Thoreau includes passages that describe the simple side to nature. At one point, he writes that he found a mouse that "probably had never seen a man before, and it soon became quite familiar, and would run over [his] shoes and up [his] clothes " (893). Thoreau shows how an animal, completely in the dark about anything relative to human beings, could become so acquainted with one that it was fully trusting. Thoreau illustrates how nature can be transformed by influence.
Another way to view Walden is as a do it yourself guide. Throughout the book, Thoreau defines his life at Walden Pond, explaining the simplicity of his lifestyle. He explicitly praises those who live like him and instructed those who did not on how they could. He believed that "most of the luxuries, and many of the so called comforts of life, are not only not indispensable, but positive hindrances to the elevation of mankind"" (Thoreau 833). Still, Thoreau kept careful account of his financial records. Thoreau writes "these statistics, however accidental and therefore uninstructive they may appear, as they have a certain completeness, have a certain value also"" (860). Even though his writing suggests that Thoreau does not believe that monetary wealth is important or healthy for the whole of mankind, he keeps detailed records of his expenses, leaving a path for those who wish to follow.
While at Walden Pond, Thoreau also builds his own home. He writes that he believes "if men [construct] their dwellings with their own hands, and [provide] food for themselves and families simple and honestly enough, the poetic faculty [will] be universally developed"" (853). He goes into detail on how he managed such a task, writing that "few are able to tell exactly what their houses cost and fewer still, if any, the separate cost of the various materials which compose them"" (853).Thoreau indicates that the way that he lived at Walden could very well be preferred over the way that most people lived.