[How about this book] "Writing is a byproduct of walking"... A world-renowned author still walks today

Walking, a Longtime Tool for Writers and Philosophers' Reflection
Nietzsche "Truly Great Thoughts Come from Walking"
Leslie Stephen "Even Writing Is a Byproduct of Walking"

"From distant places to here, there are old souls still walking. The Joy of Walking is a book that captures their healthy and gentle footsteps."

As poet Park Yeon-jun recommended, the book is filled with stories of writers who cherished walking. The reason why classics written centuries ago break the boundaries of time and proudly assert their significance is likely due to the timeless value contained within. Walking is no different. Long ago, walking was an essential act for survival, chasing prey; later, when animals, carriages, and automobiles appeared, walking was considered an inevitable choice of poverty, but now it is once again recognized for its health benefits. The book conveys various praises of walking from different eras, backgrounds, and perspectives.

Walking has long served as a tool for reflection for writers, artists, and philosophers. Through contemplation, they gained inspiration and created great works. Nietzsche said, "All truly great thoughts come while walking," and Henry David Thoreau, a representative American writer who never missed a daily walk, said, "Walkers are not made, they are born." This aligns with his belief that "no matter how much money one has, the leisure, freedom, and independence essential for walking cannot be bought with money."

For French philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau, walking was a stimulant that awakened the awareness of being alive. In his Confessions, he said, "Walking breathed life into me and awakened my mind," and described walking as "moving forward with the feeling that a new paradise awaits just outside the door, eager to enjoy it."

Leslie Stephen, who wrote The Praise of Walking, emphasized the pure joy of walking itself. He criticized using walking as a competition or a means to a specific end, saying, "Those who truly enjoy walking walk because it is enjoyable in itself." He also lamented, "If cycling or other leisure activities are considered enjoyable, and classical walking journeys are seen as outdated, that is regrettable," emphasizing that even writing is "ultimately a byproduct of wandering about."

The great literary figures mentioned in the book all enjoyed walking, but opinions differ on whom to walk with. William Hazlitt, a British literary critic and one of the era’s top art critics, saw walking as a time for solitary reflection. In On Going a Journey Alone, he said, "I have not the slightest desire to talk to others while walking," explaining that "talking prevents deep reflection, and when feeling melancholy, one cannot suddenly join lively conversation." William Cowper, who left a significant mark on Romantic poetry, wrote in his poem Retirement, "Solitude is so sweet. It is a friend I can talk to and mutter to myself."

Robert Louis Stevenson, author of Treasure Island and The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, argued that travel, beyond walking, should be undertaken alone. He said, "If you set out with companions or friends, a walking trip becomes merely a trip in name," and "it ends up just a picnic," emphasizing solo walking.

On the other hand, Mark Twain, author of The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, said, "The charm of walking trips lies not in walking or the scenery, but in conversation." He explained, "When walking, it is easy to move the tongue in rhythm, and walking stimulates blood vessels and the brain, making one active," adding, "While the scenery and forest scents naturally and unknowingly soothe the eyes, soul, and senses, the greatest pleasure is being able to converse."

With vicarious experiences through videos becoming easier, people often mistakenly believe they have experienced something. Walking is no exception; many experience it indirectly by watching others walk rather than moving their own feet. However, even then, people often multitask by looking at their phones, eating, or falling asleep, pursuing time efficiency. The more this happens, the more the full benefits of walking become elusive.

In Wanderlust, a book on the history of walking travel, Rebecca Solnit said, "The reason I like walking is that it does not rush. Then my mind moves at about 3 miles per hour (approximately 4.8 km/h), like my steps," adding, "The problem of life in our time is that it moves much faster than the speed of thought or reflection." The 34 world-renowned writers featured in the book encourage matching the pace of walking with the flow of thought and to start walking now, whether alone or together.

The Joy of Walking | John Dyer et al. (33 others) | 272 pages | Influential | 16,800 KRW