Self-Reliance
People who bought this also bought...
-
Nature
- By: Ralph Waldo Emerson
- Narrated by: Phil Paonessa
- Length: 51 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 32
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars 26
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 26
This version of Nature is an 1843 revision to the popular essay written and published in 1836. In the original essay, Emerson put forth the foundation of transcendentalism and suggested that reality can be understood by studying nature. Within the essay, Emerson divides nature into four usages: commodity, beauty, language and discipline. These distinctions define how humans use nature for their basic needs, their desire for delight, their communication with one another, and their understanding of the world.
-
1 out of 5 stars
-
This is NOT Emerson’s famous 1836 Nature book
- By Andrea L. on 02-18-19
-
On the Duty of Civil Disobedience
- By: Henry David Thoreau
- Narrated by: Jim Killavey
- Length: 1 hr and 3 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 388
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars 329
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 325
This essay by Thoreau first published in 1849, argues that individuals should not permit governments to overrule their consciences. It goes on to say that individuals have a duty to avoid allowing the government to make them the agents of injustice. The quote: "That government is best which governs least," sometimes attributed to Thomas Jefferson or Thomas Paine, actually was first found in this essay. Thoreaus' thoughts were motivated by his disgust with slavery and the Mexican-American War but they are still relevant and resonate today.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
10:22 p.m., 10th of January, 2018
- By Anonymous User on 01-11-18
-
Compensation
- By: Ralph Waldo Emerson
- Narrated by: Phil Paonessa
- Length: 1 hr and 1 min
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 32
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 28
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 28
Emerson's discourse on the laws of compensation, takes on the notion that one who has money must be wicked and those who do not must be good, among other topics. It appeared in his book Essays, first published in 1841.
-
Walking
- By: Henry David Thoreau
- Narrated by: Deaver Brown
- Length: 1 hr and 28 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 198
-
Performance3.5 out of 5 stars 173
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 174
> Walking is not as well known as Thoreau's other works Walden, The Maine Woods, and Civil Disobedience. But it is a good place to start exploring his writing because it was his last book, in 1862, published by the Atlantic Monthly shortly after his death. It is less well known because it is general, as opposed to singular, in focus. It is his summing up of his thoughts on life: One should saunter through life and take notice; one need not go far.
-
3 out of 5 stars
-
Brief transcendental ditty; amateurish narration
- By Ryan on 12-19-12
-
Walden
- Life in the Woods
- By: Henry David Thoreau
- Narrated by: Alec Sand
- Length: 10 hrs and 5 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 1,190
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars 1,014
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 1,017
Thoreau's classic account of the solitary life, describing his attempts to simplify his life and sort out his priorities by living alone in a cabin beside Walden Pond for nearly two years, is one of the most influential books ever written. The bible of the environmental movement, Walden vividly portrays Thoreau's reverence for nature, and his understanding of the idea that nature is made up of crucially interrelated parts.
-
3 out of 5 stars
-
Energetic but choppy presentation
- By Dan Jensen on 03-17-10
-
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
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 105
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 85
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 85
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.
-
4 out of 5 stars
-
archaic concepts permeate, but overall good
- By Kate McLaglen on 06-12-18
-
Nature
- By: Ralph Waldo Emerson
- Narrated by: Phil Paonessa
- Length: 51 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 32
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars 26
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 26
This version of Nature is an 1843 revision to the popular essay written and published in 1836. In the original essay, Emerson put forth the foundation of transcendentalism and suggested that reality can be understood by studying nature. Within the essay, Emerson divides nature into four usages: commodity, beauty, language and discipline. These distinctions define how humans use nature for their basic needs, their desire for delight, their communication with one another, and their understanding of the world.
-
1 out of 5 stars
-
This is NOT Emerson’s famous 1836 Nature book
- By Andrea L. on 02-18-19
-
On the Duty of Civil Disobedience
- By: Henry David Thoreau
- Narrated by: Jim Killavey
- Length: 1 hr and 3 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 388
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars 329
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 325
This essay by Thoreau first published in 1849, argues that individuals should not permit governments to overrule their consciences. It goes on to say that individuals have a duty to avoid allowing the government to make them the agents of injustice. The quote: "That government is best which governs least," sometimes attributed to Thomas Jefferson or Thomas Paine, actually was first found in this essay. Thoreaus' thoughts were motivated by his disgust with slavery and the Mexican-American War but they are still relevant and resonate today.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
10:22 p.m., 10th of January, 2018
- By Anonymous User on 01-11-18
-
Compensation
- By: Ralph Waldo Emerson
- Narrated by: Phil Paonessa
- Length: 1 hr and 1 min
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 32
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 28
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 28
Emerson's discourse on the laws of compensation, takes on the notion that one who has money must be wicked and those who do not must be good, among other topics. It appeared in his book Essays, first published in 1841.
-
Walking
- By: Henry David Thoreau
- Narrated by: Deaver Brown
- Length: 1 hr and 28 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 198
-
Performance3.5 out of 5 stars 173
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 174
> Walking is not as well known as Thoreau's other works Walden, The Maine Woods, and Civil Disobedience. But it is a good place to start exploring his writing because it was his last book, in 1862, published by the Atlantic Monthly shortly after his death. It is less well known because it is general, as opposed to singular, in focus. It is his summing up of his thoughts on life: One should saunter through life and take notice; one need not go far.
-
3 out of 5 stars
-
Brief transcendental ditty; amateurish narration
- By Ryan on 12-19-12
-
Walden
- Life in the Woods
- By: Henry David Thoreau
- Narrated by: Alec Sand
- Length: 10 hrs and 5 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 1,190
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars 1,014
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 1,017
Thoreau's classic account of the solitary life, describing his attempts to simplify his life and sort out his priorities by living alone in a cabin beside Walden Pond for nearly two years, is one of the most influential books ever written. The bible of the environmental movement, Walden vividly portrays Thoreau's reverence for nature, and his understanding of the idea that nature is made up of crucially interrelated parts.
-
3 out of 5 stars
-
Energetic but choppy presentation
- By Dan Jensen on 03-17-10
-
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
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 105
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 85
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 85
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.
-
4 out of 5 stars
-
archaic concepts permeate, but overall good
- By Kate McLaglen on 06-12-18
-
Walden
- By: Henry David Thoreau
- Narrated by: Jack Shelly
- Length: 13 hrs and 32 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 35
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars 32
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 32
"Walden" (1854) is a work by Henry David Thoreau. The text is a reflection upon simple living in natural surroundings. "I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived. I did not wish to live what was not life, living is so dear; nor did I wish to practice resignation, unless it was quite necessary.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Enjoyable happy read
- By Brian Ankney on 05-31-19
-
The Transcendentalist
- By: Ralph Waldo Emerson
- Narrated by: Eddie Frierson
- Length: 56 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 34
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 31
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 29
Ralph Waldo Emerson is a paradoxical figure in American society. He represents the very height of individualism and blazing one's own path, but during his lifetime his views were considered so radical that Harvard College, despite Emerson being an honored student there, banned him from speaking for some three decades after he gave his 1838 speech on transcendentalism. Today, of course, Emerson is heralded as one of the great Americans of the 19th century. Harvard even has a building named after him.
-
Self-Reliance and Other Essays (AmazonClassics Edition)
- By: Ralph Waldo Emerson
- Narrated by: Mikael Naramore
- Length: 7 hrs and 58 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 36
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 29
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 28
In this definitive collection of essays, including the poignant title essay "Self-Reliance," Ralph Waldo Emerson expounds on the importance of trusting your soul, as well as divine providence, to carve out a life. A firm believer in nonconformity, Emerson celebrates the individual and stresses the value of listening to the inner voice unique to each of us - even when it defies society's expectations.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
This book is like a series of great quotes!
- By M. Allen on 01-16-19
-
The Manual
- A Philosopher's Guide to Life
- By: Epictetus, Ancient Renewal, Sam Torode
- Narrated by: Sam Torode
- Length: 47 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 556
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 470
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 467
Epictetus (c. AD 50-135) was a former Roman slave (he was also lame in one leg, and walked with a crutch) who went on to become a great teacher. His philosophy, Stoicism, was practical, not theoretical - aimed at relieving human suffering here and now. The Manual is a collection of Epictetus' essential teachings and pithy sayings, compiled by one of his students.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Best book to live by.
- By Amazon Customer on 09-05-18
-
Meditations of Marcus Aurelius
- By: Marcus Aurelius
- Narrated by: Alan Munro
- Length: 5 hrs and 39 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 1,795
-
Performance3.5 out of 5 stars 1,594
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 1,566
Meditations is former U.S. President Bill Clinton's favorite book. This audio consists of a series of personal writings by Marcus Aurelius, Roman Emperor 161-180 AD, setting forth his ideas on Stoic philosophy.
-
4 out of 5 stars
-
The reading made it impossible to focus on content
- By Mark Grebner on 09-02-12
-
The Apology of Socrates
- By: Plato
- Narrated by: Michael Scott
- Length: 1 hr and 2 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 42
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 37
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 37
"The Apology of Socrates" is one of the earliest existing documents of Greek philosophy - everything earlier was lost and is known only through quoted fragments in later works, like those of Plato himself. Rightly so, the Apology is still, all by itself, an excellent introduction to Western philosophy and traditionally the first complete text read in the formal study of Classical Greek. Although the meaning has changed through time, the Greek word apología simply and precisely meant a defense, or a defense speech.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Inspirational courage in the pursuit of fostering wisdom
- By Crazy Pierre on 11-06-19
-
Emerson
- The Mind on Fire
- By: Robert D. Richardson
- Narrated by: Michael McConnohie
- Length: 26 hrs and 8 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 198
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 179
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 180
Ralph Waldo Emerson is one of the most important figures in the history of American thought, religion, and literature. The vitality of his writings and the unsettling power of his example continue to influence us more than a hundred years after his death. Now Robert D. Richardson Jr. brings to life an Emerson very different from the old stereotype of the passionless Sage of Concord.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Excellent Account
- By John on 12-05-14
-
Friendship
- By: Ralph Waldo Emerson
- Narrated by: Phil Paonessa
- Length: 46 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 7
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 7
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 7
Emerson's treatise on the nature of friendship. The only reward of virtue is virtue; the only way to have a friend is to be one.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Brutally honest outlook on friendship
- By Amazon Customer on 08-08-18
-
Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass
- An American Slave
- By: Frederick Douglass
- Narrated by: Raymond Hearn
- Length: 4 hrs and 12 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 1,260
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 1,137
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 1,139
This classic of American literature, a dramatic autobiography of the early life of an American slave, was first published in 1845, when its author had just achieved his freedom. It is a story that shocked the world with its first-hand account of the horrors of slavery. The book was an incredible success. It sold over 30,000 copies and was an international best seller.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Appropriate Audio
- By Gigi P on 05-23-16
-
Up from Slavery
- By: Booker T. Washington
- Narrated by: Noah Waterman
- Length: 6 hrs and 8 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 1,853
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 1,655
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 1,650
Booker T. Washington fought his way out of slavery to become an educator, statesman, political shaper, and proponent of the "do-it-yourself" idea. In his autobiography, he describes his early life as a slave on a Virginia plantation, his steady rise during the Civil War, his struggle for education, his schooling at the Hampton Institute, and his years as founder and president of the Tuskegee Institute in Alabama, which was devoted to helping minorities learn useful, marketable skills.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Reality Check!
- By Mickens on 06-08-16
-
Nature
- By: Ralph Waldo Emerson, Sam Torode - foreword
- Narrated by: Sam Torode
- Length: 1 hr and 54 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 25
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars 23
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 23
Ralph Waldo Emerson's "Nature" is perhaps the greatest original work of philosophy written by an American. This specially-prepared edition includes a foreword on the origin and significance the book.
-
Essays
- By: Ralph Waldo Emerson
- Narrated by: Alastair Cameron
- Length: 15 hrs and 3 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 34
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars 32
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 31
Ralph Waldo Emerson was a leader in the transcendentalist movement of the mid-19th century. He is best known for his political philosophy and ideological thoughts on the moral worth of the individual and his work greatly influenced many of the great thinkers of his time, including Henry David Thoreau.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Rich, Wonderful, and Insightful
- By Hank on 07-14-17
Publisher's Summary
Ralph Waldo Emerson was an American philosopher, lecturer, essayist, and poet, who is best remembered for leading the Transcendentalist movement of the mid-19th century. He was a a champion of individualism and wrote dozens of essays. Most criics consider "Self-Reliance" his best. It has the most thorough statement of one of Emerson's repeating themes, the need for each individual to avoid conformity and false consistency. It also emphasized the need to follow one's own instincts and ideas. "Self-Reliance" contains one of Emerson's most famous quotes: "A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds."
More from the same
What members say
Average Customer Ratings
Overall
-
4 out of 5 stars
-
5 Stars29
-
4 Stars14
-
3 Stars16
-
2 Stars9
-
1 Stars4
Performance
-
3.5 out of 5 stars
-
5 Stars19
-
4 Stars13
-
3 Stars12
-
2 Stars3
-
1 Stars5
Story
-
4 out of 5 stars
-
5 Stars24
-
4 Stars14
-
3 Stars8
-
2 Stars5
-
1 Stars2
Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- cindilla
- 12-15-12
Wonderful
If you could sum up Self-Reliance in three words, what would they be?
Wonderful rendition of one of my favorite essays.
What was the most compelling aspect of this narrative?
Clear, concise, thoughtful
What about Jim Killavey’s performance did you like?
Did a great job.
Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?
The whole thing
Any additional comments?
Intend to listen to "Civil Disobedience" next. Hope it's the same reader.
6 people found this helpful
-
Overall3 out of 5 stars
-
Performance3 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- MiamiLitNerd
- 09-28-16
Narrator didn't pronounce his Rs
I guess it's realistic because Emerson was a Bostonian, but it was really annoying that he said, for example, propahty instead of property. Really. It got annoying and hard to understand at times.
Text is obviously a classic of American literary thought.
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars
-
Performance3 out of 5 stars
-
Story4 out of 5 stars
- J. Andrews
- 03-23-16
Great points but read to hastily to retain it.
Lots of great points, but it's read so fast that it's difficult to comprehend and retain it all even after a second listen.
-
Overall3 out of 5 stars
-
Performance1 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Mike
- 11-17-11
Disappointing Performance
Self Reliance is one of my favorite essays. In this case, the meaning is often lost. Killavey enunciates clearly, but each word is given the same tonal value -- as if reading a list -- which results in inappropriate pauses (or lack of) and emphasis which makes the thoughts / ideas hard to follow. I'm disappointed...
2 people found this helpful