Transcendentalism

Walden, Self-Reliance, Leaves of Grass, On the Duty of Civil Disobedience, Walking and Nature: Exemplary Collection of Essays and Poems

By: Henry David Thoreau, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Walt Whitman, CSA Publishing

Narrated by: Roberto Scarlato

Length: 21 hrs and 33 mins

Publisher's summary

Transcendentalism embodies the concept that people have a deeper and more profound understanding of the world around them than simply by what they can glimpse with their senses. In this collection of essays and poems, the works of three transcendentalist authors are shared, each with their own impressions and opinions supporting the movement.

The first, Henry David Thoreau, reflects on the idea of simple living yet living deliberately in Walden. He expresses the importance of embarking on a journey of identifying what type of life to live. In Civil Disobedience, Thoreau declares his opinions on government and its inefficiency and uselessness, instead arguing that the people have a right and duty to rebel. Walking, Thoreau’s final publication before his death, is a collection of writings of his thoughts on nature. Written with a visionary tone, the author expresses to the listener the importance of remaining alert to nature.

Ralph Waldo Emerson, a 19th-century transcendentalist philosopher, explores self-sufficiency as a virtue in the essay entitled Self-Reliance. Emerson impresses the value of individual thought, instinct, and action. In Nature, a lengthy essay about the order of the universe, Emerson shares his thoughts about how nature holds the keys to unlocking its mysteries.

Lastly, Walt Whitman, considered one of the most influential poets in American history and heavily influenced by Ralph Waldo Emerson, uses religious symbolism and allegory in Leaves of Grass to share his thoughts on the human body and the power of the human mind.

This collection of some of the greatest and most influential minds of the literary world will inspire you to learn more about the transcendentalism movement and listen to each of the essays and poems in their original version.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2022 CSA Publishing (P)2022 CSA Publishing

Great Collection, Narrated Very Well

I enjoyed listening to these classics by the primarily contributors of the Transcendentalism Movement.

From what I’ve gathered, some key aspects of the movement are spiritually is personal, emphasis on nature, simplistic living and opposing materialism. The introduction did a good job helping shed light on the movement.

I highly recommend listening to these powerful books.

Deeply Intrigued

I am about halfway through the listen and I am fascinated by what I am listening to. Transcendentalism is a topic I aim to learn more about. These impressive works offer different perspectives on how we could be viewing the world/environment we live in and how we live our lives. I have listened to Walt Whitman's "Leaves of Grass" before and I was particularly moved by the parallels with Thoreau and Emerson's works. 10/10 I will recommend this.

The power of the mind

Until listening to this collection, I was woefully unfamiliar with the term "transcendentalism." However, after listening to these three brilliant authors and poets, I have been enlightened to their meaning concerning the world and the universe but, more importantly, how and where I fit in the world.
It takes a brave and open mind to self-reflect and share as each of these influential men did. From Thoreau's thoughts on simple yet deliberate living to Whitman's thoughts on the power of the human mind, I am impressed with the profound and deep thoughts in each of the essays and poems.
Although I had to read Leaves of Grass in school, I never truly understood its true meaning. Now hearing it again as an adult, I understand the philosophers intended message and thoughts on the human body.
Perhaps my favorite work in the collection, Self-Reliance by Ralph Waldo Emerson, is insightful and made a life-changing impression on me and how I should value my thoughts and instincts.
This collection has proven to have life-altering properties for anyone who listens and embodies the philosophies of transcendentalism.

Hard to Hear

I've listened to Walden twice before this and have enjoyed it immensely, but this reading was an unpleasant experience. Clearly, the reader doesn't understand much of what they are reading and mispronounces a word every few paragraphs.
Did the producers ever listen the product? The net effect is a somewhat incoherent recitation, even for a listener already familiar with the book.