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43rd out of 249 books
—
145 voters
Nature and Selected Essays
Through his writing and his own personal philosophy, Ralph Waldo Emerson unburdened his young country of Europe's traditional sense of history and showed Americans how to becreators of their own circumstances. His mandate, which called for harmony with, rather than domestication of, nature, and for areliance on individual integrity, rather than on materialistic institution...more
Paperback, 416 pages
Published
May 27th 2003
by Penguin Classics
(first published 1989)
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Dal mio punto di vista, qualsiasi progetto, per essere realmente sentito e condiviso, deve portare con sé un corrispondente bagaglio morale e filosofico. Non può nascere nessuna attività concreta se il seme del pensiero non è ancora maturato, creando i pilastri sui quali fondare tutto il resto. L'ispirazione che mi ha spinto a proporre l'idea di Greening USiena si sostanzia nella necessità che il nostro agire sia profondamente interiorizzato, che in noi sia radicato il deciso e libero convincime...more
The Shammbhala Library is the most eclectic publishing library ever concocted. Because of that, I can't well imagine that this particular collection of Emerson's writings will find its way into many American's homes, though it is very well done. That's rather beside the point, anyway, since just about any collection of Emerson will include the writings found here: "The Sphinx," "The Poet," "Bacchalus," "Circles," "Nature," "Self-Reliance," "The Divinity School Address," and a few others. Not eve...more
Passages like this are great:
"To the body and mind which have been cramped by noxious work or company, nature is medicinal and restores their tone. The tradesman, the attorney comes out of the din and craft of the street, and sees the sky and the woods, and is a man again. In their eternal calm, he finds himself."
Parts like this are more troubling:
"Nature is thoroughly mediate. It is made to serve. It receives the dominion of man as meekly as the ass on which the Savior rode."
The essay alternate...more
"To the body and mind which have been cramped by noxious work or company, nature is medicinal and restores their tone. The tradesman, the attorney comes out of the din and craft of the street, and sees the sky and the woods, and is a man again. In their eternal calm, he finds himself."
Parts like this are more troubling:
"Nature is thoroughly mediate. It is made to serve. It receives the dominion of man as meekly as the ass on which the Savior rode."
The essay alternate...more
The bulk of this is essential R.W. Emerson. Insightful, articulated extremely well, provocative and seemingly centuries ahead of his time. The chapters, however, I found most interesting weren't his chapters on nature, religion or poetry but the tributes to other men: Napoleon, Montaigne and Thoreau.
On Montaigne's skepticism: "He [the skeptic] is the considerer, the prudent, taking in sail, counting stock, husbanding his means, believing that a man has too many enemies than that he can afford t...more
On Montaigne's skepticism: "He [the skeptic] is the considerer, the prudent, taking in sail, counting stock, husbanding his means, believing that a man has too many enemies than that he can afford t...more
Emerson speaks about Nature with such an enthusiasm.He speaks of the integrity of impression given by natural objects.He believes that in woods, we return to reason and faith and that nothing can befall us in life- no disgrace and no calamity.......and we feel that we are part or particle of God.
But to whom this reason appease? Its true that that the existence of nature and Us too can not be ignored, but what joy does it give to the souls who are looking out for a reason for the existence itself...more
But to whom this reason appease? Its true that that the existence of nature and Us too can not be ignored, but what joy does it give to the souls who are looking out for a reason for the existence itself...more
My version had essays on Nature, History and Self-Reliance. My impression was that Emerson was one smart guy. The essays are packed with wisdom in so many places across so many areas of thought. It's definitely not always easy to read. The writing is often frilly and complex. It's also threaded with examples from classics (I haven't read) throughout. That said he's an extremely poetic writer and the book was worth reading for any one of his lines of wisdom from any of the essays. I particularly...more
I can't help but start this review with a truism: It's near impossible to read American books or process American popular culture or politics without somehow grappling with the legacy of Ralph Waldo Emerson. We know better than ever that no claim to understand any era can be made without reference to a diversity of voices; however, while it's true that Emerson's easy to lump into the category of overrated privileged white men, it's also true that in his writings intersect just about every major...more
At least Thoreau sort of made sense and vaguely defined his terms.
Emerson says "The soul must stand erect," and I have no idea of what the heck he's even talking about.
For some interesting reason that I cannot begin to fathom, my classmates like Thoreau and Emerson. I think they said that they like the poetic phrasings and metaphors. I like poetry...when it's in poetry. Not in essays.
And I'm getting tired of Emerson saying that goodness is found in mankind.
*EDIT*
I know it's not nice, but half...more
Emerson says "The soul must stand erect," and I have no idea of what the heck he's even talking about.
For some interesting reason that I cannot begin to fathom, my classmates like Thoreau and Emerson. I think they said that they like the poetic phrasings and metaphors. I like poetry...when it's in poetry. Not in essays.
And I'm getting tired of Emerson saying that goodness is found in mankind.
*EDIT*
I know it's not nice, but half...more
The world is pliably linguistic. Have faith in the way you see it! Allow yourself to do what you do and feel what you feel. Be a healthy individualist. Respect your fellow woman and your shared source.
Hippies talk all the time about universal spirits and mother nature and blah blah blah... none of them give plausible or interesting explanations of what they mean. Emerson points out very simply that Nature--everything that exists outside of me--makes up the common store of our language. Nature is...more
Hippies talk all the time about universal spirits and mother nature and blah blah blah... none of them give plausible or interesting explanations of what they mean. Emerson points out very simply that Nature--everything that exists outside of me--makes up the common store of our language. Nature is...more
I'm not sure if this is the exact copy I have, but the essay on Nature is so beautifully written. He manages to describe the simple spiritual upliftment people can access through natural scenery. Emerson was very controversial in his time because his philosophies went against the Church's idea that you must go through the institution/a third party to access spirituality. Regardless of your spiritual beliefs, Emerson writes brilliantly and I find his words life-affirming - they make me happy to b...more
One of the fathers of the Romantic and Naturalist movement. You must read his works on Nature, Self-Reliance, and Experience. The majority of Romantic works are canonized by and reflect such ideas like the transparent eye. Emerson stresses the relationship between man and nature, nature's gateway to knowledge, and the humanity of the Natural world.
I can't resist Emerson. I enjoyed Nature much less than "Self Reliance" but I still found myself admiring his prose. For a writer who said "I hate quotations," he sure supplies a plethora of pithy lines.
My main problem with Nature was how anthropocentric it was. Nature is a powerful force through which the poet experiences the sublime and can gather fundamental truths, yet Emerson repeatedly asserts that it is a servant of "man," which bothered me. I was also slightly disturbed by Emerson's ent...more
My main problem with Nature was how anthropocentric it was. Nature is a powerful force through which the poet experiences the sublime and can gather fundamental truths, yet Emerson repeatedly asserts that it is a servant of "man," which bothered me. I was also slightly disturbed by Emerson's ent...more
Jan 02, 2013
Anne Nikoline
rated it
3 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
American Renaissances fans
Recommended to Anne Nikoline by:
English teacher
I read this for my course in the English Renaissances, and I to be honest I am not sure if I would have chosen it for myself. That said, I am very delighted to have read this - to own a copy - because Nature and Selected Essays by Ralph Waldo Emerson has been a great influence on some of the great, American writers and to see what they got inspired by feels like a privilege.
To say that I that I enjoyed all of Emerson's essay would be false, but I really enjoyed his Over-Soul, The American Schol...more
To say that I that I enjoyed all of Emerson's essay would be false, but I really enjoyed his Over-Soul, The American Schol...more
May 25, 2012
Zack Mollhagen
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
books-read-in-2012
I decided to finish this since it is Emerson's birthday today. I can conclude that this is a fascinating read which is undoubtedly profound. It's not as approachable as Walden, and many of the analogies flew right over my head, but nonetheless it caused some great reflection as all good philosophy does. "The Happiest man is he who learns from nature the lesson of worship."
The parts about nature and language are particularly engaging, but the central thrust of his argument is quite simple when it all boils down. I don't know, Emerson is a lot of bombast and not much results.
Emerson tells of a transcendental way of life that far outweighs the worth and fulfillment of other philosophers of his time. His muse, to me at least, is wisdom manifested.
I imagine it was a mistake to listen to the audiobook, for I found it rather hard to follow most of the time, I am guessing if I read it I would have enjoyed it far more.
Aug 06, 2012
Kimberly Aikens
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Emerson fans and Early American Literature majors
Recommended to Kimberly by:
Early American Lit. class
Read for my Early American Lit. class and it was enlightening. I recommend you reading it and deciding for yourself if you agree with Emerson's point of view.
Emerson's climb into the transcendental views of a new society, and the accounts of his trials, allow his pupils to come Into the mindset of his own experiences.
An odd collection of poetry and essays of Ralph Waldo Emerson. Great stuff in the essays, and highly recommended. Poetry not so much to my taste, but still good stuff.
Spirituality for the non-religious- you can really get a lot out of his essays, which are frequently profound.
Great example of American Romantic literature, but Emerson's redundancy and hypocracy wasn't for me.
Jun 12, 2011
A'alaa
added it
i watched youtube lectures on his essays, he got a point but not matching my interests
Absolutely Excellent. Dense I feel like I need to read it again on my next hike!
I had to force myself to slow-down and concentrate on each word. Kinda like being back in undergrad or something. But it was very good. I think being forced to slow-down was a reflection of the essence of this essay.
This fucker's a jumped-up graduation speaker at an overpriced private high school, and that's all there is to it.
essential
Overall just ok, though the Nature essay does contain my new favorite quote: "The greatest delight which the fields and woods minister, is the suggestion of an occult relation between man and the vegetable." Hah! And it's awesome in every sense of the word "occult", which has a few definitions: 1) of or relating to supernatural influences, 2) beyond human comprehension, and 3) available only to the initiate; secret. Indeed.
So boring. Lofty language leaves you interpreting a sentence over and over, only to realize it says nothing special at all.
I think I may have enjoyed this more if I hadn't had to schlep through it in a very very unlively class. In Nature, Emerson lays down the basic philosophy of the transcendentalists. It is important to realize how much of an influence Emerson was on his contemporaries as we see reactions to his ideas in the work of Thoreau, Hawthorne and Melville, to name just a few.
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Ralph Waldo Emerson was an American essayist, poet, and leader of the Transcendentalist movement in the early nineteenth century.
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“If the stars should appear one night in a thousand years, how would men believe and adore; and preserve for many generations the remembrance of the city of God which had been shown! But every night come out these envoys of beauty, and light the universe with their admonishing smile.”
—
138 people liked it
“I am the lover of uncontained and immortal beauty. In the wilderness, I find something more dear and connate than in streets or villages. In the tranquil landscape, and especially in the distant line of the horizon, man beholds somewhat as beautiful as his own nature.”
—
65 people liked it
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Sep 15, 2011 10:33am