John Kaag is the Donahue Professor of Ethics and the Arts at UMass Lowell and External Professor at the Santa Fe Institute, where he’s taught American Transcendentalism and the philosophy of Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau for more than 15 years. He has authored several books, including American Philosophy: A Love Story and Hiking with Nietzsche, both of which were NYT and NPR Best Books of the Year. In 2023, he published Henry at Work, connecting Thoreau’s philosophy to post-pandemic work habits. Kaag has written on the intersection of technology and culture in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and The Washington Post, bringing timeless philosophical insights to a wider audience.

Dive into Walden alongside John Kaag for a unique and immersive reading experience.

Selections of John Kaag’s Published Works

• Hiking with Nietzsche: On Becoming Who You Are
• Henry at Work: Thoreau on Making a Living
• Sick Souls, Healthy Minds: How William James Can Save Your Life
• American Philosophy: A Love Story
• American Bloods: The Untamed Dynasty That Shaped A Nation

John Kaag’s Accolades

• NYT Editor’s Choice
• NPR’s Best Books of 2016
• John Dewey Award
• NPR Best Book of 2018
• Harvard’s Bok Center Award for Teaching Excellence
• University of Massachusetts Teaching Excellence Award

John Kaag In The News

• The Boston Globe: John Kaag Still Reads A Lot of Philosophy Books
• TIME: The Last Witness to the Shot Heard Round the World
• The Boston Globe: John Kaag, in ‘American Bloods,’ follows the sprawling branches of a powerful dynasty throughout American history
• The Atlantic: How to Live Better, According to Nietzsche
• NPR: In ‘Hiking With Nietzsche,’ Challenges Are Seen Through The Philosopher’s Teachings