The Conduct of Life

First published in 1860 with a revised edition in 1876, Ralph Waldo Emerson's The Conduct of Life continues to inspire new and old readers alike. The new revised version retains the classic text presented as close to the original format as possible.

In a collection of thought-provoking essays, Emerson asks his readers a simple question: "How shall I live?" While the question itself is simple, the answer certainly is not! Thematically, the work takes readers through a series of nine essays that focus on critical aspects of life such as fate, power, wealth, culture, and behavior. Through his words, Emerson invites his audience to critically engage these important questions about the world, religion, and the conception of nature and beauty.

A significant financial success at the time of its publication, The Conduct of Life is often portrayed as Emerson's most controversial work. Many of his contemporary critics failed to find significance in most of the essays collected in the book. However, over time, the volume has gained substantial popularity, influencing philosophers like Friedrich Nietzsche and those who followed him.