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Self-Reliance by Ralph Waldo Emerson
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Self-Reliance

$14.99

Length 1 hour 31 minutes
Language English
Narrators Kurt Andersen & Joyce Bean

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Redefining the classic essay, this modern edition of Ralph Waldo Emerson’s most famous work, Self-Reliance, includes self-reflections from both historical and contemporary luminaries. With quotes from the likes of Henry Ford and Helen Keller to modern-day thought leaders like Jesse Dylan, Steve Pressfield, and Milton Glaser, we’re reminded of the relevance of Emerson’s powerful words today.

Emerson’s words are timeless. Persuasive and convincing, he challenges readers to define their own sense of accomplishment and asks them to measure themselves against their own standards, not those of society. This famous orator has utter faith in individualism and doesn’t invoke beyond what is humanly possible, he just believes deeply that each of us is capable of greatness. He asks us to define that greatness for ourselves and to be true to ourselves.

At times harsh, at times comforting, Emerson’s words guide the reader to challenge their own beliefs and sense of self.

This modern edition of Self-Reliance is ideal for graduates or those who are in the midst of a career or lifestyle change. Emerson’s sage guidance wrapped in modern-day reflections is a great reminder about the potential within us all and that life is what you make of it.

Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882) was an essayist, poet, and the leader of the transcendentalist movement in the United States. A prolific writer, Emerson published dozens of essays and addresses, including “Self-Reliance” and “The American Scholar,” which Oliver Wendell Holmes declared the “intellectual Declaration of Independence.”

A staunch supporter of individualism as well as man’s connection with the natural world, Emerson is, in addition to being a transcendentalist pioneer, one of the most important figures in the American romantic movement. Emerson inspired many contemporary writers, like Henry David Thoreau, his lifelong friend and mentee.

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