Which of Thoreau's descriptions or criticisms of modern life seem most relevant to today's world? In what way? Cite specific evidence from the text to support your ideas.

In his book Walden, a reflection on the act of living as simply as possible, Thoreau spoke at length on the impact of technology on our daily lives and humanity as a whole. He believed that technology was leading to a degradation of our relations with one another and with the natural world. He cited the construction of a telegraph line from Maine to Texas, saying,"We are in great haste to construct a magnetic telegraph line from Maine to Texas; but Maine and Texas, it may be, have nothing important to communicate." We can see them same in our modern day quest for the "next big thing"; snapping up the latest iPhone for hundreds of dollars, posting ever more on social media, with many having nothing important to contribute to a wider world despite access to that world at an unprecedented level. As a society, we have at our fingertips the lessons and work of all the world's great thinkers and scholars, and yet a great number of people use the potential at hand to watch funny cat videos. I believe that this is a sign of the degradation that Thoreau spoke of made manifest.