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Original Homeschooling #4
Ourselves
Ourselves, the fourth volume of Charlotte Mason's Classic Homeschooling Series, is a character curriculum book written directly to children. Book I, Self-Knowledge, is for elementary school students; Book II, Self-Direction, is for older students. Self-Knowledge discusses our human desires and appetites; the "helpers" in our minds, such as intellect, sense of beauty, imagination, and reason; the ways in which we feel and express love for others, including sympathy, kindness, generosity, gratitude, courage, loyalty, and humilty; and truth, justice, and integrity; and ends by encourages children to develop the habit of being useful. Self-Direction is an in-depth discussion of the conscience and virtues such as temperance, chastity, fortitude, and prudence; the will and self-control; and the soul and its capacities, such as prayer, thanksgiving, faith, and praise. Charlotte Mason was a late nineteenth-century British educator whose ideas were far ahead of her time. She believed that children are born persons worthy of respect, rather than blank slates, and that it was better to feed their growing minds with living literature and vital ideas and knowledge, rather than dry facts and knowledge filtered and pre-digested by the teacher. Her method of education, still used by some private schools and many homeschooling families, is gentle and flexible, especially with younger children, and includes first-hand exposure to great and noble ideas through books in each school subject, conveying wonder and arousing curiosity, and through reflection upon great art, music, and poetry; nature observation as the primary means of early science teaching; use of manipulatives and real-life application to understand mathematical concepts and learning to reason, rather than rote memorization and working endless sums; and an emphasis on character and on cultivating and maintaining good personal habits.
508 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 1989
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About the author
Charlotte M. Mason
67 books230 followersCharlotte Mason, a renowned British educator, lived during the turn of the 20th century. She turned the idea of education being something of utilitarian necessity into an approach based upon living ideas. She believed that education is "an atmosphere, a discipline, a life" and a "science of relations." Her methods are embraced around the world today, especially among the homeschool community.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews
December 9, 2018
Some thoughts: Charlotte Mason wrote Ourselves for young people, but it really is a book that anyone from about the age of twelve and up can benefit from. I can see that reading it as a teenager might have helped me be more careful about the habits and thought patterns that I allowed myself to form. But then again, I might not have been so open to her advice and cautions at that age. ;)
Ourselves is also an excellent book to read if you need clarification about her views on "The Way of the Will" and "The Way of Reason", two of her 20 Principles that I personally have struggled to understand. She really fleshes them out in Book Two of Ourselves, and also helps us to understand how a liberal education assists the Will and Reason to act rightly:
It is well to remember that in all our relations of life, our books and friends, our politics and our religion, the act of choice, the one possible act of the Will, has always to be performed between ideas. It is not that ideas stand for things; but things stand for ideas, and we have to ask ourselves what we really mean by allowing this and that, by choosing the one or the other. […] We must bring wide reading, reflection, conscience, and judgment to bear upon our opinions, if it be only an opinion concerning a novel or a sermon - upon our principles, if they affect only the ordering of our day. (Ourselves, Book II, pg 150)
I also appreciate how she keeps the focus on the "objective self" rather than the "subjective self" - we learn about the powers and perils of Mansoul in general, but are not encouraged to either use this knowledge for self-aggrandizement, or as a tool for introspection and self-reproach. In the area of art appreciation, for example:
In this, as in all the labours of the conscience seeking for instruction, we are enriched by our efforts; but self-culture should not be our object. Let us approach Art with the modest intention to pay a debt that we owe in learning to appreciate. So shall we escape the irritating ways of the connoisseur!
And concerning self-focus vs. an outward focus:
Give the Will an object outside itself, and it will leap to service, even to that most difficult of all service, the control of the forces of Mansoul. It is not by one grand fiat, but by many ordered efforts of Will, that we overcome those failures in self-restraint, self-control, self-denial, which are the misery of our lives, and which we know to be sin by the wretchedness they bring upon ourselves and others, and the separateness from others which they set up in our hearts. It is not self-ordering, but an object outside of ourselves, leading to self-forgetfulness and a certain valiant rising of the will, to which we must look for a cure for the maladies that vex us.
Miss Mason and I do not see eye-to-eye on everything, of course. The influence of the Higher Criticism of Scripture in her day is seen in the chapters about the Bible and Theology. I think she was doing the best she knew how to defend Scripture in light of those attacks, and she does appear to be sound in the essentials of the faith, but I found her arguments and conclusions in those chapters often unsatisfactory. And her questioning of the moral fiber of expats in the chapter on Loyalty in Book I felt, quite frankly, like a slap in the face. It's probably a subject for another post that I have yet had the courage to write, but although I can see the drawbacks to living in a "foreign" country, I have also seen how God has used that (often difficult) situation to grow my faith in Him and stretch me in ways I would not have been had I not moved so far from the place in which I was born and raised.
But overall, it was an excellent, thought-provoking book that I will probably read again myself, and that will be on my children's reading lists during their teenage years.
Ourselves is also an excellent book to read if you need clarification about her views on "The Way of the Will" and "The Way of Reason", two of her 20 Principles that I personally have struggled to understand. She really fleshes them out in Book Two of Ourselves, and also helps us to understand how a liberal education assists the Will and Reason to act rightly:
It is well to remember that in all our relations of life, our books and friends, our politics and our religion, the act of choice, the one possible act of the Will, has always to be performed between ideas. It is not that ideas stand for things; but things stand for ideas, and we have to ask ourselves what we really mean by allowing this and that, by choosing the one or the other. […] We must bring wide reading, reflection, conscience, and judgment to bear upon our opinions, if it be only an opinion concerning a novel or a sermon - upon our principles, if they affect only the ordering of our day. (Ourselves, Book II, pg 150)
I also appreciate how she keeps the focus on the "objective self" rather than the "subjective self" - we learn about the powers and perils of Mansoul in general, but are not encouraged to either use this knowledge for self-aggrandizement, or as a tool for introspection and self-reproach. In the area of art appreciation, for example:
In this, as in all the labours of the conscience seeking for instruction, we are enriched by our efforts; but self-culture should not be our object. Let us approach Art with the modest intention to pay a debt that we owe in learning to appreciate. So shall we escape the irritating ways of the connoisseur!
And concerning self-focus vs. an outward focus:
Give the Will an object outside itself, and it will leap to service, even to that most difficult of all service, the control of the forces of Mansoul. It is not by one grand fiat, but by many ordered efforts of Will, that we overcome those failures in self-restraint, self-control, self-denial, which are the misery of our lives, and which we know to be sin by the wretchedness they bring upon ourselves and others, and the separateness from others which they set up in our hearts. It is not self-ordering, but an object outside of ourselves, leading to self-forgetfulness and a certain valiant rising of the will, to which we must look for a cure for the maladies that vex us.
Miss Mason and I do not see eye-to-eye on everything, of course. The influence of the Higher Criticism of Scripture in her day is seen in the chapters about the Bible and Theology. I think she was doing the best she knew how to defend Scripture in light of those attacks, and she does appear to be sound in the essentials of the faith, but I found her arguments and conclusions in those chapters often unsatisfactory. And her questioning of the moral fiber of expats in the chapter on Loyalty in Book I felt, quite frankly, like a slap in the face. It's probably a subject for another post that I have yet had the courage to write, but although I can see the drawbacks to living in a "foreign" country, I have also seen how God has used that (often difficult) situation to grow my faith in Him and stretch me in ways I would not have been had I not moved so far from the place in which I was born and raised.
But overall, it was an excellent, thought-provoking book that I will probably read again myself, and that will be on my children's reading lists during their teenage years.
November 6, 2021
This is a truly wonderful book where Charlotte not only educates us but disciples us as well.
January 13, 2026
not my first read, I first read it with my kids. but this second read was just that much better. I wish I remembered when I began, probably 2024. definitely will revisit. so much about how we know who we are and how we act from that. really brilliant for our age.
I read from the Riverbend Press edition. it's beautiful.
I read from the Riverbend Press edition. it's beautiful.
March 17, 2016
At the beginning, I thought this would be my least favorite of Charlotte Mason's books. It is written to children, and the whole concept of "Mansoul" seemed a little silly to me. However, it turned out to be a wonderful book and worthy of the time of any child or adult who is interested in education, particularly self-education.
May 30, 2013
Because it was originally published in 1905, the tone and some of the content seem quaint and antiquated. In spite of that, Ourselves ranks among the most worthwhile books I have read to my children. An openly Christian book written to help children develop good character, it is divided into two books. The first, "Self-Knowledge," is for children under 16 and the other, "Self-Direction," is for children 16 and older. Because of the density of the text, we read it a few paragraphs at a time at breakfast over two school years. I intend to read it to them again when my younger children are older.
There doesn't seem to be an area of life that Charlotte Mason doesn't address and impart wisdom about. For example, when she talks about relieving the suffering of other people, she writes, "It is usually in our way, and not by going out of our way, that we shall find the particular piece of brotherly work appointed for us to do. . . . But we must keep our eyes open: the right thing is never obtrusive, and we may pass it by without observation."
How much I gained from this book! If my children gleaned just a morsel of what I did, the reading was worthwhile.
There doesn't seem to be an area of life that Charlotte Mason doesn't address and impart wisdom about. For example, when she talks about relieving the suffering of other people, she writes, "It is usually in our way, and not by going out of our way, that we shall find the particular piece of brotherly work appointed for us to do. . . . But we must keep our eyes open: the right thing is never obtrusive, and we may pass it by without observation."
How much I gained from this book! If my children gleaned just a morsel of what I did, the reading was worthwhile.
January 8, 2011
This book was wonderful. I got more out of it than I ever thought possible, and it might have changed my life. Mason puts a lifetime of wisdom in simple but profound terms, and I honestly enjoyed the whole thing. By starting with appetites and ending with the soul, she explores the complete human as we know ourselves. Reading just a chapter of this book is helpful, but reading the whole is illuminating. Of course some of her attitudes are dated, but her defense of her ideas is thorough and convincing. What an excellent little book.
March 1, 2024
Wonderful book! Charlotte Mason's insight on humanity never ceases to amaze me. This book is a gem. I'm looking forward to re-reading with my children when they are older.
I took a lot of notes while reading. These were some of my favorites:
Book 1
pg 30 - "As you listen more, you hear more."
pg 32 - "Think how happy the person must be for whom every bird's note is the voice of a friend whom he knows."
pg 90 - "Never let us reflect upon small annoyances, and we shall be able to bear great ones sweetly."
Book 2
pg 99 - "But it is not only as she helps us in our own spiritual life that Nature instructs us in our duty to God. Some people have the grace to be tenderly and reverently thankful to the author of a great book, the painter of a great picture...what daily and hourly thanks and praise, then, do we owe the Maker and designer of the beauty, glory, and fitness above our heads and about our feet and surrounding us on every side! From the flower in the crannied wall to the glorious firmament on high, all the things of Nature proclaim without ceasing, Great and marvelous are thy works, Lord God Almighty."
I took a lot of notes while reading. These were some of my favorites:
Book 1
pg 30 - "As you listen more, you hear more."
pg 32 - "Think how happy the person must be for whom every bird's note is the voice of a friend whom he knows."
pg 90 - "Never let us reflect upon small annoyances, and we shall be able to bear great ones sweetly."
Book 2
pg 99 - "But it is not only as she helps us in our own spiritual life that Nature instructs us in our duty to God. Some people have the grace to be tenderly and reverently thankful to the author of a great book, the painter of a great picture...what daily and hourly thanks and praise, then, do we owe the Maker and designer of the beauty, glory, and fitness above our heads and about our feet and surrounding us on every side! From the flower in the crannied wall to the glorious firmament on high, all the things of Nature proclaim without ceasing, Great and marvelous are thy works, Lord God Almighty."
May 5, 2021
Charlotte Mason was a genius. One day I'll put more words here to explain.
I read this book with my son over the course of 6 school years.
I read this book with my son over the course of 6 school years.
October 20, 2022
Everyone that has a relationship with the Lord most definitely should read this. It is such a good encouragement for living a Godly life with eyes open and working for the Kingdom by putting your best foot forward: spiritually, physically and mentally. The last two chapters Praise and Faith in God, made me cry.
January 19, 2016
This has been my favorite volume of Charlotte Mason's writings so far! The visualization of the kingdom of Mansoul is for me a lasting impression of who I am made to be by God. I look forward to discussing this with my children when they read it!
September 13, 2020
I really enjoyed this book. I am so amazed with Miss Mason. Her depth and breadth of knowledge, understanding, and wisdom is quite amazing and inspiring. It is what I needed to read. I am mindful and pondering of what she wrote as I go about my work.
This is an Ambleside Online/House of Education book for Years 7-12. An excellent choice!
This is an Ambleside Online/House of Education book for Years 7-12. An excellent choice!
October 20, 2022
An amazing treatment of the human condition. Illuminating, challenging, inspirational, deeply helpful. So excited to read this with my kids. I especially loved walking through it in our Charlotte Mason reading community. Only two more volumes for me to complete the canon, it has only taken 5 years.
December 13, 2023
This is so excellent. I loved part 1. I’m going to make sure to read this with my kids. I can’t give a very thorough review until I read the hard copy, but I love her concept of Mansoul, which I’m guessing she borrowed from Bunyan’s Holy War, which may be even better than Pilgrim’s Progress.
I find in this book theological differences with CM, though she is clearly a believer in Christ, and it makes me happy to think about that and to think that she made it so evidently important in her volumes, especially this one. She believes too much, though, in our human ability and human nature to choose to do what is right or to overcome sin, even conversion, which discounts biblical teaching on total depravity. Apparently she is Anglican, if I picked up correctly on that?, and I don’t think they’re reformed in soteriology. Also she has bent a bit to the liberals of her day while still affirming belief in the Scriptures regardless of whether the author whose name is on the book actually wrote it or affirming the miracles of the Bible meanwhile allegorizing the sun standing still in Joshua. Her teaching on the will is troubling enough to me that I couldn’t give this 5 stars and will be having my pastor-husband read through those portions to see how we can use them in our family.
I’m glad that she doesn’t stay only in her domain of education and wants us to be molded more into the image of Christ. She has so much wisdom in these books, it’s surprising at times. But it’s when she departs from education into areas of theology that I think she sometimes gets a bit off.
I find in this book theological differences with CM, though she is clearly a believer in Christ, and it makes me happy to think about that and to think that she made it so evidently important in her volumes, especially this one. She believes too much, though, in our human ability and human nature to choose to do what is right or to overcome sin, even conversion, which discounts biblical teaching on total depravity. Apparently she is Anglican, if I picked up correctly on that?, and I don’t think they’re reformed in soteriology. Also she has bent a bit to the liberals of her day while still affirming belief in the Scriptures regardless of whether the author whose name is on the book actually wrote it or affirming the miracles of the Bible meanwhile allegorizing the sun standing still in Joshua. Her teaching on the will is troubling enough to me that I couldn’t give this 5 stars and will be having my pastor-husband read through those portions to see how we can use them in our family.
I’m glad that she doesn’t stay only in her domain of education and wants us to be molded more into the image of Christ. She has so much wisdom in these books, it’s surprising at times. But it’s when she departs from education into areas of theology that I think she sometimes gets a bit off.
June 16, 2020
It took me 3.5 years to finish this, and therefore I think I read Book I three times!
Book I was interesting. Book II places Charlotte Mason in company with the most masterful students of human nature, and everyone should read it. Sometimes I waffle over whether she was as much of a genius as some people think. Book II won me over.
I’ve often thought it would be very telling to have a conversation with Miss Mason in 1905 (when this book was published) and then again right before she died in 1923. I used to think that WWI would certainly have caught her off guard in her passionate optimism about the progress of mankind. Now I’m wondering if, by putting so much effort into instructing her own conscience, developing opinions based on principles, and ultimately, exercising her will with great intention, she was actually thoroughly prepared for the blow of industrial warfare. She probably went through the war, making tweaks and adjustments to her principles, while never failing to hope for a lasting Kingdom.
She was a true moderate in the best sense and a woman I strive to emulate.
Book I was interesting. Book II places Charlotte Mason in company with the most masterful students of human nature, and everyone should read it. Sometimes I waffle over whether she was as much of a genius as some people think. Book II won me over.
I’ve often thought it would be very telling to have a conversation with Miss Mason in 1905 (when this book was published) and then again right before she died in 1923. I used to think that WWI would certainly have caught her off guard in her passionate optimism about the progress of mankind. Now I’m wondering if, by putting so much effort into instructing her own conscience, developing opinions based on principles, and ultimately, exercising her will with great intention, she was actually thoroughly prepared for the blow of industrial warfare. She probably went through the war, making tweaks and adjustments to her principles, while never failing to hope for a lasting Kingdom.
She was a true moderate in the best sense and a woman I strive to emulate.
June 27, 2020
AmblesideOnline years 7-??? I don’t remember how far it’s spread out. At least through year 9, possibly further.
In this book Charlotte Mason takes us through examining our motivations and the things that we do and how we act by way of the analogy of “Mansoul” (borrowed from John Bunyan). She talks about the good side of character traits and the bad side of those same character traits. She addresses Will and Duty and Love and so much more. It is just a fabulous reminder and reflection. (That said I don’t agree with 100% of her views and obviously she is not God and her writings are not scripture.). I feel like it should be required reading for everybody! maybe every year.
In this book Charlotte Mason takes us through examining our motivations and the things that we do and how we act by way of the analogy of “Mansoul” (borrowed from John Bunyan). She talks about the good side of character traits and the bad side of those same character traits. She addresses Will and Duty and Love and so much more. It is just a fabulous reminder and reflection. (That said I don’t agree with 100% of her views and obviously she is not God and her writings are not scripture.). I feel like it should be required reading for everybody! maybe every year.
October 23, 2024
If there was a day that included a reading of even a few pages, rarely did I not write down a quote from it. I find the writing just beautiful, inspiring, and thought-provoking. I would not take everything as complete Bible truth but there is a lot of wisdom and beauty in this. It's such a lovely book and I enjoyed spending this time with Charlotte Mason.
October 8, 2023
This is my favorite book in the series thus far. I had the thought "this should be required reading for everyone growing up!" and was glad to learn that it is for students in the Charlotte Mason method! Will be fun to revisit when my kids are older.
February 9, 2021
I can't love this book.
January 22, 2022
Such a confronting and beautiful reading! can't wait to read it with my kids! My second favorite of the serie.
Read
January 28, 2025Finally finished. Book II was a slog for me. It was not as helpful as some of her other books.
May 20, 2025
Personally I think this is the best of Charlotte Mason’s volumes though I’ve enjoyed them all.
June 5, 2025
Just so good!! Will convict you in every way.
May 17, 2022
I finally read this book! It's only half of Ourselves, which is Volume 4 of the Charlotte Mason Series. I read just a little of it much earlier on in my homeschool journey, and never got around to finishing, though it's on our school book lists and every year I'd see it (and others...) and think yeah, I should get to that this year. But I didn't -- until this year!
I had three of my girls read it, too (ages 12, 15, and 17/18). Not because they are girls -- I just happen to have all girls in the appropriate age bracket for it at the moment. I also have a boy who is 10, which for some children would probably be a fine age for this book, but I didn't think he was ready for it. I envisioned discussing the readings with the girls each week, which I thought could be a nice time with just them, but as so often happens, reality has been quite different. The discussion idea got lost in the mix of other things to do, beyond a little here and there, mostly when they expressed their dislike of the book and I asked them why, lol. I'm still clinging to the theoretical possibility of discussing more with them... but we're already more than halfway through May, so we'll see if that really happens.
Their complaints are understandable. They did not enjoy the old-fashioned wording (they do read other old books, but they think differently of them, perhaps partly b/c of subject matter). They also did not care for the tone, the way she seems to present it as imperative that everyone do everything in a certain way -- they seemed to think she came across overly perfectionistic. I can see what they mean. Charlotte Mason can seem pretty idealistic and definitely has ways she thinks things should be done. But I read it as I think it was intended, in the spirit of laying out ideals as something to strive toward -- not as though we could actually be perfect, but something to read with a mind toward understanding ourselves and our nature better, and its capacities, both good and ill, so that we can be hopefully better equipped to grow in character (with that "grain of salt" on hand as well, at times). I suggested to them that they might appreciate it more when they're older. Doubt was expressed on their part, and the ones who'd read The Disciplined Life said they much preferred it to this. One of them has also read Safe People and said she preferred it as well, and that she learned much more from TDL and SP than from this book. Those are very good books, so I'm glad they appreciate them, but while they also discuss character, they center on different aspects. This book is more general. I will weigh what they say moving forward, but all things considered, at this point I still lean toward continuing to use it with my other students. Perhaps I can make it more palatable somehow. Going slower and/or reading it together might help in some cases, as I did have them read faster than recommended because I wanted my senior to get through it. Other possibilities could be to either just explain some of the concepts in my own words, or to use the more modern language summaries of the Ourselves book (Vol 4) from the Ambleside Online page. I took a bit of a risk in reading this alongside them (and then behind them, sigh) instead of prereading and then making a decision about how to handle it after that. I did this b/c of time constraints, but while I may want my remaining students to read the other half of Ourselves as well, I'll try to stick with prereading it first and then deciding.
What I like most about the book is probably the overall concept of the "kingdom of Mansoul," with its various subdivisions and servants and how we are each responsible to oversee and direct ourselves in good ways, realizing that there are also plenty of pitfalls to avoid and things that work in opposition to the good, which we must guard against. It's a little reminiscent of The Pilgrim's Progress in its imaginations related to character and spiritual growth, though it's not really a story like Pilgrim's Progress, but more of an illustration and framework to refer to in discussion of character traits. I think the contrasts of good with bad qualities, and of crossroads and decisions to make, all have merit.
This particular volume, which I got from Simply Charlotte Mason, has some helpful notes about some of the references. It divides the book into short readings with some scheduling options in the back. It also has a black and white print of Botticelli's Calumny in the back (referred to in the text), which parents may want to note contains some very scantily clad figures (I added more clothes).
Is the book essential? I wouldn't say that. But I do think it has worth. I enjoyed it overall, and even benefited from it myself. And while I'm not too attached to the somewhat archaic language and references for their own sake, I did appreciate some of CM's quotes throughout.
I had three of my girls read it, too (ages 12, 15, and 17/18). Not because they are girls -- I just happen to have all girls in the appropriate age bracket for it at the moment. I also have a boy who is 10, which for some children would probably be a fine age for this book, but I didn't think he was ready for it. I envisioned discussing the readings with the girls each week, which I thought could be a nice time with just them, but as so often happens, reality has been quite different. The discussion idea got lost in the mix of other things to do, beyond a little here and there, mostly when they expressed their dislike of the book and I asked them why, lol. I'm still clinging to the theoretical possibility of discussing more with them... but we're already more than halfway through May, so we'll see if that really happens.
Their complaints are understandable. They did not enjoy the old-fashioned wording (they do read other old books, but they think differently of them, perhaps partly b/c of subject matter). They also did not care for the tone, the way she seems to present it as imperative that everyone do everything in a certain way -- they seemed to think she came across overly perfectionistic. I can see what they mean. Charlotte Mason can seem pretty idealistic and definitely has ways she thinks things should be done. But I read it as I think it was intended, in the spirit of laying out ideals as something to strive toward -- not as though we could actually be perfect, but something to read with a mind toward understanding ourselves and our nature better, and its capacities, both good and ill, so that we can be hopefully better equipped to grow in character (with that "grain of salt" on hand as well, at times). I suggested to them that they might appreciate it more when they're older. Doubt was expressed on their part, and the ones who'd read The Disciplined Life said they much preferred it to this. One of them has also read Safe People and said she preferred it as well, and that she learned much more from TDL and SP than from this book. Those are very good books, so I'm glad they appreciate them, but while they also discuss character, they center on different aspects. This book is more general. I will weigh what they say moving forward, but all things considered, at this point I still lean toward continuing to use it with my other students. Perhaps I can make it more palatable somehow. Going slower and/or reading it together might help in some cases, as I did have them read faster than recommended because I wanted my senior to get through it. Other possibilities could be to either just explain some of the concepts in my own words, or to use the more modern language summaries of the Ourselves book (Vol 4) from the Ambleside Online page. I took a bit of a risk in reading this alongside them (and then behind them, sigh) instead of prereading and then making a decision about how to handle it after that. I did this b/c of time constraints, but while I may want my remaining students to read the other half of Ourselves as well, I'll try to stick with prereading it first and then deciding.
What I like most about the book is probably the overall concept of the "kingdom of Mansoul," with its various subdivisions and servants and how we are each responsible to oversee and direct ourselves in good ways, realizing that there are also plenty of pitfalls to avoid and things that work in opposition to the good, which we must guard against. It's a little reminiscent of The Pilgrim's Progress in its imaginations related to character and spiritual growth, though it's not really a story like Pilgrim's Progress, but more of an illustration and framework to refer to in discussion of character traits. I think the contrasts of good with bad qualities, and of crossroads and decisions to make, all have merit.
This particular volume, which I got from Simply Charlotte Mason, has some helpful notes about some of the references. It divides the book into short readings with some scheduling options in the back. It also has a black and white print of Botticelli's Calumny in the back (referred to in the text), which parents may want to note contains some very scantily clad figures (I added more clothes).
Is the book essential? I wouldn't say that. But I do think it has worth. I enjoyed it overall, and even benefited from it myself. And while I'm not too attached to the somewhat archaic language and references for their own sake, I did appreciate some of CM's quotes throughout.
July 15, 2010
Another home run with Charlotte Mason....
This book focuses on ourselves and obtaining appropriate habits. I enjoyed her comments especially about sloth and over eating. She says about food, "Never think of your meals till they come, and, while you are eating, talk and think of something more amusing than your food." (pg. 13 in Book 1 of "Ourselves" which is in the fourth volume in the series) She also discourses on not letting our taste buds rule us.
She references several times to the value of the novel. She states how they are what teach us about morality and how to live. She says, "The characters in books we know become our mentors or our warnings, our instructors always." (pg. 72 in Book 2 of Ourselves)
There are many things to be gleaned from this wonderful series. These books will be read and reread in my home.
Note: Charlotte has a few theological points she discusses. These points are not in line with my beliefs, but you can still glean great truth from the principles she discusses through out the book.
This book focuses on ourselves and obtaining appropriate habits. I enjoyed her comments especially about sloth and over eating. She says about food, "Never think of your meals till they come, and, while you are eating, talk and think of something more amusing than your food." (pg. 13 in Book 1 of "Ourselves" which is in the fourth volume in the series) She also discourses on not letting our taste buds rule us.
She references several times to the value of the novel. She states how they are what teach us about morality and how to live. She says, "The characters in books we know become our mentors or our warnings, our instructors always." (pg. 72 in Book 2 of Ourselves)
There are many things to be gleaned from this wonderful series. These books will be read and reread in my home.
Note: Charlotte has a few theological points she discusses. These points are not in line with my beliefs, but you can still glean great truth from the principles she discusses through out the book.
December 17, 2017
I am really enjoying reading the whole series of the Charlotte Mason books. This is book 4 and is written for students, with the first part written for younger students and the second part for older students. However, it is useful for us all! I have learnt a lot reading this book and it has helped flesh out some of the philosophy from earlier books and gives lots of examples. I love in particular how books are key to learning in Miss Mason’s educational philosophy and this book contains lot so of snippets and excerpts from books as illustrations, which is really great. I do recommend this book, but you will find it more enlightening as an adult if you read the First 3 books First.
July 30, 2021
I happily anticipate the time when my kids will read this—a book written to children about their heritage as born persons. Mason presents a broad and fairly comprehensive landscape that belongs to each child: their body, heart, and mental capacities, their conscience and will, and their soul. The land of “Mansoul.” I have been blessed personally in the reading of it. Being told of my natural capacities for generosity, imagination, justice, duty, self-direction, and the like, has raised me up to claim and cultivate the domain given to me by God.
February 25, 2015
Though the start of our journey in home schooling beginning with 9th grade was a bit rocky, we have finally settled on Charlotte Mason and it's just a perfect curriculum for us. Reading Ourselves together is inspiring both mother and daughter!
November 17, 2024
Probably my favorite CM so far!
September 27, 2023
I was super annoyed with her pretentious introduction. She seemed to play into the mindset that many women struggle with of, “If only we do it this or that way, everything will work out perfectly.” Unfortunately, life is not like that and Christ is the only perfect being.
However, once I got into this book, I ab-so-lute-ly LOVED it. It is very much truth filled and straight to the point. If you’ve never had a mother or father in your life telling you that you must stop giving in to your own sinful desires as well as what those sinful desires are and look like in a mortal, living body, then READ THIS BOOK! Additionally, read it to your children, grandchildren, immature friends who need to grow up! Anyone and everyone should read this book. Many of the things she said, I was glad to know I have already been and will continue to teach my children. However, some things were new and I’m glad to have this book as a resource to continue teaching my children as they age.
It is mostly written in metaphor but I like books like that. 😊
However, once I got into this book, I ab-so-lute-ly LOVED it. It is very much truth filled and straight to the point. If you’ve never had a mother or father in your life telling you that you must stop giving in to your own sinful desires as well as what those sinful desires are and look like in a mortal, living body, then READ THIS BOOK! Additionally, read it to your children, grandchildren, immature friends who need to grow up! Anyone and everyone should read this book. Many of the things she said, I was glad to know I have already been and will continue to teach my children. However, some things were new and I’m glad to have this book as a resource to continue teaching my children as they age.
It is mostly written in metaphor but I like books like that. 😊
July 27, 2018
This volume, more than any of the others, is the most widely applicable of Mason's books, and she wrote it for students as much as parents--no matter what schooling approach is in play.
Get past the first allegorical chapters and enjoy the rest! I put this one off because of those first few chapters--and because it was more about one's own character rather than directly about education, so I didn't "need" it as much to apply to education. Right? Ha! Finally read it--really read it--this summer, and it's become my favorite of the 6-volume set, BY FAR.
Victorian language and examples may slow some readers down, but it's a great read with much food for thought. Take it slow if you need to.
Get past the first allegorical chapters and enjoy the rest! I put this one off because of those first few chapters--and because it was more about one's own character rather than directly about education, so I didn't "need" it as much to apply to education. Right? Ha! Finally read it--really read it--this summer, and it's become my favorite of the 6-volume set, BY FAR.
Victorian language and examples may slow some readers down, but it's a great read with much food for thought. Take it slow if you need to.
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