Selected Essays, Lectures, and Poems

by Ralph Waldo Emerson

A new, wide-ranging selection of Ralph Waldo Emerson’s most influential writings, this edition captures the essence of American Transcendentalism and illustrates the breadth of one of America’s greatest philosophers and poets.

The writings featured here show Emerson as a protester against social conformity, a lover of nature, an activist for the rights of women and slaves, and a poet of great sensitivity. As explored in this volume, Emersonian thought is a unique blend of belief in individual freedom and in humility before the power of nature. “I become a transparent eyeball,” Emerson wrote in Nature, “I am nothing; I see all; the currents of the Universal Being circulate through me; I am part or particle of God.” Written over a century ago, this passage is a striking example of the passion and originality of Emerson’s ideas, which continue to serve as a spiritual center and an ideological base for modern thought.

Genres: Poetry, Philosophy, Classics, Essays, Literature, Nonfiction, Nature

416 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published April 1, 1965

About the author

Ralph Waldo Emerson was born in Boston in 1803. Educated at Harvard and the Cambridge Divinity School, he became a Unitarian minister in 1826 at the Second Church Unitarian. The congregation, with Christian overtones, issued communion, something Emerson refused to do. "Really, it is beyond my comprehension," Emerson once said, when asked by a seminary professor whether he believed in God. (Quoted in 2,000 Years of Freethought edited by Jim Haught.) By 1832, after the untimely death of his first wife, Emerson cut loose from Unitarianism. During a year-long trip to Europe, Emerson became acquainted with such intelligentsia as British writer Thomas Carlyle, and poets Wordsworth and Coleridge. He returned to the United States in 1833, to a life as poet, writer and lecturer. Emerson inspired Transcendentalism, although never adopting the label himself. He rejected traditional ideas of deity in favor of an "Over-Soul" or "Form of Good," ideas which were considered highly heretical. His books include Nature (1836), The American Scholar (1837), Divinity School Address (1838), Essays, 2 vol. (1841, 1844), Nature, Addresses and Lectures (1849), and three volumes of poetry. Margaret Fuller became one of his "disciples," as did Henry David Thoreau.

The best of Emerson's rather wordy writing survives as epigrams, such as the famous: "A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds, adored by little statesmen and philosophers and divines." Other one- (and two-) liners include: "As men's prayers are a disease of the will, so are their creeds a disease of the intellect" (Self-Reliance, 1841). "The most tedious of all discourses are on the subject of the Supreme Being" (Journal, 1836). "The word miracle, as pronounced by Christian churches, gives a false impression; it is a monster. It is not one with the blowing clover and the falling rain" (Address to Harvard Divinity College, July 15, 1838). He demolished the right wing hypocrites of his era in his essay "Worship": ". . . the louder he talked of his honor, the faster we counted our spoons" (Conduct of Life, 1860). "I hate this shallow Americanism which hopes to get rich by credit, to get knowledge by raps on midnight tables, to learn the economy of the mind by phrenology, or skill without study, or mastery without apprenticeship" (Self-Reliance). "The first and last lesson of religion is, 'The things that are seen are temporal; the things that are not seen are eternal.' It puts an affront upon nature" (English Traits , 1856). "The god of the cannibals will be a cannibal, of the crusaders a crusader, and of the merchants a merchant." (Civilization, 1862). He influenced generations of Americans, from his friend Henry David Thoreau to John Dewey, and in Europe, Friedrich Nietzsche, who takes up such Emersonian themes as power, fate, the uses of poetry and history, and the critique of Christianity. D. 1882.
Ralph Waldo Emerson was his son and Waldo Emerson Forbes, his grandson.

Reviews

[Sofia Terèse · Rating 5 out of 5]

okay five stars!!!! rating based on the fact that this was intellectually fulfilling and i was very very much in need of that. little taste of everything as well which I enjoyed and since it included nature I can say I’ve read that as a separate entity!

this was fun for me because im well versed in transcendentalism, but I’ve read like everyone except Emerson, which is crazy??? so i knew what to expect and like i could skip the introduction because like i know about Emerson, just hadn’t read him.

the poems were fun!! poetry will last as long as the sphinx exists for people to hypothesize about. i liked the lectures best. nature was cool (review elsewhere)

what was most engaging for me was comparing his philosophies to Oscar’s (of course) because well. wilde is my baseline and exalted on a podium forever in my mind. I thought it was WILD how someone could be so wildean while simultaneously being entirely antithetical to him. Like YES experience EVERYTHING but art and humanity can never be equal and that’s just not what Oscar says. Fascinating for me (i miss oscar now). Also exposed how much I’ve internalized everything Oscar has said, because anything discordant sends up major red flags in my head. i think this is a good thing?

overall i really enjoyed this. DID NOT enjoy getting made fun of for reading it by literally everyone i mentioned it to (hello SPANISH CLASS) but whatever. i had fun.

[Franky · Rating 4 out of 5]

This collection from Ralph Waldo Emerson consists of some of his more popular and influential writings, such as his lectures, speeches, essays, and poems. The writings are broken down into specific time periods of Emerson’s life. I think that above all this collection is illustrative of how deep and insightful thinker Emerson was into the human experience. Obviously, Emerson was one of the leading figures of Transcendentalism (and that is reflected in this work as Nature is a continual theme), but I think that many of his points and reflections extend beyond past just one particular period or philosophical movement.

I think what I appreciate most from this collection are all the philosophical nuggets of wisdom and food for thought that Emerson provides and instills into the reader. And, while I think the reader will latch onto and identify with specific pieces and passages more than others, I think there is something here for everyone to find some inspiration from.

There are so many “quotables” in this collection. I always have felt that “Self-Reliance” was a powerful and thought-provoking essay and contains within it many points and reflections on living, avoiding conformity, and maintaining one’s independence:

“It is easy in the world to live after the world’s opinion; it is easy in solitude to live after our own; but the great man is he who in the midst of the crowd keeps with perfect sweetness the independence of solitude.”

“Whoso would be a man, must be a nonconformist…”

His essay “Pray Without Ceasing” speaks of the individual continually striving to overcome life’s pitfalls to maintain a positivity:

“Cast away this sickly despair that eats into the soul debarred from high events…Beware of easy assent to false opinion, to low employment, to small vices…”

Also included in the collection are such popular works as “Nature”, “The American Scholar” and “The Poet” as well as an essay on Thoreau. Some of the poems included are “Concord Hymn”, “The Snow Storm” and “The Sphinx” among others.

This is the type of book to read when you unplug technology, get away from the hustle and bustle of everyday living and life’s demands, and just want to escape into solitude, reflection, and nature. Emerson offers some insightful thoughts and reflections for living.

[Sariah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Emerson is a deep favorite of mine. What a man. What a read. Always a pleasure to read bold statements about nature and the inner guiding light of a man. Would recommend to a friend in a state of deep emotional turmoil, who is questioning everything and trusts nobody.

Or they just really like nature. :)

[Michael Kress · Rating 3 out of 5]

I bought this for $1.25 at McKay's in Nashville. The drummer for my band wrote a song lyric referencing Emerson, so that was probably the first thing that made me want to read him. Other reasons were that Nietzsche was a fan, and that Tarcher Cornerstone Editions had an Emerson collection. (This is not a review of said collection.) These latter two reasons were just reliable references. Once a started reading this, I could tell that Nietzsche got a lot of his ideas from Emerson. I sometimes even felt like Nietzsche was ripping him off. The ironic thing was that I found Nietzsche's stuff more accessible, even though Emerson was an American like me. Maybe it was just the good Nietzsche translation. This brings me to my reason for the mid-rating. Emerson had mind-blowing ideas, but some essays were hard for me to understand. I'm not sure why. As with a lot of things, it's great when I get it; but sometimes I have to power through. It's even more common for me to struggle with poetry than with essays, but I did enjoy a good bit of the poetry. My favorite poem was "Uriel." What a tear-jerker! I decided to get The Spiritual Emerson from Tarcher Cornerstone Editions, because I've found their editions of Marcus Aurelius and Lao Tzu to be better than other editions. I am currently reading it and may give it a review with a higher rating. Also, kudos to Emerson for being so progressive for his time. He gets five stars for that.

[Eric · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars. The essays in this collection varied quite a bit, with some that I found difficult to understand or repetitive, and others that were more interesting. My favorites were hearing his thoughts on American slavery - he was firmly in favor of abolition, and the address in this book was written in 1844 shortly after England had abolished slavery - and on Thoreau. It's also nice to finally have a little idea of what transcendentalism was about, as it was pretty much just a term I had heard a lot in middle school history with very little understanding of what is was. I don't know that it holds up all that well 150+ years later, but I liked seeing how Emerson extended some of the ideas of Stoicism. Overall I wouldn't recommend this whole collection, but do think that picking out a few specific essays of his could be worth your while.

[Sharjeel Ahmed · Rating 5 out of 5]

Among the best essays I've read. Nature & Self-Reliance are particularly moving and inspiring. Helped immensely during Coronavirus lockdown.

[Danyal Wahid · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating for Poems, and Essays on Nature and Self Reliance

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the essay The American Scholar.

[Plant-Based Patty · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very good collection of Emerson's work, a man whose views are immediate, necessary, and humanistic. He sits with Michel de Montaigne or Albert Camus for me as a philosopher who anyone can pick up, without prior knowledge, and find great advice and warm company. As a writer, he does admittedly suffer from being both long-winded and repeating himself, but he is also so quotable that you don't mind so much because he will find yet another charming way of putting the same sentiment.

Emerson was an individualist who emphasised the need for each person to keep with their principles and to live their values, not to bend to the opinions of others. At points he also advocates politically a non-interference in other's lives. While individualism is often thought of as un-egalitarian, he also advocated for the rights of women, against slavery, and for the US to keep its treaties with Native Americans. While extolling individual greatness, he thoughtfully criticises any attempt to put a person onto a pedestal, arguing that this acts as a stop on the future growth of virtue.

Mixing Christian and classical Greek themes, he also argues that we should be in-touch with the natural and learn the laws of the universe, so that we can be successful in our own lives and be more in touch with the Diety. This aspect interests me less but I understand it is what he is famous for. While his romantic views of nature and hard labour are, well, not for me, I do appreciate the poetry and sentiment behind them.

[John Lucy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can't agree with the entirety of Emerson's philosophy. It can and probably does lead to a bit of selfishness and self-centeredness, even as he fights against that possibility. Self-reliance, as his friend Thoreau famously displayed, is good; but if one's life is only defined by self-reliance, then there's definitely something missing. Beyond that criticism, though, Emerson's writing and ideas are often inspirational and provocative.

I could do without his poems. Everything else is great.

[Brendan M · Rating 2 out of 5]

Everything was well written and stated but sometimes too philosophical to follow. His lectures read as far too lofty and rambling to me. Lots of New England and Puritan influence in his voice and I personally could have done with less allusion to Biblical testament. I can see why he’s considered an eminent voice in American literature but it’s not really for me. I did enjoy when I read Walden so I thought I would appreciate this collection more than I actually did.

[Varun Sharma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some wonderful essays. Overall, I enjoyed it, though some essays were not for me.

[Varun Rajaram · Rating 4 out of 5]

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[Jerry]

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[Carla · Rating 2 out of 5]

The poems were easier and more enjoyable than I had expected them to be, so I was unprepared for what a struggle it was to wade through his lectures and essays. I slogged along until I was about two thirds of the way through the collection at which time I confess I half read, half skimmed to nearly the end. I did read the final essay carefully, though, about Thoreau. Though they had differences, Emerson's admiration for Thoreau is evident.
Language of the day tends to be more flowery than modern discourse, and some of the vocabulary is no longer in use or is used differently, but I don't think that accounts for the challenging nature of this read. For me it had more to do with following Emerson's long sentences and paragraphs into what is labeled his philosophy but often seems to me to be flights of fancy or stream of consciousness. Every now and then I would come upon a beautiful phrase or sentence that illustrated a point of wisdom worth framing, but oh, the work it took to get there.

[Curtis Seven · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the first few paragraphs of the introduction the book already suggests Emerson as the greatest American thinker of his time and whether you might put a Thoreau on that throne or look at the influences of a previous generation in some respects (Jonathan Edwards) he certainly was one of the leading if not the leading American Transcendentalists. Some might argue that Thoreau had a purer quality about him but Emerson's body of work is so much more substantial it's still mostly a matter of ones perspective (40 volumes).

A good enough primer so long as you remember this is a very short book when compared to the whole.

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Emerson is kind of witchy. There really isn't anyone quite like him as a blend of high-minded respectability and relativistic, even subversive, spiritual wanderings. Some of the most famous essays here are the least interesting in my opinion though. "Nature" is boring but saved by a concluding thunderbolt. "Self-Reliance" is Emerson's most miserly in tone. I don't see the attraction here. "The Lord's Supper", "Divinity School Address", and "The Over-Soul", these are really good. Nietzsche liked Emerson.

[Alec Sieber · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some sublime highlights, particularly "Nature" (which renders many of the subsequent essays redundant), "Circles", and "Thoreau." The wonderful thing about Emerson is that, even when he is not saying anything particularly novel or interesting, his style remains passionate and inspirational. Thumbing through my collection of his essays, I find I've underlined little gems of prose throughout the entire book, even in the midst of some of his dullest pieces. The poems are somewhat less consistent in quality, although I did enjoy "Days" and "The Rhodora" a good deal.

[Melissa Fausz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Transcendentalism is, in my opinion, the school of thought that propelled this nation from the Civil War forwards into the modern age. There's so much to love about Emerson: joy, optimism, individualism, and a strange practicality to his philosophy. If you only read one essay though, make it Self-Reliance.

[Shane · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is probably the last book of philosophy that I will read for a long time. Some of Emerson's essays were enjoyable; I'd recommend the essays Nature, Self-Reliance, and Circles to anyone interested in becoming acquainted with Emerson's work. Other than that, Emerson's writings were either unbearably dry or, to me, nearly incomprehensible.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am not a big poetry person and I wouldn't pick this up again as a pleasure read, but Emerson can write. I should probably give this more stars, but 3 stars is what I use to rate things that might have been well written but just weren't something I enjoyed a whole lot.

[Julia · Rating 2 out of 5]

Maybe my opinion was impacted by the fact that I had to read this for class, but this was the most dreadfully boring book I've read so far. Circles was okay but the rest made me want to fall asleep after every word and confused me. Never picking this up again, sorry Emerson.

[Tony D · Rating 5 out of 5]

A collection worth its weight in gold

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

Emerson is credited with saying some of the most profoundly simple truths. These are things that just needed to be said out loud.

[Fredrick Danysh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Here is a collection of some of the poems and other writings of Emerson. In the work he also discusses poetry. The poems cover various topics,

[Kelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

Those who know me know that this book keeps the bears away!

[Pamela · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good collection of Emerson's work, but I just don't care for his writing. :(