Walt Whitman, an icon of the original American Transcendentalists, wrote Manly Health and Training a decidedly non-transcendentalist manifesto in 1858. As was his style he wrote it using one of his common pen names, Mose Velsor. It was originally published in serial form by the newspaper The New York Atlas, over several months. By the politically correct standards of today, it is unlikely that it would have seen the light of day. In many respects, Manly Health is a very American individualistic guide to life. Whitman touches on many things, food, alcohol, sex, boxing, bathing, footwear and...