Lessons from an American Stoic: How Emerson Can Change Your Life

by Mark Matousek

A lifelong Emerson lover, teacher, and spiritual seeker reveals how American philosopher Ralph Waldo Emerson’s twelve essential teachings hold the answer to living an authentic and fulfilling life, one that is in harmony with our souls. In this wise, illuminating book, award-winning author Mark Matousek reveals how Emerson’s timeless wisdom can help us with the problems we’re facing today. America’s ‘original Stoic’ confronted many of the issues before us, from polarization to fake news, from crooked politicians and rampant materialism, to the scourge of racism. Matousek explains that Emerson’s path of self-reliance can radically improve your quality of life. The mentor and friend of Henry David Thoreau, Emerson (aka the Oracle of Concord) was America’s first self-help author, and his nation’s conscience for half a century. Like the Stoics before him, he emphasized self-knowledge and mindfulness as paths to happiness; also, self-reliance, cooperation, non-conformity, originality, adaptability, and receptiveness. As Americans are once again discovering the power of Stoicism, Matousek shows why Emerson’s vision is precisely the medicine we need today. The principles of Waldo’s philosophy are universal and require no spiritual faith to put into practice. Emerson encourages us to throw-off conventions and platitudes, explore ourselves in depth, tell the truth about what we find there, and awaken to our greatest potential. 

Genres: Philosophy, Nonfiction, Self Help, Lifestyle, Personal Development, Education, Productivity

288 pages, Hardcover

Published June 13, 2023

About the author

Mark is a bestselling author, teacher, and speaker whose work focuses on personal awakening and creative excellence through self-inquiry and life writing. He brings three decades of experience as a memoirist, editor, interviewer, survivor, activist, and spiritual seeker to his penetrating and thought provoking work with students. His workshops, classes, and mentoring have inspired thousands of people around the world to reach their artistic and personal goals.

He is currently working on a book about friendships and relationships that is set to be released in June 2013. Stay tuned!

Reviews

[Alyson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Soothing reading to counter-balance the zeitgeist of what Scott brilliantly describes as "wanking on the Internet." Read a chapter each morning to cleanse my brain. Joyous to learn more about Maslow outside of the education context.

"As addicts of newness, variety, and instant gratification, we're suffering from a growing anhedonia, struggling to feel deep satisfaction in the midst of all this innova-tion. As Jewish theologian Abraham Joshua Heschel put it, "We are shocked by the weakness of our awe, but also by the weakness of our shock." Consumerism offers us lots of pleasure but not much joy, a wealth of information but not much wisdom, a great deal of novelty but not much awe.
When awe is diminished, anxiety proliferates. Fear narrows the mind, as we've learned, blocking the pathways to well-being."

[Louise Foerster · Rating 5 out of 5]

Before Mark Matousek's LESSONS FROM AN AMERICAN STOIC: HOW EMERSON CAN CHANGE YOUR LIFE, I knew little of Ralph Waldo Emerson beyond his importance to the Transcendentalist movement. Matousek's book not only makes Emerson's wisdom accessible, he also provides a rich commentary with interviews with notable individuals and his own personal experience with Emerson's wisdom as a desperately lost and confused young man. I enjoyed the stories throughout, the pithy wisdom of a philosopher I did not know, and the overall powerful positive force throughout the book. I received a copy of this book and these thoughts are my own, unbiased opinions.

[Aaron Esthelm · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this book is a fantastic tool for those getting into the ideas of stoicism. Hence the 4 stars. If you are already entrenched in it the lessons are things you have already learned. There were a few here or there I didn't know and really enjoyed sinking my teeth into.

One such that I haven't thought of was the self and the not self l. How we are taught at a young age that we are one type of person and not another and we accept those into ourselves as immutable facts. Very Interesting stuff

[Muhammad Nehad · Rating 5 out of 5]

This wasn’t originally on my reading list nor on my mind but I decided recently to broaden my reading experience beyond what is essentially a materialistic worldview. This was thanks to a friend of mine since as Emerson teaches emotions-including awe - is contagious.
The book is highly enjoyable and helped make Emerson more accessible to me, divided into twelve chapters or lessons with a brief spiritual exercises section at the end the book didn’t feel too long or boring.
The main thesis of Emerson, as I figured it, is that human life has a spiritual purpose (to recognize our true nature, evolve from ignorance to self-knowledge); that we are each endowed with unique purpose and genius, and our mandate is to unfold our character as passionately, originally, and bravely as possible. That seems pretty Stoic, right?
I would like to quote from the book things that I liked but it’s better to just read it for yourself.

[Paul Tenorio · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ralph Waldo Emerson was an American poet and essayist who was one of the leading figures of the Transcendentalist movement in the mid 19th century. He was influenced by Stoicism, a school of philosophy that originated in ancient Greece and Rome and taught that virtue is the only good and that one should live in harmony with nature and reason.

Emerson's teachings can be seen as a form of Stoic cosmopolitanism, which means that he believed in the unity and dignity of all human beings and the moral obligation to act for the common good. He also advocated for self-reliance, which means that one should trust one's own intuition and judgment and not conform to the opinions and expectations of others. He rejected the authority of traditional religion, culture, and society and encouraged individuals to seek their own spiritual and intellectual growth.

Emerson's teachings are relevant to modern cultural and political challenges because they offer a way of coping with the uncertainties and complexities of the contemporary world. He urged people to be independent thinkers and doers, to resist the temptations of materialism and consumerism, and to cultivate a sense of wonder and appreciation for the natural world. He also promoted a vision of democracy that was based on the participation and empowerment of the people, not on the domination and manipulation of the elites.

Emerson's teachings are not without criticism, however. Some may argue that his emphasis on individualism and self-reliance can lead to a lack of social responsibility and solidarity, or that his optimism and idealism can blind him to the realities and injustices of the world. Others may question his appropriation and reinterpretation of the Stoic tradition, which he modified to suit his own historical and personal context. Still, Emerson's teachings remain influential and inspiring for many people who seek to live a meaningful and authentic life.

[Jason · Rating 2 out of 5]

As a recent student of Stoicism, I was looking forward to this book. I found myself disappointed. The language is muddled and difficult to follow, and the clean and clear Stoic ideas don’t come through. I’ve always been impressed with Emerson, but after reading this book, it occurs to me that Transcendentalism is Stoicism muddled by Christianity. I would recommend ready the Daily Stoic rather than this. Much more enlightening and helpful.

Note: After two chapters, I just read the briefs at the end of each chapter.

[Don Estes · Rating 1 out of 5]

Intellectual Rubbish

Lessons from an American Stoic appears written for an audience of one, the author. And, in my opinion that's the only audience this book deserves.

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book interested me quite a bit, though at times I got a bit overwhelmed by all the quotes, not only from Waldo, the name Ralph Waldo Emerson was known as, but from the ancients, like Epictetus, Seneca and Marcus Aurelius. All fine company, by the way. Throughout this book I learned a lot more about the human that Emerson was, flaws and all.

As I read this book, slowly, I used post-it notes to mark some passages I wanted to go back to.

One of my favorite lessons was the chapter on Awe. The author writes "Waldo's overarching message to us is live your life as if something has happened. Don't miss out on the magical parts."

[John Hoopingarner · Rating 2 out of 5]

There are a few parts of this book that I thoroughly enjoyed about Emerson which are unfortunately outnumbered by the parts I found to be less preferable, hence my two star rating.
I appreciate what the author is trying to do in making his own writing inclusive but at too many points his syntax is muddled and uninteresting to read. What happens in far too many paragraphs is a mix of perspectives that I did not enjoy and took away from what he is trying to convey.
After having to work too much in trying to finish this work, I think I will find a copy of Emerson's Self Reliance to read instead as well as Thoreau's Walden.

[Gen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is definitely one of the best Stoicism books I’ve read. It’s made me even more curious about exploring Emerson’s work. I really enjoyed the short chapters and the variety of themes they cover. I especially liked how Mark Matousek cross-referenced Stoic ideas with other philosophies and fields like psychology. At one point, he even quoted one of my favorites, the psychologist and author Jonathan Haidt. I also love his writing style—it’s easy to read yet so well-worded that it made me expect a substantial impact on my vocabulary. :) Also, I’d say this book is a great choice for intermediate Stoic readers.

[Les Abernathy · Rating 2 out of 5]

"Believe in yourself and don't be a dick." There, I summed up everything you can learn from this book. I hate to sound like a cynic, but I can't seem to phrase my takeaways from this book any other way. While there are some good quotes and references to other thinkers, the book lacks any real substance when it comes to its own ideas. Preferring more to rephrase and regurgitate rather than generate. The book successfully convinced me to read more Emerson, but that's the only meaningful thing I got from it. As you're likely to glean more from the source material than from someone who thinks being in balance with nature involves a literal walk through the woods.

[Evan · Rating 2 out of 5]

I saw this book recommended somewhere online, and I'm very interested in Stocism, so I figured I'd pick it up from the library.

Honestly, it wasn't a terrible book, and it had some good messages in it, but overall, I didn't like it. I didn't like the way it was written and it didn't keep my attention.

Finally, I said, "Why am I forcing myself to finish it if I'm not enjoying it?" I stopped reading it about halfway through.

Personally, I didn't like this book and wouldn't recommend it.

[Kasey · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really liked the curation of ideas and quotes from a variety of sources (Emerson, Thoreau, Aurelius), and the common themes. At times the book felt a bit too “self-help” oriented or like a trendy business book overly simplified “key takeaways” (namely “The Brief” section at the end of every chapter). I felt like at times this took away from the beauty and sophistication of the quotes provided.
Overall, I enjoyed the read and had more than one excerpt prompt further thought and related reading.

[Kirk · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you love stoicism and writing/writers, there’s so much to be mined in Matousek’s deep dive into Emerson. Connections back to the early Stoics, navigating complex topics like transcendentalism v. religion, and Emerson’s influence on deep thinkers like Thoreau, Whitman, William James, John Muir, and others. Amazing stuff. The best stuff if when the author applies Emerson’s work and talks to big concepts. A few spots veered toward an editorial feeling (at least in my judgment) but that was minimal and bridged things nicely. Bravo!!

[Dan Zwirn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Emerson’s ideas about the ontology of existence are grounded in early Eastern philosophical thought, both overlap with and are complementary to those of the stoic thinkers that started with Socrates and Zeno and continued through Cicero and Seneca, and are as fresh and applicable to living an examined life today as they were in the late 1800s. Matousek blends those ideas with the experiences of real people and the strength and resilience they found dealing with difficult life obstacles.

[Paul Narvaez · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm a big Emerson fan, however this book is really more of a self-help guide. Not what I was expecting or looking for. There are even exercises for discussion at the end of certain chapters.
This is more about the author's connection to Stoicism and how Emerson inspired him.

Life's too short.

Or as Epictetus said "Your life is too short and you have important things to do. Be discriminating about what images and ideas you permit into your mind".

[Jen H · Rating 4 out of 5]

I adore Emerson so this book spoke to me, I didn’t really learn anything new, but I liked diving in to Emerson from a mainstream, instead of scholarly, perspective. All of us could benefit from his insight into being still, listening to Nature, and always remembering that interdependence is both a necessity and a gift.

[Melody · Rating 1 out of 5]

I describe myself as a stoic, and I'm a fan of Emerson mostly via Louisa May Alcott, but this author lost me very early on when the sexist bullshit began. Females are best served by their intuition and should leave logic alone when making big decisions, gah! Then there's all that Christianity. Nope, I'm out. DNF.

[Lila]

A book with strong appeal to the many people who have expressed interest in stoicism. It is very readable and filled with quotes from Emerson. The book is clearly focused on Emerson and his life with some information about the earlier stoics. Worthwhile for libraries with patrons who have checked out other books on the topic.

[Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Give others the benefit of the doubt.

Lighten up. Imagine your challenges happening to a stranger, as now they are not as crucial.

Take things apart to get to their importance.

Admit your flaws. Show your peculiarities.

Be instructed by nature. Locate your bliss.

View life from 40,000 feet, it will put things into perspective.

[Lindsey · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF - 50%.

I was disappointed in the content of this book, which began to get rather repetitive and was ultimately not nearly as substantive/interesting as I had hoped. I'm a big fan of Emerson and Transcendentalism, and although I was quite excited about this book in light of that, it just consistently fell short for me. There are better books to read.

[Lisa Kentgen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this book - it presents the ideas of Emerson in a wonderfully organized way and freshens them with modern language. I enjoyed it more as the book went on, and grateful for the reintroduction to this wonderful writer and philosopher.

[Joshua Bertolotti · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic!

Lessons from an American Stoic not only was a wonderful introduction to Emerson, it's written in a practical style for modern life. One of my favorite parts was the spiritual exercises at the end of the book!

[LemontreeLime · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars just because ive always been an Emerson fan. But l listened to this as an audiobook and I didnt like the way it was so hard to tell the difference between Emerson's words or Matousek's paraphrasing.

[John Camacho · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a decent book. Note that there are some things said about God and science and general non materialism that I did not agree with. Some metaphoric language. I think if you already believe in a God you may appreciate this more

[Dale · Rating 4 out of 5]

stoic

Compares Emerson to the stoics of old and applies the philosophy to current daily life. A quick ready and I like the lessons provided in the end. Look forward to going through them one by one.

[Donna · Rating 2 out of 5]

Lessons from many philosophies and the least compelling was Emerson. Stories of explication were strangely irrelevant. Difficult to get through due to uninspired writing that focussed more on why than how. Some nuggets of delight.

[Delia Swan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful refresher for me, and it’s inspired me to go back and re-read more Emerson. Mark packaged the material beautifully.

[Peter Sandwall · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid book on self-improvement, riding the wave of stoicism yet filled with insightful wisdom from the saints and others.

[The_J · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent overview of Emerson, and insight into how you match up against Stoicism and if you want to accept its inherent invitation to change your life.