Lessons from an American Stoic
How Emerson Can Change Your Life
Published on 20. July 2023
Book
Hardback
288 pages
978-0-06-305969-6 (ISBN)
Description
A lifelong Emerson lover, teacher, and spiritual seeker reveals how American philosopher Ralph Waldo Emerson's twelve essential teachings hold the answer to living an authentic and fulfilling life, one that is in harmony with our souls.
Ralph Waldo Emerson was a spiritual revolutionary whose profound vision of human potential came to define the American character. Known as America's original Stoic, he offered a radical message of optimism, authenticity, and self-realization that is more necessary today than ever.
In this timely, remarkable book, noted memoirist and teacher Mark Matousek reveals the depths of Emerson's extraordinary wisdom, demonstrating how his timeless philosophy can help us navigate the challenges of contemporary life. Using personal stories, psychological research, and life lessons from Emerson and his contemporaries-including Thoreau and Whitman- he offers practical lessons in the art of living. In the following pages, you will discover:
Why Emerson should be considered America's original stoic
How to dispel the illusion of our own powerlessness and turn toward boundless human potential
Practical tools for cultivating happiness in a fragile, unpredictable, dangerous world
The gifts of self-reliance and spiritual renewal necessary for thriving
A roadmap to discovering essential wisdom on living an authentic and meaningful life
Emerson's far-reaching vision of excellence and spiritual flourishing is the medicine we need to heal ourselves. "Trust yourself," he teaches. "Once you make a decision, the universe conspires to make it happen." This philosophy of hope, known as transcendentalism, is the vein of gold in the American psyche. Lessons from an American Stoic helps us to reclaim our national treasure.
Ralph Waldo Emerson was a spiritual revolutionary whose profound vision of human potential came to define the American character. Known as America's original Stoic, he offered a radical message of optimism, authenticity, and self-realization that is more necessary today than ever.
In this timely, remarkable book, noted memoirist and teacher Mark Matousek reveals the depths of Emerson's extraordinary wisdom, demonstrating how his timeless philosophy can help us navigate the challenges of contemporary life. Using personal stories, psychological research, and life lessons from Emerson and his contemporaries-including Thoreau and Whitman- he offers practical lessons in the art of living. In the following pages, you will discover:
Why Emerson should be considered America's original stoic
How to dispel the illusion of our own powerlessness and turn toward boundless human potential
Practical tools for cultivating happiness in a fragile, unpredictable, dangerous world
The gifts of self-reliance and spiritual renewal necessary for thriving
A roadmap to discovering essential wisdom on living an authentic and meaningful life
Emerson's far-reaching vision of excellence and spiritual flourishing is the medicine we need to heal ourselves. "Trust yourself," he teaches. "Once you make a decision, the universe conspires to make it happen." This philosophy of hope, known as transcendentalism, is the vein of gold in the American psyche. Lessons from an American Stoic helps us to reclaim our national treasure.
Reviews / Votes
"In Lessons from an American Stoic, Matousek is more than an outstanding biographer of the legendary Emerson. He joins the lineage of Emerson by adding his own hard-earned wisdom and care. In translating Emerson's insights to our modern world, Mark has done a great service for the soul of America. This is a great book. It will open your heart, expand your mind, and help you live more truly, more fully, and more lovingly."- Mark Nepo, author of The Half-Life of Angels and Falling Down and Getting Up
"This beautifully written book on Emerson offers great principles and notions for living through these difficult times. It restored my enthusiasm, confidence, compassion, and willingness to resist authority. It made me braver to be myself, to embrace paradox and be proud all the ways I have refused to conform. It's a guide for living outside binaries. It's a book of great vitality, vision and liberation."
- V (formerly Eve Ensler) author of Reckoning
"Those looking for commonsense guidance to a more self-directed life will find it here." - Publishers Weekly
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
New York
United States
Publishing group
HarperCollins Publishers Inc
Dimensions
Height: 216 mm
Width: 144 mm
Thickness: 26 mm
Weight
350 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-06-305969-6 (9780063059696)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
Mark Matousek is a teacher, a spiritual seeker, and the award-winning author of seven books, including Sex, Death, Enlightenment and Writing to Awaken. His work has been featured in The New Yorker, O, The Oprah Magazine, and Harper's Bazaar. Matousek's transformative workshops and mentoring have inspired thousands of people around the world to reach their artistic and personal goals, using writing as a tool for insight, innovation, and clarity of purpose. He is the founder of the Seekers Forum, an online community for self-inquiry, and lives in Springs, New York.