"Oh, if there were someone to tell us the history of that subtle feeling called solitude," mused the philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche. In The Greatest Escape, David Balcom answers that call, showing that solitude is an inevitable-yet vital and exciting-facet of our existence with a long, tumultuous past. He travels back in time to trace the spirit flights of shamans; wanders in the mountains of China, listening to the poetry of recluse scholars; visits the forests of India to participate in the dialogues of ancient sages; explores the wisdom of early Greek philosophers, Christian hermits, and Sufi mystics; and illuminates the role of solitude in the lives and writings of modern poets and intellectuals from Petrarch to Thoreau. Covering a broad swath of history, Balcom introduces us to powers and resources in solitude that are drowned in the clamor of modern life. He concludes that the experience of solitude can be creative, joyful, enlightening, sometimes all three at once-and that the perennial "fruits of solitude" are open to everyone. "Here," he writes, "is an apology for and a guide to the greatest of all escapes."

Ours is an age where solitude tends to be discussed in the context of the 'problem of loneliness'. However in previous ages the capacity to seek fulfillment outside society has been admired and seen as a measure of discernment and inner security. In this lucid and highly readable book, Peter France shows how hermits, from the Taoists and Ancient Greeks to the present day, have something vitally important to say to a society that fears solitude.

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • The remarkable true story of a man who lived alone in the woods of Maine for 27 years, making this dream a reality—not out of anger at the world, but simply because he preferred to live on his own. “A meditation on solitude, wildness and survival.” —The Wall Street Journal In 1986, a shy and intelligent twenty-year-old named Christopher Knight left his home in Massachusetts, drove to Maine, and disappeared into the forest. He would not have a conversation with another human being until nearly three decades later, when he was arrested for stealing food. Living in a tent even through brutal winters, he had survived by his wits and courage, developing ingenious ways to store edibles and water, and to avoid freezing to death. He broke into nearby cottages for food, clothing, reading material, and other provisions, taking only what he needed but terrifying a community never able to solve the mysterious burglaries. Based on extensive interviews with Knight himself, this is a vividly detailed account of his secluded life—why did he leave? what did he learn?—as well as the challenges he has faced since returning to the world. It is a gripping story of survival that asks fundamental questions about solitude, community, and what makes a good life, and a deeply moving portrait of a man who was determined to live his own way, and succeeded.

Over 200 years of Adirondack History seen through the lens of one plot of land.Fifty Acres of Beach and Wood chronicles tales of iconic characters of Adirondack history whose footprints graced the shores of Indian Point on Raquette Lake.Discover the heritage of Indian Point imparted by the Mohawk Indians, Sir John Johnson, Farrand Benedict, Matthew Beach and William Wood, Professor Ebenezer Emmons, Joel Tyler Headley, Mitchell Sabattis, Nessmuk, Alvah Dunning, John Plumley and Adirondack Murray, and Verplanck Colvin.

The Best in Tent Camping: New England is a guidebook for tent campers who like quiet, scenic, and serene campsites. It's the perfect resource if you blanch at the thought of pitching a tent on a concrete slab, trying to sleep through the blare of another camper's boombox, or waking to find your tent surrounded by a convoy of RVs. Painstakingly selected from hundreds of campgrounds, this book guides you to the quietest, most beautiful, most secure, and best-managed campgrounds in Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island. Each campground profile provides essential details on facilities, reservations, fees, and restrictions, as well as an accurate, easy-to-read map making the campground a snap to locate. Rich with history, natural beauty, and environmental diversity, New England offers campers a new experience at every turn. From the tidal marsh of Long Island Sound, to Vermont's world-famous forests, to the rocky shores of Maine, New England camping has never been better.

Whisker is a Pie Rat apprentice on the treasure hunt of a lifetime. With the Forgotten Map and the King's Key safely in his grasp, Whisker joins the ratbag crew of the Apple Pie on their voyage to the mysterious Island of Destiny. Armed with scissor swords, flying pies and barrels of gravy, the Pie Rats must first pass through the Treacherous Sea where untold dangers lurk beneath the waves.