Self-Reliance
Written by Ralph Waldo Emerson
Narrated by Kurt Andersen and Joyce Bean
4/5
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About this audiobook
Redefining the classic essay, this modern edition of Ralph Waldo Emerson’s most famous work, Self-Reliance, includes self-reflections from both historical and contemporary luminaries. With quotes from the likes of Henry Ford and Helen Keller to modern-day thought leaders like Jesse Dylan, Steve Pressfield, and Milton Glaser, we’re reminded of the relevance of Emerson’s powerful words today.
Emerson’s words are timeless. Persuasive and convincing, he challenges readers to define their own sense of accomplishment and asks them to measure themselves against their own standards, not those of society. This famous orator has utter faith in individualism and doesn’t invoke beyond what is humanly possible, he just believes deeply that each of us is capable of greatness. He asks us to define that greatness for ourselves and to be true to ourselves.
At times harsh, at times comforting, Emerson’s words guide the reader to challenge their own beliefs and sense of self.
This modern edition of Self-Reliance is ideal for graduates or those who are in the midst of a career or lifestyle change. Emerson’s sage guidance wrapped in modern-day reflections is a great reminder about the potential within us all and that life is what you make of it.
Ralph Waldo Emerson
Ralph Waldo Emerson was the leading proponent of the Transcendentalist movement of the mid-nineteenth century. He was ordained as a Unitarian minister at Harvard Divinity School but served for only three years before developing his own spiritual philosophy based on individualism and intuition. His essay Nature is arguably his best-known work and was both groundbreaking and highly controversial when it was first published. Emerson also wrote poetry and lectured widely across the US.
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Reviews for Self-Reliance
174 ratings6 reviews
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5One of the most timeless pieces of text I have ever encountered. First, the physical copy, then the ebook, now the audiobook. It has evolved with our society for over a 100 years. It’s not for everyone but it’s for self. Know that!
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Eye-opening but deeply mistaken. Emerson sounds like the father of the modern trans movement. He says that we should trust our own feelings and abandon all rules and conventions from other people.
- Rating: 1 out of 5 stars1/5Even at .8 speed the narrator rushed through this at a pace that was dizzy. I got nothing from listening for 30 minutes. Moving on
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5I don't usually read / listen to this kind of writing, but I have to say that Mr Emerson has written this piece in a very masterful way! It is romantic, intellectual and so deep that u have shield yourself from your surroundings and place yourself to the writings to comprehend what the author wants to say. Will surely listen again.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Emerson's Self-Reliance is considered by many to be integral to the beginning of the transcendentalist movement, and while I am not especially a fan of transcendentalism as a whole, I do believe that this work is one of the more coherent proponents of the individual over society. Some of Emerson's arguments against the individual obtaining anything useful from societal, familial, religious, or governmental organizations may lend themselves towards an increasing slide towards solipsism - nothing exists in a vacuum - and his apparent distaste for travel seems xenophobic in nature (if not intention), his overall treatise that exceptional individuals (he tends to focus on 'artistic geniuses' more often than not) become so by rejecting cultural norms and accepted knowledge and distancing themselves from the common man and his organizational trappings. There are definitely holes in some of his arguments that could be exploited in an open debate, but the bulk of this essay speaks honestly of the need for the individual to seek its own path.
1 person found this helpful
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5This short read/listen is a collection of thoughts published by the author. It it urges readers to trust your gut feeling, rather than follow the herd. It was a difficult listen because of it's English construction dates from it's birth in 1841;also, it seemed like a stream of consciousness.