Nature

In 1836, American philosopher and poet Ralph Waldo Emerson collected his thoughts on transcendentalism in a timeless essay about God, the virtues of the natural world, and our place within it. Emerson’s key argument that humans do not fully appreciate the sublime beauty of nature, and have forgotten their true selves in a demanding and hectic world, is a timely subject for the modern reader.

Across eights sections, entitled, Nature, Commodity, Beauty, Language, Discipline, Idealism, Spirit and Prospects, Emerson offers radically different insights into the complex relationship between humans and nature. Emerson advocates solitude to escape the madness of society and return to our true selves. He also describes nature as the “Universal Being” where we can find God and true peace.

Greeted with much controversy upon its release, millions of readers have since found a treasure trove of enlightening perspectives in “Nature.” Emerson’s chief assertion of the importance of spirit over matter and an individual's need to throw off the shackles of preconceived wisdom in search of a personal understanding of the universe remains relevant. The book continues to strike a chord with generations of thinkers looking for more than conventional thought has to offer.