Although the writings of Emerson, Thoreau, and Dillard all fall under general Transcendentalist thought, they have some essential similarities and differences. In the writings of Ralph Waldo Emerson, his ideas are much more philosophical in nature (without actually immersing himself in the wild). He expresses the idea of God as the Over-Soul and each man having a divine part in him with which to carve his own destiny. However, his writing seems to be much more speculative than involved, as seen from his contemplation on the implications if the stars were not a nightly occurrence. In contrast, Thoreau writes more from experience. From the excerpt from Solitude, one sees that he ponders about his own experiences, such as neighbors asking him whether or not he is lonely while at Walden Pond. In all the other chapter excerpts, one finds that Thoreau uses examples from his life to draw insight on mankind as a whole. Transcendentalist thought emerges as he discovers the grandeur of a simple life in nature. On the far end of the spectrum is Annie Dillard, who relies almost solely on description and shows little insight. Transcendentalist thought emerges in her writing not so much as she draws conclusion for the reader; rather, she provides the sensory experience from her life that may permit the reader to draw powerful conclusions on his own. However, her focus on solely descriptive techniques drains the reader's interest because most are unable to see the spiritual truth unless they read it specifically. In comparison, Dillard is much more enthusiastic in her approach to nature. She seems to dive straight into nature with such memorable cries as "Lightning! Copperhead! Swedish meatballs!" The exclamation points themselves highlight this attitude. In contrast, Emerson and Thoreau have a much more contemplative approach to nature (and especially solitude); they like to think about one topic and draw conclusions from it. However,...