultural lens, Neufeld’s narration highlights Thoreau’s deliberate rhetorical structures. His pacing during the famous “Under a government which imprisons any unjustly” passage mirrors the building tension of moral outrage, then resolves into the calm certainty of “the true place for a just man is also a prison.” This reminded me of studying Japanese protest literature where similar rhetorical techniques emerge, though often expressed through more indirect cultural idioms.
The audiobook format offers unique advantages for philosophical texts like this. While reading Thoreau in print allows for pensive marginalia, hearing Neufeld’s performance emphasizes the oral tradition of protest literature – these words were meant to be spoken aloud at abolitionist meetings. His careful enunciation makes complex concepts accessible, though listeners unfamiliar with 19th century syntax might benefit from replaying certain sections. The recording quality shows its public domain origins with occasional background noise, but this somehow adds authenticity, like listening to a speech in a crowded meeting hall.
This production particularly shines in conveying Thoreau’s ethical absolutism. When Neufeld intones “It is not desirable to cultivate a respect for the law, so much as for the right,” his voice carries the weight of personal conviction that made me recall teaching this text during the Hong Kong umbrella movement protests. My students noted striking parallels between Thoreau’s arguments and contemporary Chinese protest philosophy, demonstrating the text’s remarkable adaptability across political contexts.
For modern listeners, the 45-minute duration makes this an ideal companion for a morning commute or walk – I’ve found philosophical texts often resonate differently when absorbed during movement through public spaces rather than in static reading. The free accessibility through LibriVox democratizes this essential text, though I’d recommend supplementing with a print version for deeper study of Thoreau’s intricate argumentation.
Neufeld’s performance excels in balancing intellectual rigor with emotional resonance. His restrained delivery during the tax resistance passages avoids melodrama while still conveying moral urgency. This approach mirrors my own pedagogical philosophy when teaching controversial texts – letting the ideas speak for themselves while subtly guiding listeners through complex ethical terrain.
Compared to other audiobook versions, Neufeld’s interpretation leans more toward the philosophical than the political, making it particularly valuable for academic listeners. Those seeking more dramatic readings might prefer celebrity-narrated versions, but for pure intellectual engagement, this remains my top recommendation.
In solidarity through literature,
Prof. Emily Chen
