bog_elfin's review against another edition
3.0
There were some timeless moments in some of the essays, and a lot more anticapitalism than I expected, but overall I did not particularly enjoy this collection. I do recommend the address to Harvard's Divinity School for those interested in spirituality, and "An Address to the Citizens of Concord" was surprisingly relevant to the current political moment.
Also, There are only about 40 pages of poetry and 400 pages of essays, which feels misleading to me.
Also, There are only about 40 pages of poetry and 400 pages of essays, which feels misleading to me.
mtyanco's review against another edition
3.0
Read 3 Essays: Nature, The American Scholar, and Self-Reliance. Emerson provides some great quotes, but I can’t bring myself to agree with many of his points. Particularly, the spiritual aspects. But he wouldn’t mind my disagreements. He wanted for people to value the opinions of others less and for people to rely on their on intuition
marystevens's review against another edition
4.0
I read "Self Reliance" and "Experience" for my Modern/PostModern MOOC course from Wesleyan. Emerson is as relevant today as he was then. To thine own self be true...No that was Shakespeare. Well, these are universals but it's good to have it all spelled out for you. It helps you look at yourself.
emlickliter's review against another edition
inspiring
medium-paced
5.0
Essays and Poems by Ralph Waldo Emerson – My favorite male American poet. Though every single one of the Transcendentalists are living to give you a headache! Happy Reading!
lukas_sotola's review against another edition
5.0
In these essays, Emerson takes such simple concepts--friendship, love, circles, experience--and picks them apart and examines them from every angle in some of the most gorgeous prose I've ever read. Through that process, he demonstrates the mystery of our everyday lives, and why everyday life is worth praising.
brockf15's review against another edition
5.0
Though he would refute imitation, Emerson often sounds Socratic in his writing about philosophy, though that comparison only stands in tone not content. What you have here is a collection of “translations” of what you already know down inside about your own potential for originality, but adding to the deep history and wellspring of texts for creatives to pull on Emerson articulates it in a way that is definitely his own.
Foundational as an approach to naturalism and ever inspiring, a few of my favorite essays were: History, Self-Reliance, Compensation, Heroism, Intellect, The Poet, Manners, and Politics.
Some of his essays on love and reformers I found cute but not entirely as universal and applicable as I would have expected. The naturalist approach to all art might be challenged today as very cooperate and commercial products have made the high-art/low-art distinction more drastic, but we’ll never know Ralph’s opinion on that.
Foundational as an approach to naturalism and ever inspiring, a few of my favorite essays were: History, Self-Reliance, Compensation, Heroism, Intellect, The Poet, Manners, and Politics.
Some of his essays on love and reformers I found cute but not entirely as universal and applicable as I would have expected. The naturalist approach to all art might be challenged today as very cooperate and commercial products have made the high-art/low-art distinction more drastic, but we’ll never know Ralph’s opinion on that.
alwaysreading12's review against another edition
5.0
This collection is soothing to the soul and fulfilling for the mind. Emerson’s writings are deeply humanist and his transcendentalist philosophy acts as the catalyst for his observations about nature and the environment.In my opinion, RWE is deeply underrated. I find comfort in his words and he has provided so much hope for me in these difficult times. In self-reliance, he discusses in detail the innate goodness and ability for growth that humans possess and his sentiments are time withstanding and applicable for most everyone’s lives.
I recommend this collection to anyone looking to grow emotionally, philosophically, spiritually, etc. But it’s also great for looking to avoid an existential crisis or needed to disengage with the high tensions of today. Either way, these pieces are thought-provoking and life-affirming. As an aside, Emerson was a religious man and this is reflected in his works. That being said, religious and non-religious people of all faiths will likely be able to derive meaning and find value in Emerson’s work because it is human-centric and exists along most common ideas of morality.
I particularly enjoy The American Scholar, Nature, Friendship, and Self-Reliance, but everything in here is worthy of a read.
I recommend this collection to anyone looking to grow emotionally, philosophically, spiritually, etc. But it’s also great for looking to avoid an existential crisis or needed to disengage with the high tensions of today. Either way, these pieces are thought-provoking and life-affirming. As an aside, Emerson was a religious man and this is reflected in his works. That being said, religious and non-religious people of all faiths will likely be able to derive meaning and find value in Emerson’s work because it is human-centric and exists along most common ideas of morality.
I particularly enjoy The American Scholar, Nature, Friendship, and Self-Reliance, but everything in here is worthy of a read.
dev0n's review against another edition
1.0
Emerson was a spineless opportunist who took ideas from everyone with whom he was ever in contact. His verse is uninspiring and his prose is convoluted...While I don't deny his ideas were crucial in the shaping of the American identity, I believe the Emersonian tradition of self-reliance contributed to the capitalist nightmare we have to deal with today. Also, his ideas about feminism are upsetting: he only seemed to be concerned with how women on equal footing with men would be beneficial for men, intellectually. All in all, I wasn't impressed.
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