Self-Reliance and Other Essays

Great book. The many different essays were a delight to read. Reading literature from earlier times gives us insight of where we've been and where we're going

Faulkner’s quip is often held to refer to the American South; a land where the sense of history and tradition run so deep that we are still solving the problems of the 1870s.But it might also be said of Emerson. He was dismissive of the rote education of his day, which emphasized learning dead languages, along with the dates and biographies of notable persons. What he wanted instead was a living absorption of history.Confident that every man has the capacity to be a Caesar within him, the reader of the Commentaries should feel immersed in the courage, temperance and leadership of the Roman general. Similarly, we might read the life of Antony to understand moral purity or Washington to learn the virtues of a modern Cincinnatus.In the penultimate essay Emerson goes so far as to say that Aristotle, Charlemagne and the Buddha are not dead but live on by our continual participation in their spirit.And, while our materialist age may be dismissive of Transcendentalism, even Einstein was moved by the fact that the laws of physics are true whether time runs forward or backward to utter,“People like us who believe in physics know that the distinction between past, present and future is only a stubbornly persistent illusion.”Who of us can really answer the child’s question of where the past goes? Is Emerson actually irrational in holding on to the continual influence, the persistence of the living past on our present? Questions to ponder as one reads arguably the most elegant stylist of nineteenth century America.I’ve only touched upon the many insights Emerson offers in these essays. My one regret is that I didn’t read them when I was younger. Highly recommended.

Lately, I have taken a renewed interest in Ralph Waldo Emerson. I have read several of his essays, quotes and poems in the past but I had not read this 117 pages Dover thrift edition (Self-Reliance and other essays by Ralph Waldo Emerson) which I purchased on Amazon for a bargain price. I have also ordered other volumes by Emerson at this time.I was pleased with the quick delivery service. I found this to be a fantastic collection of six essays and one address that I loved reading. The insight and brilliance of Emerson shines in this volume.The essays (from 1841) in this volume includes: History, self-reliance, friendship, and over-soul. From Essays: second series (1844) the poet, experience and the Divinity School address. The very small print does make this book a little hard to read even with reading glasses. I also have a little trouble with Emerson's style of writing; nevertheless, I found this book to be a wonderful read.If you are interested in an interesting and historical important writer, philosopher and poet you may want to check out this volume and other writings of Ralph Waldo Emerson.Rating: 4 Stars. Joseph J. Truncale (Author: Zen Poetry Moments: Haiku and Senryu for special occasions).

His thinking helps stretch my mind. As I reread his words in this edition, I was again inspired. One of my favorite of his essays, Over soul, was not included. But I was glad to reread TBE ones chosen.

I needed a palette cleanser & wanted to read something meaningful, but classic. The transcendentalist came to mind! If you are into any form of self discovery, nature, and looking within, this sub genre is so fun to read & research.

Have not read this yet

It is not that I didn’t understand the essays. For me it was boring. It seemed to me that all of the essays could have rolled into three or four with the same word count equal to one. It was well written and provides a good look into one’s vocabulary.

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