Mark Bozeman: Author Interview, Books & Impact
Mark Bozeman is a teacher, poet, and philosopher who brings together the gentle insight of Taoism and the earthy wisdom of Henry David Thoreau into practical guidance for everyday seekers. Through his book “Tao of Thoreau” and his humorous yet thoughtful writing online, he invites readers to slow down, pay attention, and find a quieter kind of strength in nature, humor, and simple presence.
Hey Mark, Can you please share a few words about your work? What made you choose your current path?
I feel like Tao of Thoreau chose me. When I was studying Walden in graduate school, I kept coming across these little gems that echoed with the power of Taoism. I felt compelled to take them from the text and mold them into a book of their own. This is the genesis of Tao of Thoreau.
What does being successful mean to you?
My dreams of being a writer were so big that it took me a long time to feel success from smaller accomplishments. I now take fulfillment from each step, whether it is self-publishing, which is a difficult venture, or even the sale of a single copy. Success seems more like a pathway for me now, with signposts along the way marking progress.
What is one habit or practice that has benefited your life the most?
Being positive. Positivity to me is an active approach to lfie. I’m not truly being positive if negative events or mindsets derail me. These will happen, of course, but I make a choice to confront them, learn from them, and then return to the strength of my beliefs.
Also, what is one practice you’ve always wanted to add to your life, but didn’t?
Meditation. I think it would help me a great deal, but I never seem to find the time or learn the patience to practice it.
What is one belief or value that you hold as your guiding truth?
There is a Hindu saying: “You have the right to the action, but not to the result of the action.” This has freed me from thinking that success and achievement are totally in my control. For instance, I have the right to publish Tao of Thoreau, but its success is not in my control. I can invest time and money into promotion, but I have to trust that the book is worthy of attention from readers.
What is one of the most worthwhile investments —money or time investment — you’ve ever made?
Marrying my wife. She has taught me so much about hard work and dedication. And marriage has taught me how much sacrifice and change are necessary to maintain love and respect.
What is one life-changing book that has greatly influenced and helped you along the way?
Tao Te Ching. I started reading it in college, and I still consult it frequently. Its lessons are clear, and they are manageable while somehow also being challenging. It teaches without preaching, opening up pathways with suggestions. I also feel like it is a love note to humanity, with a deep understanding of our power and frailty.
What was your biggest fear when you just started and how have you managed to eradicate it?
My dream was always to be accepted for publication by a book publisher. It still is. When I was discussing self-publishing with my wife, I whined “Great. I’ll publish and 50 people will read my book.” She smiled at me and said “That’s 50 more people than are reading it now.” Her words cut through my doubt and led me to making Tao of Thoreau a reality.
What was one of your biggest self-limiting beliefs and how have you managed to change it?
Living with anxiety and the doubts that come with it. I had to embrace that I am an anxious person, that I will sometimes be stuck in my doubts. I realized that it’s a part of my story, but only a part. Other parts include success, love, and the positive influence I have with my family, friends and students. I am a whole person, who learns from my frailties and try to turn that learning into strength.
What is your message to someone who is about to embark on their next big mission or dream?
To paraphrase Taoism, don’t get distracted by visions of success or failure. I love to dream about the possibilities of great publishing success, but they are just dreams. I get stuck with worry about failing to reach my dreams, but it’s just worry. The work is the important part, and it is real.
Also, what advice should they ignore?
Listen to everyone, learn the lessons they might teach you, but disregard advice that doesn’t work for you or feel right, even if it is from someone you respect.
Finally, what are you primarily working on these days?
I am on the final edit of my novel Speak Again Bright Angel. It is the story of Sarah and Jonathan, whose souls become connected after a car crash that kills Sarah. She makes a terrible decision when she crosses over to the other side, but her connection to Jonathan is a wildcard that gives her support and power in the afterlife.
The book has a terrible inspiration: I was in a car accident in college. The car I was in was hit by a drunk driver, and the driver of my car, Holly, was killed. I started the book shortly after the accident as a tribute and memorial to Holly, her life tragically cut short at 19.
Mark’s Major Works
Tao of Thoreau: Practical Spiritual Wisdom (2022). A practical philosophy guide that weaves ancient Taoist ideas with Thoreau’s nature centered thought, offering short reflections and exercises to help readers cultivate balance, acceptance, and mindful living in modern life.
Self of Steam (2023). A poetry anthology that ranges from the everyday to the mystical, collecting Bozeman’s poems on work, love, politics, nature, and inner growth, all with his signature mix of playfulness, sincerity, and spiritual curiosity.
Beyond his books, Bozeman has built a substantial body of work on his site where he publishes essays, poetic reflections, and personal stories that explore spirituality, oneness, teaching, and ordinary life as a path to insight. He writes the recurring humor and advice feature “Ask Boz,” a long running series that uses absurd questions, playful logic, and satire to smuggle in real wisdom about work, identity, relationships, and modern culture.
Core Philosophy
Bozeman’s core philosophy rests on the meeting point of Taoism and Thoreau. He emphasizes living in harmony with natural rhythms, accepting both the “highs and lows” of life, and letting water, forests, and simple walks become teachers in their own right. He often returns to the idea of oneness, describing moments when counting and measuring lose meaning and a person senses a deeper unity within the world, a feeling he links to spiritual presence rather than abstract belief. His work encourages seekers to balance seriousness with play. He uses humor as a doorway to contemplation, trusting that laughter can disarm defensiveness and open space for genuine reflection on values, purpose, and ego.As a long time classroom teacher, he also frames wisdom as something embodied in daily acts of courage, care, and patience, not only in grand spiritual experiences. Teaching, parenting, and community life all become arenas for quiet spiritual practice.
Life Story
Mark Bozeman grew up with a strong imaginative streak and began writing in his early teens, deeply inspired by fantasy authors like J. R. R. Tolkien. That early love of story never left him, and it shaped his sense that narrative, metaphor, and myth are powerful tools for making sense of the world. Over time his reading widened to include religion and philosophy, which he has studied throughout his life, drawing especially on Taoist thought and American nature writing.
He went on to study at the University of Connecticut and followed a path into education, where he has taught English for many years at the middle and high school levels. His daily work with students sharpened both his skill with language and his sensitivity to how ideas land in real human lives. In the classroom he developed a style that blends humor, clear communication, and genuine care, something that later carries directly into his public writing.
Away from the classroom, Bozeman became deeply involved in Ultimate Frisbee. He has played since the late nineteen eighties and has won multiple national championships, an experience that gave him a lived understanding of teamwork, competition, and community. The Ultimate community in Connecticut has credited him with helping to modernize and nurture the culture of their club, and at one point he created an “Ask Boz” site linked with the local organization. Sport became another setting where he could explore character, fairness, and joy in practice.
Bozeman eventually brought his philosophical interests, love of Thoreau, and long engagement with Taoist ideas into his book “Tao of Thoreau,” which offers short, approachable meditations that pair passages of Thoreau with Taoist themes. He followed this with “Self of Steam,” a compact poetry collection that reveals his range, from light hearted pieces to more contemplative and spiritual work. Alongside his books he continues to publish essays and poems on his WordPress site, where recurring themes include oneness, nature walks, teaching, politics, and the inner life of someone trying to live awake in a noisy age.
Notable Points
- Mark Bozeman is a longtime English teacher who has spent decades working with middle school and high school students in Connecticut.
- He studied at the University of Connecticut and has continued to explore religion and philosophy independently throughout his adult life.
- Bozeman has been playing Ultimate Frisbee since the late nineteen eighties and has won four national championships with his teams.
- He helped create and maintain an “Ask Boz” online presence connected with Connecticut Ultimate Club, combining humor and community building.
- He is the author of the independently published philosophy book “Tao of Thoreau” and the poetry collection “Self of Steam.”
- His work has appeared in anthologies such as “Hidden in Childhood,” where his poetry contributes to collective explorations of memory and growing up.
- He runs a school writing club, encouraging young writers while continuing to revise and rediscover his own earlier poems and drafts.
Why Follow Mark
Mark Bozeman matters because he makes deep ideas feel human sized. In a time when many people feel pulled between spiritual hunger and everyday pressure, his work offers a path that is both light and serious, where a walk in the woods, a classroom moment, or even a joke about soup and salad can point toward something larger. By pairing Taoist wisdom with Thoreau’s love of nature, and by wrapping it all in humor and story, he gives readers a way to explore presence, kindness, and courage without pretension.
His voice reminds us that philosophy does not belong only in lecture halls and thick books. It can live in poems, blog posts, and conversations that help us notice our lives, accept their messiness, and step more gently and bravely into the world around us. His recognition comes less through formal awards and more through the steady growth of readers who find his voice both wise and approachable, a teacher who offers philosophy in plain language, with a smile, and always with an eye on how it might help someone lead a kinder, more conscious life.
🔺 Stay Connected With Mark:
→ Website | Amazon | Facebook | Instagram
* The editor of this text made every effort to maintain information accuracy. If you find an error, please report it.
Chief Editor
Tal Gur is an impact-driven creator at heart. After trading his daily grind for a life of his own design, he spent a decade pursuing 100 life goals around the globe. Tal's journey and recent book, The Art of Fully Living, inspired him to found Elevate Society.
