What do you think?
Rate this book
Emerson, Thoreau, and the Transcendentalist Movement
A series of 24 Lectures on the New England Transcendalist Movement delivered by Ashton Nichols, Professor of English at Dickinson College.
Audiobook
First published January 1, 2006
7 people are currently reading
92 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
March 5, 2013
I'm afraid there's no way I can do this course justice. I expected to learn a few things about my spiritual (and actual) ancestors. What I learned instead was a much broader understanding of the development of American philosophy and American contribution to world thought. An Iranian friend once remarked that the only tangible artistic contribution Americans had made to culture was jazz (despite the fact that she was wearing jeans at the time, and fiddling with her APPLE laptop). Now we know that the nature essay is also a wholly American writing form, and ecocriticism has its origins in the transcendentalist movement.
I didn't expect this course to be so broad and to cover so much. Professor Ashton delved into literature, poetry, education, philosophy, religion, politics, and intentional communities. Granted I wish he had explored religion more deeply, but he covered so much information that most of the time he was painting with broad brush strokes. Frankly, as an artist, he's pretty darn good.
Easily the most important and most interesting of all of The Great Courses I have heard.
I didn't expect this course to be so broad and to cover so much. Professor Ashton delved into literature, poetry, education, philosophy, religion, politics, and intentional communities. Granted I wish he had explored religion more deeply, but he covered so much information that most of the time he was painting with broad brush strokes. Frankly, as an artist, he's pretty darn good.
Easily the most important and most interesting of all of The Great Courses I have heard.
November 30, 2017
This is a 24-lecture series from the Great Courses that wasn’t all that great. But there was one great statement William Henry Channing offered to Henry David Thoreau that spoke greatly to me: “I see nothing on this earth for you but that field which I once christened briers. Go out upon that, build yourself a hut, and there begin the grand process of devouring yourself alive.”
August 29, 2019
This is a fascinating course which deals with the phenomenon itself and many of its main proponents. I know relatively little about American philosophy and learnt a great deal - perhaps the course would be too general and wide-ranging for a person with more knowledge. I would recommend this to anyone interested in American literature and the influences behind some American attitudes up to the middle of the last century.
November 21, 2017
Background reading for my trip to Walden Pond. Obsessed with Emerson and Thoreau right now. Obsessed.
April 16, 2018
Another Great Courses lecture that I really enjoyed in spite of the authors obvious reading.
December 18, 2015
Ashton Nichols is an excellent speaker and his lectures are written well, but the course trails a bit after the sections on Emerson and Thoreau. I understand there is more to the Transcendentalist "movement" than Emerson and Thoreau, and Nichols demonstrates this ably, but the fringe characters just didn't speak to me. (Theodore Parker excepted.) A fine overview of the historical aspects of the period, in any case, and a good introduction to the thought of Emerson and Thoreau.
August 17, 2016
A grand excursion into the philosophy of thought, education, women's right, religious questions, and prose and poetry, this voyage takes the willing passenger further than eye can see.
July 9, 2023
Ashton Nichols' insightful work illuminates the transcendentalist movement of mid-19th century America, highlighting the contributions of its leaders, Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau, and those of various other participants, including Margaret Fuller, John Brown, Frederick Douglass, Emily
The book examines Transcendentalism as America's first homegrown philosophical school of thought, arising in a period of rapid national expansion and wealth accumulation ahead of the devastating Civil War. As such, understanding Transcendentalism is an essential stepping stone in comprehending the country's historical development.
Nichols expounds on the central theme of Transcendentalism: the inherent value of individuals. The philosophy encourages individuals to seek and express truth, particularly through literature and arts. It promotes a personal journey towards faith, advocating that people can connect with the divine via personal experiences, revelations, and intuition. This outlook ties Transcendentalism to naturalism, respecting all forms of life and believing in nature's ability to guide individuals towards higher knowledge and truth.
Politically, Transcendentalism underlines the importance of individual freedom, which led to its endorsement of suffrage and abolitionist movements. It has also influenced the field of education by fostering personal engagement and exploration among students. Importantly, the book attributes the boom in American literature and poetry to Transcendentalism, where personal expression was allowed to flourish unrestricted. The legacy of Transcendentalism lasted through the 19th century and beyond.
Nichols meticulously explores the lives of those involved in the Transcendentalist movement, many residing in the Boston area during the mid-nineteenth century. While Emerson and Thoreau are the focus, as the title implies, the book also pays significant attention to other influential individuals. Their connection to Transcendentalism may vary - some were students or associates of Emerson and Thoreau, some carried on the intellectual legacy of Transcendentalism, and others shared the same political objectives, such as abolitionism. Nichols' organization of the book echoes the decentralized structure of the Transcendentalist movement, consisting of various ideals and advocacies bound by the shared belief in individualism.
The book, while enjoyable and easily accessible, could benefit from a more explicit mapping of the intellectual network of Transcendentalists. Providing a clear overview and comparison of their individual views and activities would assist readers in better understanding the movement's complexity.
I am amazed by the coexistence in America of individualized truth, as advocated by Transcendentalism, and objective truth, as acknowledged by the scientific mindset. This dichotomy, underlining the tolerance and diversity of American culture, reaffirms our rich cultural heritage and motivates us to continue generating innovative thoughts and ideals.
The book examines Transcendentalism as America's first homegrown philosophical school of thought, arising in a period of rapid national expansion and wealth accumulation ahead of the devastating Civil War. As such, understanding Transcendentalism is an essential stepping stone in comprehending the country's historical development.
Nichols expounds on the central theme of Transcendentalism: the inherent value of individuals. The philosophy encourages individuals to seek and express truth, particularly through literature and arts. It promotes a personal journey towards faith, advocating that people can connect with the divine via personal experiences, revelations, and intuition. This outlook ties Transcendentalism to naturalism, respecting all forms of life and believing in nature's ability to guide individuals towards higher knowledge and truth.
Politically, Transcendentalism underlines the importance of individual freedom, which led to its endorsement of suffrage and abolitionist movements. It has also influenced the field of education by fostering personal engagement and exploration among students. Importantly, the book attributes the boom in American literature and poetry to Transcendentalism, where personal expression was allowed to flourish unrestricted. The legacy of Transcendentalism lasted through the 19th century and beyond.
Nichols meticulously explores the lives of those involved in the Transcendentalist movement, many residing in the Boston area during the mid-nineteenth century. While Emerson and Thoreau are the focus, as the title implies, the book also pays significant attention to other influential individuals. Their connection to Transcendentalism may vary - some were students or associates of Emerson and Thoreau, some carried on the intellectual legacy of Transcendentalism, and others shared the same political objectives, such as abolitionism. Nichols' organization of the book echoes the decentralized structure of the Transcendentalist movement, consisting of various ideals and advocacies bound by the shared belief in individualism.
The book, while enjoyable and easily accessible, could benefit from a more explicit mapping of the intellectual network of Transcendentalists. Providing a clear overview and comparison of their individual views and activities would assist readers in better understanding the movement's complexity.
I am amazed by the coexistence in America of individualized truth, as advocated by Transcendentalism, and objective truth, as acknowledged by the scientific mindset. This dichotomy, underlining the tolerance and diversity of American culture, reaffirms our rich cultural heritage and motivates us to continue generating innovative thoughts and ideals.
June 15, 2025
Main Points -
1 - – Nature. 2 - Self.
3 – Resist society, the church, education, and the government.
4 - – Simplify, Simplify, Simplify,
5 – Unitarian Christianity - Non Trinitarian Christianity. 6 – Rejected strict Calvinistic Ideals, that move beyond the Congregation Church.
7 – Brought in German Idealism – Nature, I. Kant. – noumena - , Gothe.
8 – The Oversoul. 9 – Be misunderstood!.
10- Who shall be a a man must be a non-conformist. 11 – A new version of language, in order to bring the reader closer to life. 12 – The world we live in is thickened life.
13 – I’m not trying to be god – I’m trying to work. Thoreau inspired Gandhi and MLK.
14 – Started back to the land movement (Environmentalism ).
15 - Walden is 5 types of books 1 – Nature book, 2 – DIY book, 3 – crit of life, 4 - a great work of letters book, and 5 - a spiritual book.
16 - Emily Dickinson - never published during life. Strange grammar - Em-dashes, Capitalization, etc…..
17 - “Some keep the Sabbath going to church –I keep it, staying at Home –With a Bobolink for Chorister – And an Orchard for a Dome."
18 – Walt Whitman – expansive and inclusive, writes about “America” sexuality, labor, “Look for me under your boot-soles.” “A cosmos and a loafer” free-verse, “Not wealth, but the commonwealth.”
1 - – Nature. 2 - Self.
3 – Resist society, the church, education, and the government.
4 - – Simplify, Simplify, Simplify,
5 – Unitarian Christianity - Non Trinitarian Christianity. 6 – Rejected strict Calvinistic Ideals, that move beyond the Congregation Church.
7 – Brought in German Idealism – Nature, I. Kant. – noumena - , Gothe.
8 – The Oversoul. 9 – Be misunderstood!.
10- Who shall be a a man must be a non-conformist. 11 – A new version of language, in order to bring the reader closer to life. 12 – The world we live in is thickened life.
13 – I’m not trying to be god – I’m trying to work. Thoreau inspired Gandhi and MLK.
14 – Started back to the land movement (Environmentalism ).
15 - Walden is 5 types of books 1 – Nature book, 2 – DIY book, 3 – crit of life, 4 - a great work of letters book, and 5 - a spiritual book.
16 - Emily Dickinson - never published during life. Strange grammar - Em-dashes, Capitalization, etc…..
17 - “Some keep the Sabbath going to church –I keep it, staying at Home –With a Bobolink for Chorister – And an Orchard for a Dome."
18 – Walt Whitman – expansive and inclusive, writes about “America” sexuality, labor, “Look for me under your boot-soles.” “A cosmos and a loafer” free-verse, “Not wealth, but the commonwealth.”
December 13, 2020
I’m not in two minds after finishing this book—but I can’t deny that when I started it sounded a bit odd. In particular, Mr Nichols’ treatment of Thoreau and Emerson was the poorest, but once we moved from those into general transcendentalism and the less well known people—Douglass, Whitman, Alcott, and Fuller—the story became a whole lot more compelling.
As someone who’s never been that much into the simplified ‘ignore taxes because government is evil’ narrative that can be spun out of transcendentalism, the way Mr Nichols turned this into a description on education and equality was a lot more enjoyable. In that, and in bringing in the less-well-known thinkers, the author did a favour for everyone learning about the philosophy.
On the other hand, it would have been good to be introduced to Emerson and Thoreau in a more wholesome way—it seemed to me that instead of being genuinely interested in them, Mr Nichols wanted to say a few words and leave them in the dust. This was particularly annoying when the author considered some quotes by either, which was done rather concisely to conclude with ‘most people misunderstand it’ without actually explaining what the misunderstanding is.
I would recommend this as a stellar work on the philosophy, but not for people wanting to learn more about Emerson and Thoreau.
This review was originally posted on my blog.
As someone who’s never been that much into the simplified ‘ignore taxes because government is evil’ narrative that can be spun out of transcendentalism, the way Mr Nichols turned this into a description on education and equality was a lot more enjoyable. In that, and in bringing in the less-well-known thinkers, the author did a favour for everyone learning about the philosophy.
On the other hand, it would have been good to be introduced to Emerson and Thoreau in a more wholesome way—it seemed to me that instead of being genuinely interested in them, Mr Nichols wanted to say a few words and leave them in the dust. This was particularly annoying when the author considered some quotes by either, which was done rather concisely to conclude with ‘most people misunderstand it’ without actually explaining what the misunderstanding is.
I would recommend this as a stellar work on the philosophy, but not for people wanting to learn more about Emerson and Thoreau.
This review was originally posted on my blog.
February 15, 2019
I seem to have been listening to this for ages; my fault. It doesn't help when one isn't immersed.
But I think it's also because I found the course a little dull, especially when it moves on to characters other than those it devotes less time to, especially beyond Emerson and Thoreau, and LM Alcott. (For E and T, I recommend the superior lectures made by the inimitable Arnold Weinstein on the 'Classics of American Literature' course, already by The Teaching Company / The Great Courses).
I think the delivery is partly to blame; it plods on, competent, moments of insight lacking, stodgy, lacking dynamism, ordinary without being violently offensive. There's lots of biography, it's necessarily broad, it rarely enlightens on specific points and isn't compelling.
It has made me feel transcendentalism as a movement isn't a bit boring, too, which it can't be, and isn't, because I know a little more than is written here. I know Emerson and Thoreau a little and have been moved by their writing, even when it's didactic and strident.
I wonder if Gura's history of transcendentalism isn't a bit better? I'll give it a try.
But I think it's also because I found the course a little dull, especially when it moves on to characters other than those it devotes less time to, especially beyond Emerson and Thoreau, and LM Alcott. (For E and T, I recommend the superior lectures made by the inimitable Arnold Weinstein on the 'Classics of American Literature' course, already by The Teaching Company / The Great Courses).
I think the delivery is partly to blame; it plods on, competent, moments of insight lacking, stodgy, lacking dynamism, ordinary without being violently offensive. There's lots of biography, it's necessarily broad, it rarely enlightens on specific points and isn't compelling.
It has made me feel transcendentalism as a movement isn't a bit boring, too, which it can't be, and isn't, because I know a little more than is written here. I know Emerson and Thoreau a little and have been moved by their writing, even when it's didactic and strident.
I wonder if Gura's history of transcendentalism isn't a bit better? I'll give it a try.
October 23, 2020
The delivery is a little dry and pretty sure he says li-bary, which is a huge pet peeve of mine; however, the content is great, this is an incredible overview of a whole literary and philosophical movement, and he even offers some critique of the ideas and space to explore their impact on our lives now. If you're interested in this topic or these people and college classes, this will likely be an interesting lecture series for you.
Not sure why so many people hate on these courses and give them low rankings because they do not like college class lectures... These are clearly college level lectures: it even says so in the first 30 seconds of track one. Also, contrary to a few reviewers below, this is not a graduate level course, definitely intro level to a topic like this which would be a 2-4000 level class at best. (I have a liberal arts masters degree.)
Not sure why so many people hate on these courses and give them low rankings because they do not like college class lectures... These are clearly college level lectures: it even says so in the first 30 seconds of track one. Also, contrary to a few reviewers below, this is not a graduate level course, definitely intro level to a topic like this which would be a 2-4000 level class at best. (I have a liberal arts masters degree.)
January 2, 2024
This Great Courses production was a really enjoyable, educational and interesting survey of Transcendentalism in America. I really liked Professor Nichols approach of exploring the subject through individuals. However, after 24 lectures, I still felt a little fuzzy on the perimeters of what is and isn’t transcendentalism, despite having a good grasp of the basics. One reason for this might be that Nichols did not look at more nuanced criticisms of the movement like that of Herman Melville, until the end of the course. Such complicated critiques may have helped add greater context. Despite that, I would still highly recommend this to anyone who wants to learn more about this fascinating and uniquely American philosophy, and even this period of American History.
January 29, 2020
This is a series of 24 - 30 minute lectures on the transcendentalist movement in American history during the 1800s. Well read. My one disagreement is his assumption about cause and effect of this movement--i.e. to what extent the movement catalyzed other changes in society, and to what extent it was a reflection of those changes that were happening anyway. He seems to assume the former, when it could be as much the latter. Correlation does not tell us what is cause and what is effect.
February 10, 2018
Very engaging discussion of the Transcendentalist movement and its leading members. Ties the movement into historical and modern day social, religious, aesthetic and political trends in the United States.
June 7, 2024
I appreciated the initial philosophical approach and treatments of some secondary transcendentalists like Bronson Alcott, Theodore Parker, and Elizabeth Peabody. Connections to several poets were also well substantiated. But the connections to Douglass, Stanton, and others seemed strained.
December 28, 2016
Not extremely compelling, but filled with interesting biographical, historical, and philosophical information.
October 18, 2018
V. 2006
October 18, 2021
Highly recommended review of the movement.
November 17, 2022
I'm not THAT much of a fan, but some good trinkets
November 12, 2020
Very interesting course, on audiobook, that highlights the influence of the Transcendentalists then and now. The professor’s speaking style and course outline are easy to follow without a written outline and the length of each lecture is ideal for listening to during a commute.
August 3, 2022
Humans can do amazing things when they are free from tradition and are unafraid to think creatively. We are part of nature.
September 30, 2016
This was a great overview of the topic presented by Professor Ashton Nichols, clearly explaining and enlightening on this fascinating topic and time in New England history and the implications on our society now. I listened to the audio book, and referred to accompanying course guidebook. Excellent!
December 4, 2019
I think the content and everything was very informative and expertly researched, but I don't know why I initially bought this audiobook in the first place.
I really enjoy the concepts of transcendentalism and I think I was eager to explore it further since my first exposure as a senior in high school, but I feel like this was overwhelming in its depth and complexity. There are so many names thrown around in this book like I'm expected to know or care about them, and I'm sure their inclusion is important in some way, but in that way I was unable to follow which threads were important. Granted, I haven't had time to look over the accompanying PDF but I'm sure my questions would be answered if I picked it up.
I felt like the vocabulary was at time difficult and I love new words, but it's so fast and there's so much information, that I got lost while trying to find the definitions. My head was constantly in a state of whirling dervish momentum that I can't say I'm not glad to have finished these lectures.
Had I listened ten years ago, fresh out of high school, I'm sure this would've been right up my alley, but my current situation left me scratching my head as to why I was still continuing with the lectures. To get my money's worth, I guess.
Now, for anyone who's interested in this topic and doesn't mind the almost graduate-level of information, you'll love it. I just thought it was alright. Definitely not recommended for the layman.
The narrator speaks with a weird eagerness, like he's trying to keep a class of 300's attention, but it's just me. I wish he had an intonation and comfort with using a microphone to treat these lectures like a private conversation and add some depth to his voice to flow with the important points and when to change as info becomes less important, but it's a long monotonous angst of trying to convey the information. Maybe I'm just spoiled after listening to Dan Carlin recently and that's an unfair comparison and it's hard to describe my gripes, but I just wish it were more personal and with better production values in the recording process.
I really enjoy the concepts of transcendentalism and I think I was eager to explore it further since my first exposure as a senior in high school, but I feel like this was overwhelming in its depth and complexity. There are so many names thrown around in this book like I'm expected to know or care about them, and I'm sure their inclusion is important in some way, but in that way I was unable to follow which threads were important. Granted, I haven't had time to look over the accompanying PDF but I'm sure my questions would be answered if I picked it up.
I felt like the vocabulary was at time difficult and I love new words, but it's so fast and there's so much information, that I got lost while trying to find the definitions. My head was constantly in a state of whirling dervish momentum that I can't say I'm not glad to have finished these lectures.
Had I listened ten years ago, fresh out of high school, I'm sure this would've been right up my alley, but my current situation left me scratching my head as to why I was still continuing with the lectures. To get my money's worth, I guess.
Now, for anyone who's interested in this topic and doesn't mind the almost graduate-level of information, you'll love it. I just thought it was alright. Definitely not recommended for the layman.
The narrator speaks with a weird eagerness, like he's trying to keep a class of 300's attention, but it's just me. I wish he had an intonation and comfort with using a microphone to treat these lectures like a private conversation and add some depth to his voice to flow with the important points and when to change as info becomes less important, but it's a long monotonous angst of trying to convey the information. Maybe I'm just spoiled after listening to Dan Carlin recently and that's an unfair comparison and it's hard to describe my gripes, but I just wish it were more personal and with better production values in the recording process.
October 8, 2015
I like these Great Courses lectures and how they're presented. Unfortunately, like any course at college, I couldn't get into this one and didn't get much out of it. However I think it's ironic and hypocritical that many of these transcendentalists push for progressive thinking and equality for women for example, and many of them in their own lives treat women like crap. At the Fruitlandia farm all the men just wander around nekid and do whatever they want while the women stay back to cook and clean. Also Ralph Waldo Emerson in his book Self-Reliance and Other Essays I read last week, he treated his second wife like crap and it seems like he didn't realize he was doing it. This lectured mentioned that there aren't really any Transcendentalists today but I see many of them around us.
I like how Metallica quotes Thoreau in the song "Of Wolf and Man" they say "In wildness is the preservation of the world." Never would have guess they were talking about Transcendentalists.
I like how Metallica quotes Thoreau in the song "Of Wolf and Man" they say "In wildness is the preservation of the world." Never would have guess they were talking about Transcendentalists.
October 9, 2020
This is a series of lectures about Transcendentalism, part of The Great Courses series. I thought it was excellent. I started it several years ago and when I started to listen to it again recently, I went back to the beginning because I liked it so much. The lecturer is clear, concise, and engaging. He focuses on the topic of each lecture while also linking the lectures together. The series ends with two lectures on the legacy of Transcendentalism in the 20th century.
The Transcendentalists believed in many ideas that are relevant today, including moral responsibility, lifelong learning, and the link between spirituality and nature. Some of their ideas, like kindergarten or woman’s suffrage, are so much a part of our daily lives that we may forget that they were once revolutionary ideas. They were fervent abolitionists and pioneered the idea of civil disobedience. Many famous individuals were among their ranks, including Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thoreau, Emily Dickinson, and Frederick Douglas.
If any of these people or ideas interest you, I would highly recommend listening to this series.
The Transcendentalists believed in many ideas that are relevant today, including moral responsibility, lifelong learning, and the link between spirituality and nature. Some of their ideas, like kindergarten or woman’s suffrage, are so much a part of our daily lives that we may forget that they were once revolutionary ideas. They were fervent abolitionists and pioneered the idea of civil disobedience. Many famous individuals were among their ranks, including Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thoreau, Emily Dickinson, and Frederick Douglas.
If any of these people or ideas interest you, I would highly recommend listening to this series.
January 8, 2009
Emerson was considered a heretic and Thoreau's infamous cabin in the wilderness was a two mile walk from Plumfield (Louisa May Alcott's place).
December 19, 2012
Priceless. Unique and revolutionary at it's time. It's kind of a religious/spiritual book. I always feel calm when I read these two.
April 7, 2015
Interesting
September 2, 2015
Excellent. I am very impressed with the Great Courses series and I will be giving my own presentation on this subject with the Unitarian congregation in my town. The professor is very good also.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews