Introduction by Mary Oliver
Commentary by Henry James, Robert Frost, Matthew Arnold, Oliver Wendell Holmes, and Henry David Thoreau
 
The definitive collection of Emerson’s major speeches, essays, and poetry, The Essential Writings of Ralph Waldo Emerson chronicles the life’s work of a true “American Scholar.” As one of the architects of the transcendentalist movement, Emerson embraced a philosophy that championed the individual, emphasized independent thought, and prized “the splendid labyrinth of one’s own perceptions.” More than any writer of his time, he forged a style distinct from his European predecessors and embodied and defined what it meant to be an American. Matthew Arnold called Emerson’s essays “the most important work done in prose.”
 
INCLUDES A MODERN LIBRARY READING GROUP GUIDE

Self-Reliance has to be one of the most understood pieces in the collection. Mr. Emerson speaks in a tone that is easily understood and thoughts explained in plain english, no degree required to understand. And once understood, ideas are easy to apply to our own life to better understand what we have read.

Without a doubt, this book is a must in any thinkers library. Walt Whitman says it best about this book, "I was simmering, simmering, simmering. Emerson brought me to a boil." A genius of a book.

36 of 37 found the following review helpful:


Surprisingly, a read-through rather than a reference  May 30, 2001 By Jesse A Whyte
Having read piece-meal through alot of the Trancendentalists (but never picked up anything more than a quote from Emerson), I picked up this book expecting just to read a couple of essays for perspective and stow it away on my shelves for reference.

Thirty-six hours later I was setting the book onto my shelves, but for the sole purpose of retiring for some much needed sleep before spending another five or six hours finishing the book. The editors deserve a tremendous amount of credit for putting the essays and letters together in a way that allows the reader to walk cleanly through the book without losing sight of the author. Having finished the book, I have to admit that Emerson is in a dead-heat with Throreau (for me) as the most inspiring and intelligent of the time. Amazingly clean read with delightful insights that are still relevant today.

28 of 29 found the following review helpful:


living thought  Feb 20, 2002 By Frederick
Does it make any sense to call this man dead? I cannot read any essay he ever wrote without hearing a call to life and to my better self. More than a pot of Folgers Emerson can keep me up at night, more than any man or woman I've met in this life he makes me think and wonder and love both- his prose is so honest that it "rises naturally to poetry." There is a reason our "greatest poets" lived in such awe of him. This man knew, felt, thought, lived the full range of man and soul and never flinched. In fact, he wrote it down. He is unmatched. Any time you spend reading this would be better spent buying this book. He is among the greatest of Americans. Enjoy.

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