The six essays and one address in this volume flesh out Emerson's transcendentalist ideas. In addition to the celebrated title essay, the others included here are "History," "Friendship," "The Over-Soul," "The Poet" and "Experience," plus the famous Harvard Divinity School Address.

"I believe Emerson is best understood as a spiritual guide and a spokesperson for an alternative American spiritual tradition. I have tried to make his message accessible and relevant to contemporary religious seekers." - Barry M. Andrews Includes resources for further study and reflection. "To finish the moment, to find the journey's end in every step of the road, to live the greatest number of good hours, is wisdom." - from "Experience" by Ralph Waldo Emerson Though we may debate whether Ralph Waldo Emerson is primarily a poet, an essayist or a philosopher, for Barry Andrews, he is above all a spiritual teacher. His fiery genius ignited not only Thoreau but also Whitman, Fuller and many others. Though his life was riddled with loss, including the deaths of his first wife, two brothers and his first son, this remarkable man produced dozens of inspirational essays and poems and became the most widely quoted author in America today. Andrews' commentary shows a new generation of Americans how Emerson's spiritual journey joined an open heart with a critical mind. This will appeal to readers who consider themselves spiritual though not necessarily religious.

For well over a century, people's lives have been deeply affected by the work of Ralph Waldo Emerson. Emerson was one of the most influential and controversial writers of the 19th century. He advocated total independence of thought, rejecting conformity for its own sake. For Emerson the individual was key, with each person holding part of an eternal truth which collectively transcended the bounds of mortality. This profoundly optimistic view of humanity is laid out in and underlies his poetry and prose, written in a unique style which is highly readable as well as thought-provoking. Containing many of his most important writings, Essays and Poems is the perfect introduction to the work of this singular American thinker.

'A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds.' Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803 - 1882) was an American essayist and poet. One of the young nation's first recognised public intellectuals, he championed the writing of Henry David Thoreau and Walt Whitman and opined on everything from the evils of slavery to the glories of solitude. His essays such as Self-Reliance argued for a distinctly American style of philosophical individualism, untethered to hidebound traditions and prejudices. Edited by professor David Mikics (The Annotated Emerson) and enhanced with gorgeous woodcuts by Charles W. Smith, this collection of Emerson's essays and poetry is a beautiful introduction to one of America's greatest writers and thinkers.