• Mastery of Life

  • The Self-Help Classics of Ralph Waldo Emerson
  • By: Ralph Waldo Emerson
  • Narrated by: Mitch Horowitz
  • Length: 4 hrs and 45 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (147 ratings)

Access a growing selection of included Audible Originals, audiobooks, and podcasts.
You will get an email reminder before your trial ends.
Audible Plus auto-renews for $7.95/mo after 30 days. Upgrade or cancel anytime.
Mastery of Life  By  cover art

Mastery of Life

By: Ralph Waldo Emerson
Narrated by: Mitch Horowitz
Try for $0.00

$7.95 a month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $15.46

Buy for $15.46

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

Publisher's summary

The great writings of American transcendentalist philosopher Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882) are not some distant ponderings on life – they are works of the highest practicality, intended to supply guidance and daily help. Emerson’s ideas arose from his simple observations of human existence, with all its pitfalls and possibilities.

Reading and listening to Emerson brings the wisdom of the ages down to earth. This collection is drawn from his most practical and best-loved works. Each points you toward better and fuller ways of living.

Public Domain (P)2013 Gildan Media LLC

What listeners say about Mastery of Life

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    102
  • 4 Stars
    24
  • 3 Stars
    14
  • 2 Stars
    4
  • 1 Stars
    3
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    83
  • 4 Stars
    25
  • 3 Stars
    10
  • 2 Stars
    2
  • 1 Stars
    1
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    79
  • 4 Stars
    24
  • 3 Stars
    12
  • 2 Stars
    2
  • 1 Stars
    3

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Variety

Sentence structures contain a good variety of different words. Narration could have been better to keep listener engaged.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

archaic concepts permeate, but overall good

some outdated notions and science referenced, as should be expected in a dated piece of literature. overall interesting, and well read

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

A tremendous collection of Emerson's Essays

Beautifully interpreted recordings but the collection could have featured more of RWE's work. There ought to be more recordings of Emerson's work out there at this level of quality. The fact that there are not more/better recordings, or more frequent reprints of the Sage of Concord's work, is revealing. It belies the often malicious neglect of American literature in the United States today.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars

A nice combination of poetry and philosophy.

Make sure your sharp and awake while listening to this. The narrator can combine with the prose and cause drowsiness.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

Wasn't able to finish it.

I'm sure there was plenty I could learn from this book, but I've grown tired of his style of writing.

He writes with complicated words to obscure simple ideas without justification. Even if many of those ring true, it does not support trust in his words.

I might revisit it, since I might not be susceptible to gain anything from it. Many have praised his writing.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Another great from a Great.

Another great read by an original self-development mentor, Ralph Waldo Emerson. Similar to another favorite of mine by the same author, Self-Resilence, this title reflects on the same mindset and values one must have in order to live your best life!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

Meh

Repetitive, long winded, and struggles to get to the point. Overall disappointing. First book I have read by RWE and I think it will be the last.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

3 people found this helpful