Rating: 
Summary: Important Advice
Review: Although I was a bit leery about deciphering Emerson's 19th century English, I decided to read "Self Reliance" after two people recommended it to me. Now, I am very glad that I read it! Yes, the language was a bit tricky at times, but the wonderful message that Emerson speaks about transcends all barriers of time. The concept of which Emerson writes about is a simple one: the importance of man's trust in himself. Yet, at times, trusting ourselves and creating our own pathways can be very difficult things to do. Emerson points out that we subconsciously rely on others -- on things that others have taught us -- as models for how we should think and act. But to be "great," you have to look past everything you've been taught and ignore the judgments of those that loathe your inner self reliance. Emerson tells us to remember that Pythagoras, Socrates, Jesus, Luther, Copernicus, Galileo, and Newton were all judged harshly for their self reliance, yet they reap the greatest rewards of all men. Emerson also has this to say about what it means to be self reliant: "Let a Stoic open the resources of man, and tell men they are not leaning willows, but can and must detach themselves; that with the exercise of self-trust, new powers shall appear; that a man is the word made flesh, born to shed healing to the nations, that he should be ashamed of our compassion, and that the moment he acts for himself, tossing the laws, the books, idolatries, and customs out the window, we pity him no more, but thank and revere him, -- and that teacher shall restore the life of man to splendor, and make his name dear to all history." Clearly, Emerson's poetic words are true -- there is a great deal of power in becoming self reliant. Personally, I thought that "Self Reliance" was an awesome, inspiring essay. I think that it is one of the only essays that has ever made me want to go out and change my life. Emerson is truly a masterful orator, and I therefore recommend picking up a copy of "Self Reliance." It probably contains some of the best advice you'll ever get.
Rating:
Summary: Important Advice
Review: Although I was a bit leery about deciphering Emerson's 19th century English, I decided to read "Self Reliance" after two people recommended it to me. Now, I am very glad that I read it! Yes, the language was a bit tricky at times, but the wonderful message that Emerson speaks about transcends all barriers of time. The concept of which Emerson writes about is a simple one: the importance of man's trust in himself. Yet, at times, trusting ourselves and creating our own pathways can be very difficult things to do. Emerson points out that we subconsciously rely on others -- on things that others have taught us -- as models for how we should think and act. But to be "great," you have to look past everything you've been taught and ignore the judgments of those that loathe your inner self reliance. Emerson tells us to remember that Pythagoras, Socrates, Jesus, Luther, Copernicus, Galileo, and Newton were all judged harshly for their self reliance, yet they reap the greatest rewards of all men. Emerson also has this to say about what it means to be self reliant: "Let a Stoic open the resources of man, and tell men they are not leaning willows, but can and must detach themselves; that with the exercise of self-trust, new powers shall appear; that a man is the word made flesh, born to shed healing to the nations, that he should be ashamed of our compassion, and that the moment he acts for himself, tossing the laws, the books, idolatries, and customs out the window, we pity him no more, but thank and revere him, -- and that teacher shall restore the life of man to splendor, and make his name dear to all history." Clearly, Emerson's poetic words are true -- there is a great deal of power in becoming self reliant. Personally, I thought that "Self Reliance" was an awesome, inspiring essay. I think that it is one of the only essays that has ever made me want to go out and change my life. Emerson is truly a masterful orator, and I therefore recommend picking up a copy of "Self Reliance." It probably contains some of the best advice you'll ever get.
Rating:
Summary: A genuine self-help book
Review: At a mere buck (eighty cents after Amazon's discount!) this book should be owned, and more importantly, read, by every single American -- no, every person who can read English. It is profound and brilliant, and deep and complex enough that you will discover something new each time you read it. People say those sorts of things about books all the time but with this book it's actually true. If only the ideas of Emerson, Thoreau, and their group had been widely accepted, we would live in a very different, and I think much better, country. P.S. Maybe it's just me, but I tend to be skeptical of reviews by people who use words like 'cognitive' without knowing what they mean.
Rating:
Summary: Good ideas; too gender-specific...
Review: Emerson and Thoreau are THE two greatest writers regarding transcendentalism in American Literature. Emerson is a genius according to his own definition and the ideas he presents are truly part of what it means to be an American. He preaches to us about self-reliance, basically saying that if we want to make it, if we want to be geniuses in our own niche, if we want to succeed, it needs to come from inside of us. It cannot be from anyone else. These traits define the American. The American is self-reliant. He succeeds on his own. He builds his own dream, and despite impossible odds, succeeds. It is no coincidence that the most stories of rags to riches, 1 week millionaires, and overnight successes are of Americans. The language he uses is beautiful, and simply stated (yet complex in the number of ideas expressed in each word). For these reasons, some people may find it a hard read. I had to read it two or three times myself. But I assure you, the knowledge gained from this book is worth it, and truly gives one deep insight into the power of the self. Therefore, I give this book 5 stars. Emerson paints such a vivid picture of an American trait, that this book has already become an American classic, and thus I believe it should be made an essential component of every American Library.
Rating:
Summary: An Essential Part of every American Library
Review: Emerson and Thoreau are THE two greatest writers regarding transcendentalism in American Literature. Emerson is a genius according to his own definition and the ideas he presents are truly part of what it means to be an American. He preaches to us about self-reliance, basically saying that if we want to make it, if we want to be geniuses in our own niche, if we want to succeed, it needs to come from inside of us. It cannot be from anyone else. These traits define the American. The American is self-reliant. He succeeds on his own. He builds his own dream, and despite impossible odds, succeeds. It is no coincidence that the most stories of rags to riches, 1 week millionaires, and overnight successes are of Americans. The language he uses is beautiful, and simply stated (yet complex in the number of ideas expressed in each word). For these reasons, some people may find it a hard read. I had to read it two or three times myself. But I assure you, the knowledge gained from this book is worth it, and truly gives one deep insight into the power of the self. Therefore, I give this book 5 stars. Emerson paints such a vivid picture of an American trait, that this book has already become an American classic, and thus I believe it should be made an essential component of every American Library.
Rating:
Summary: Good ideas; too gender-specific...
Review: Everyone should be arguing about Emerson's constant use of gender-specific titles. It was common practice for (male) writers in the 18th century to do that. But it makes it difficult for modern readers (well, me at least) to fully absorb these otherwise wonderful ideas. I should rewrite the whole thing in terms that would be friendly to all people (unless, that is, he really WAS only referring to the male audiences that he gave these speeches to).
Rating:
Summary: An American Essential
Review: For a buck you can certainly toss this in with whatever else you're ordering this trip. RWE is one of the great articulators of the American mind. For better or worse, here's a distilled vision of what we think. RWE's positive and powerful view of human thought can be uplifting, though some may occasionally experience a desire to snort "Oh, puh-lease!" A great source of pithy quotes and sharp insights, RWE also provides considerable depth if you wade all the way into his works. Everyone should have some collection of Emerson on the shelf, and this collection hits all the high points (though it is not, it should be said, a good choice for those suffering from chronic eyestrain).
Rating:
Summary: An American Essential
Review: For a buck you can certainly toss this in with whatever else you're ordering this trip. RWE is one of the great articulators of the American mind. For better or worse, here's a distilled vision of what we think. RWE's positive and powerful view of human thought can be uplifting, though some may occasionally experience a desire to snort "Oh, puh-lease!" A great source of pithy quotes and sharp insights, RWE also provides considerable depth if you wade all the way into his works. Everyone should have some collection of Emerson on the shelf, and this collection hits all the high points (though it is not, it should be said, a good choice for those suffering from chronic eyestrain).
Rating:
Summary: Mind Gems
Review: If you can get past his thick language, Emerson is a gem. He mind is both quick and deep, and therefore is enduring. You start seeing common things in an uncommon way. He is a poet-philosopher par excellence. This selection provides sampling of Emerson's over-all thought. Keep in mind that he is part of the Transcendentalist movement, which was part of the broader religious revival in the mid 1800's. This is the era of Emerson, Thoreau, Dwight L. Moody, Robert Owen and Joseph Smith. You can feel the energy crackling off pages of this book. There is something about this time period that rushed upward. His essays on "Self-Reliance" and "Experience" are must for all adolescents. We need to cut the teeth of our mind on other people. We need to learn form Emerson, and be better for it. The genius of the format is that provide the print without any frills, unctuous commentary, or boring exposition. This book is all meat, which is really what we want.
Rating:
Summary: Mind Gems
Review: If you can get past his thick language, Emerson is a gem. He mind is both quick and deep, and therefore is enduring. You start seeing common things in an uncommon way. He is a poet-philosopher par excellence. This selection provides sampling of Emerson's over-all thought. Keep in mind that he is part of the Transcendentalist movement, which was part of the broader religious revival in the mid 1800's. This is the era of Emerson, Thoreau, Dwight L. Moody, Robert Owen and Joseph Smith. You can feel the energy crackling off pages of this book. There is something about this time period that rushed upward. His essays on "Self-Reliance" and "Experience" are must for all adolescents. We need to cut the teeth of our mind on other people. We need to learn form Emerson, and be better for it. The genius of the format is that provide the print without any frills, unctuous commentary, or boring exposition. This book is all meat, which is really what we want.
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