Today we explored how this work of non-fiction does not contain traditional literary themes but does espouse philosophical ideas or principles about Man's role and societal ethics. Based on the first chapter, we discussed how the author argues that Man can only truly be human or ethical if he understands and respects Nature. We noted how Rawlings- back in the 1930s- sounds like a modern environmentalist. We further explored the other philosophical tenets that appear early in the book: the value of simplicity and the creation of a non-transactional moral code . Additionally, we worked on the advanced vocabulary in the reading: affinity, gregarious , vicissitudes. I had Aiden place these words in a meaningful sentence.