The Essential Writings of Ralph Waldo Emerson (Modern Library Classics)

In "The Varieties of Religious Experience," William James devotes an early chapter to a type of personality most of us have known: the man who is perennially optimistic and cheerful, and almost always in a sunny mood. This "healthy mind," says James, is easy to see in a person like Walt Whitman --- and he would doubtless have included Ralph Waldo Emerson as another obvious example. In such persons, according to James, "happiness is congenital and irreclaimable." Matthew Arnold put it this way: "Emerson's systematic benevolence comes from what he himself calls somewhere his 'persistent optimism,' and his persistent optimism is the root of his greatness and the source of his charm."One of the golden nuggets in this Emerson anthology is the famous essay on "Self-Reliance." Modern readers might imagine that this essay would be about economics, but not so: the heart of it is this ---"There is a time in every man's education when he arrives at the conviction that envy is ignorance; that imitation is suicide; that he must take himself, for better, for worse, as his portion; that though the wide universe is full of good, no kernel of nourishing corn can come to him but through his toil bestowed on that plot of ground which is given to him to till. The power which resides in him is new in nature, and none but he knows what that is which he can do, nor does he know until he has tried."To put it in other words, "Know thyself" (Socrates would agree) and "Be thyself." Aping celebrities and adopting ideologies are no part of self-reliance; in fact, Emerson explicitly deplores men who have become slaves of an ideology. "If I know your sect I anticipate your argument." In fact, "whoso would be a man, must be a nonconformist." Conformity makes men not just false in a few small things, but false in everything.This is most excellent advice, and should be followed while reading Emerson --- or anyone else. You will find yourself disagreeing with him from time to time, and Emerson himself would surely approve and applaud.The physical book reviewed here is extremely well-edited and well-made. The introduction by Mary Oliver is excellent and helpful. Unless you become a true Emerson devotee, this volume is likely to be all you need.

If the words of Whitman do not prompt one to at least explore the ideas of Ralph Waldo Emerson, nothing I say will be able to (or should). I suppose though many readers have merely seen Emerson's name after a famous quote or heard it mentioned by others and are curious about what he wrote.The books contains his most essential, influential essays. Each contain classical Emerson thought, unique, hard to pin down, literary... Emerson was known for "trumping the logicians" and appealing to the soul of man. Indeed he does.I have not read this book in its totality, but of the works I have, I have read thoroughly, as thoroughly as I have read perhaps anything, and I must say there is something undeniable about Emerson's reasoning. It is not logical in the dry fashion of philosophy, yet it is poetically, "humanly" appealing.All I can say is read Emerson. He was and is one of America's most influencital writers. Some like him, some hate him, some appreciate though not totally agree with things he sets for (like myself). This particular book presents a good overview of his most renowned works, is affordable, and has a nice introduction. Highly recommended.

"Our tokens of compliment and love are for the most part barbarous..." We live in a world where true gifts are rarely given. Too few times in my life have I been handed something and felt the spirit of the person who gave it to me. Not so with these essays and poems - each time I open them I feel as though I have been given a bit of Emerson himself. "Though must bleed for me."I have been stumbling my way through this book for a year or two now. I supposed that sometime soon I will read the words on the final pages.. though I dare say I will never feel as if I have finished it.I would recommend reading an essay or two of his online for free before committing to this near 900 page emotional and spiritual adventure.

Live this book. Almost every sentence is thought provoking. He had such a way with words. Beautifully written.

Big and heavy for a paperback with tissue thin paper, very small print and marvelous contents. Worth the extra effort in reading these choice pieces at this bargain price in a convenient collection. Very satisfying.

"The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well... To know that even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded." ~ Ralph Waldo EmersonRalph Waldo Emerson. The 19th century Transcendental philosopher.In my spiritual family tree, Emerson occupies the great great+ grandfather slot (right there above Dyer and Maslow). :)I truly love the man. You can feel his energy emanating from his powerful essays and if you haven't read his work yet, I highly recommend it. I'd suggest you start with "Self-Reliance" and then maybe "Nature," "Compensation," "Spiritual Laws," "Heroism," and "Circles."If you're like me, his eloquence, eminent quotability and passion for each of us to experience the transcendent joy that results from connecting to our Highest Self will often leave you in awe.

This book is thick!!! You are definitely getting your moneys worth! I cannot wait to read all of it. I love his work and how his words can paint a picture in my mind.

The book is wonderful but AMAZON did their usual crap packaging. I had 4 books that needed page pressing. Their system leaves a lot to be desired.

RWE is one of those 19th century authors I’ve always felt would have really benefitted from a far wider travel itinerary. Sure, he conveyed himself across the pond a couple of times, but had he done a lot more travel, I feel he could have written far more than he did.Nonetheless, this’s not to say the output was found wanting, no. His works are a delight to read & no matter what other titles you own by him, add this one to your collection for depth.

I got this recently in the summer but I haven't got the chance to read it yet. I have seen some snippets of Emerson's writing and I know that I will enjoy this when I start reading it in 2021.I haven't read many books from philosophers or writers from 18th century. But I have read Seneca's Letters (all time favourite letters), Epictetus and Marcus Aurelius. I guess this is going to be provide a new perspective of life when I finish reading it :)

Una obra de importancia capital para el siglo XXI, tanto filosófica y poéticamente como sistémicamente. Un clásico que ilustra los fundamentos de la consciencia ecológica...150 años ANTES de que surgiera el pensamiento ecológico como tal. Imprescindible.

Emerson's writings are a treasure trove for the humanity now, and to come. He is blunt and shakes our core beliefs about the society around us. Highly recommended to all but cowards. As he himself said in one of his essays on self-reliance-"....god will not have his work manifest by cowards"A champion of human core values and he lived what he preached. Influenced by Indian philisophy, one will not find the dryness of Indian spirituality here, but writings gardened with metaphors, which we Indians are not yet accustomed to, as our people were not in the habit of decorating the truth. A giant of transcendentalism and a greater writer also. Highly recommended!

エマソンの著作は邦訳されたものがいくつもあります。それらは文体や表現に特徴があって、面白い。しかし、原著を翻訳物と併せて読んでいくと、エマソンの「自らの眼で自然や事象に向き合え」という魂の叫びがストレートに響いてくるようです。特に、Natureは原文をそれぞれの邦訳とを丹念に読み比べていくと、エマソンが最初の著作として、表現に心を砕いていることが伝わってきます。