The Transcendentalist, Ralph Waldo Emerson
The Transcendentalist, Ralph Waldo Emerson
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The Transcendentalist

Author: Ralph Waldo Emerson

Narrator: Matthew Schmitz

Unabridged: 40 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 10/02/2024

Synopsis

Brought to you by Altrusian Grace Media and narrated by Matthew Schmitz. "The Transcendentalist" is an essay by Ralph Waldo Emerson that was first published in 1841. In this work, Emerson defines and reflects on the Transcendentalist movement, a philosophical and literary movement that was influential in the United States in the 19th century. Transcendentalism emphasized the importance of individualism, intuition, and a direct connection to the divine, and rejected the materialism and conformity of contemporary society. In "The Transcendentalist," Emerson argues that Transcendentalists are people who seek to transcend the limitations of the physical world and find truth and meaning through spiritual and philosophical pursuits. He also notes that Transcendentalists embrace the power of the individual and reject the notion that authority should come from institutions or tradition. "The Transcendentalist" is considered a seminal work in American literature and is widely regarded as one of Emerson's most important works. The essay continues to be widely read and studied today as a classic expression of Transcendentalist thought and philosophy.

About Ralph Waldo Emerson

Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882) was an American essayist, lecturer, and poet who led the transcendentalist movement of the mid-nineteenth century. Although he began his career as a Unitarian minister, he gradually moved away from the religious and social beliefs of his contemporaries, formulating and expressing the philosophy of transcendentalism instead. Seen as a champion of individualism and a prescient critic of the countervailing pressures of society, he disseminated his thoughts through published essays and public lectures across the United States.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Joseph on April 17, 2020

One of the most compelling defenses of transcendental thought. Emerson claims that all materialists see the world through their senses, and what their senses see is what matters to them. But the idealists, see no physical matter, and the world matters less to those who only see ideas. But what happe......more

Goodreads review by James on June 15, 2024

Very impactful book, widely cited. An anthology of his best thought, and a useful insight into the movement to which he was attached, and led, transcendentalism.......more

Goodreads review by Bernie on February 22, 2022

In this short essay (about ten pages,) Emerson lays out an argument for Idealism over Materialism, and then contends that it’s reasonable to excuse oneself from the economic and civic aspects of society in favor of a simple life of introspection. [e.g. As Thoreau did in his years at Walden Pond.]......more

Goodreads review by Hareem on October 22, 2019

What I must do is all that concerns me, not what the people think. This rule, equally arduous in actual and in intellectual life, may serve for the whole distinction between greatness and meanness. It is the harder, because you will always find those who think they know what is your duty better than......more

Goodreads review by Moneeza on November 01, 2019

Definitely an essay that requires at lot of attention, and yet makes good arguments.......more

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