The definitive collection of Emerson's major speeches, essays, and poetry, The Essential Writings of Ralph Waldo Emerson chronicles the life's work...
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Jan 23, 2012
Chris
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In reading Emerson it readily becomes apparent why it is that such as Nietzsche revered his essaying person, tapping as he does into that interior reserve of the individual spirit who—whether she be isolated in starlit reclusion or thronged by fellow beings in day aglow bustle—must grapple, at the last, with the fact that she is alone and in that solitariness must self-arm to face the enduring struggle of time-taut life. I don't always agree with Emerson (or Nietzsche, for that matter) but I lov
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Feb 07, 2008
Meghan
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BEAUTIFUL.
"Man is timid and apologetic; he is no longer upright; he dares not say 'I think,' 'I am,' but quotes some saint or sage. He is ashamed before the blade of grass or the blowing rose. These roses under my window make no reference to former roses or to better ones; they are for what they are; they exist with God to-day. There is no time to them. There is simply the rose; it is perfect in every moment of its existence. Before a leaf-bud has burst, its whole life acts; in More...
"Man is timid and apologetic; he is no longer upright; he dares not say 'I think,' 'I am,' but quotes some saint or sage. He is ashamed before the blade of grass or the blowing rose. These roses under my window make no reference to former roses or to better ones; they are for what they are; they exist with God to-day. There is no time to them. There is simply the rose; it is perfect in every moment of its existence. Before a leaf-bud has burst, its whole life acts; in More...
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Apr 20, 2011
Amy
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Back to Basics: Reading Emerson
Reading Emerson might make readers slightly sad (more about that later), not that Emerson expresses gloom in his most influential essays: Nature, TheDivinity School Address, and Self Reliance. His words reflect the optimism he felt for the power of the individual to understand how they fit into the world and how they might serve their community and country. A child of the American Revolution, he and his audience...
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Feb 28, 2009
Stacey
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Don't think I'll read the whole thing, but:
At first I had no clue what Emerson was talking about, and I chalked it up to him being all transcendentalist. Then I got to "Intellect" and things started to hit home. Then I read (ironically enough) "Transcendenalist" and not only did I become convinced that (1) Emerson is worth reading and (2) Emerson is worth reading as philosophy but also that (a) he lines up well with a lot of pragmatic ideas and (b) he lines up wel More...
At first I had no clue what Emerson was talking about, and I chalked it up to him being all transcendentalist. Then I got to "Intellect" and things started to hit home. Then I read (ironically enough) "Transcendenalist" and not only did I become convinced that (1) Emerson is worth reading and (2) Emerson is worth reading as philosophy but also that (a) he lines up well with a lot of pragmatic ideas and (b) he lines up wel More...
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Jan 25, 2010
Sean
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Can anybody truly be done reading emerson?
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Nov 09, 2007
Jason
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Emerson is my favorite poet/philosopher, and this one volume contains all his writings you could ever need. I agree with Emerson wholeheartedly about 33% of the time, disagree with him vehemently about 33%, and can't decide whether I agree or not the rest of the time. But he's always compelling, even if I think he's dead wrong.
The greatest thing about Emerson is how quotable he is. There are dozens of great one-liners here. One of my favorites: "A foolish consistency is the More...
The greatest thing about Emerson is how quotable he is. There are dozens of great one-liners here. One of my favorites: "A foolish consistency is the More...
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Oct 24, 2009
Nate
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I have only read the "Nature" lecture but so far this as been an excellent book. It is a hard read at times but if I take the time I can always understand what he is getting at.
I enjoy gleaning fundamental truths from his paragraphs. It seems like our world would be a bit better if we took a step back and adopted some of the "old ways" to a certain extent.
I enjoy gleaning fundamental truths from his paragraphs. It seems like our world would be a bit better if we took a step back and adopted some of the "old ways" to a certain extent.
Feb 12, 2009
Karenmarie
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This is a very deep book--very fitting for a deep person such as myself. :o) Seriously, this book is a lot to chew and I'm only reading it for English. However, I can honestly say that the parts I understood really were kind of interesting.
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Jun 12, 2009
Lauren
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I read most of this collection during an independent study during my junior year of college. I picked it up again last night and can't put it down; Emerson changed the way I think about everything.
Jan 20, 2012
Marisa
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Emerson is by far my favorite of all time. Every essay, every quote, every writing is worthy of being read...I get something new from this book no matter how many times I read it.
Jul 30, 2011
When driving from New Jersey to Pennsylvania, there's a sign on the border that says "America start here." Well when it comes to American literature, it starts with Emerson
Feb 24, 2010
Robert
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What more could one want from the address given to Harvard Divinity School? I mean, not being invited back for 30 years is pretty impressive a feet. Excellent.
Jul 06, 2009
Steven
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I find Emerson to be a bit richer with language and philosophical nuance than Thoreau, though sometimes too oblique. He works nicely in conjunction with Nietzsche.
May 16, 2011
Aaron
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Not always the clearest of writers, Emerson amazes me regardless. Heck, even his imprecision impresses. I love reading his works during the spring.
Feb 20, 2009
Stephen
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another book, that I consider one of my "bibles" great great spiritual help, I get from this book....he's a master, as far as I'm concerned....
May 13, 2010
I love Emerson. He is brilliant. Right now I am reading his essay on Friendship. I have read his essays over and over since college.
Jun 21, 2009
The Essential Writings of Ralph Waldo Emerson (Modern Library Classics) by Ralph Waldo Emerson (2000)
Oct 26, 2011
Cory
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I have never read a book that had a more profound change on my way of thinking.
Apr 09, 2009
Chris
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this is my jack off material. gorgeous language. "self-reliance" is life changing.
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Dec 16, 2009
James
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This is a huge book that contains not only every influential essay Emerson wrote, but also a lot of his poetry and a very good introductory biography. Emerson is the perfect author for those who are going through a philosophical awakening and are looking for insights into the world and the way we as humans relate to it, and therefore ourselves. Don't expect a fully developed, systematic philosophy here; transcendentalism is more of a way of seeing things.
Self-Reliance remains my pers More...
Self-Reliance remains my pers More...
May 12, 2007
Sarah
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To be honest, I haven't even come close to reading this entire book - I think I was assigned two or three essays in a college sophomore English class. But the presence of "Self-Reliance" alone makes it an essential part of my desert-island library. This is the essay where Emerson makes the famous statement "Trust thyself," and the rest of the essay lays out why. "Self-Reliance" is the ultimate weapon against any bout of insecurity or low self-esteem.
