Self Reliance

I bought this for my son because I believe the greatest gift we can give a child is self reliance. In the days of enabling this book is timely and will help infuse the independence that every child needs to survive. The basic concepts of self trust, self acceptance and embracing individuality. I love the fluidity of Emerson. He was already one of my favorites but this book really resonates with me and many levels. It is my mission to raise my son and daughter with these ideas that will sustain them when I'm gone. "Nothing will bring you peace but yourself" RWE

The author criticizes the Israelites for choosing not to speak to God directly causing them to receive a perspective a degree removed. This is because the human that would communicate to them God’s message would have to formulate it in his context.At least the author acknowledges in the inference of this statement that every person requires God’s perspective regardless of the degree of their self-reliance achievement.In addition, the author instructs the reader not to listen to anyone’s advice. Rather, they should be self-reliant in their conclusions while acknowledging in the very writing of this book that is giving this advice that the perspective of the wiser is important.Of course, there is a point where every person becomes dependent on others. The critical point that the author makes is that we don’t know where that is.It’s truly a mystery. No one really know with how much power they were endowed by God. The capacities that a human can unleash are beyond imagination. And, of course, these powers are hindered by reliance on others.See the Ohr Hatzafon from the Alter of Slobadka at least in the beginning chapter just high a human is in the hierarchy of creation in terms of his capacity.

Love this book. I never read Ralph Waldo Emerson before.This book has turned me into a huge fan.Even though this was written in the late 1800s, it is even more relevant today!Get the Amazon/Domino Project version, if you can find it.ISBN-10: 1936719061

Self-Reliance by Ralf Waldo Emerson is as relevant today as it was when it was first written almost 180 years ago. The theme of his essay is conformity and consistency.This read required my full attention. It’s deep and philosophical and discusses how one should accept life as it is and accept ourselves for who we are.

Its printed upside down and backwards so flip it over and turn it, read from back to front.. Its pretty funny you need to exercise self reliance to solve the issue of even reading the damn book. its also printed crooked on the page...truly the only thing you can rely on is yourself these days.

As we rely on markets, governments, and other transitory organizations it is important to remember where reliance finds solace. Opinions, people, and organizations can assist, but the final say is our own, peace comes in trusting our gut, our innate self. Something Emerson reminds us of in each page. Great read!

This essay has that rare feature of having been written a long time ago, but has maintained its relevance and applicability into today. It's education in how to think; something that it sorely missed in the education system.

This is a very slim little book that for at least two reasons might take longer than it takes to read a much bigger book. First, it compacts some powerful thoughts that require time to digest and translate into action. Second, although Emerson is sometimes referred to as a great writer, those who read both Emerson and Thoreau might find Emerson's writing style less crystal clear than Thoreau's, possibly because writing styles have changed and Emerson was 17 years older than Thoreau. Anyway, it's well worth the effort to digest this little gem.

Book is too short to justify £5. I read it in 20 minutes.If you accept the premise then he argues or articulates through colourful imagery that you can accept. If you disagree with the premise then he sounds like a naïve crackpot.Summary of the book.1. Express original thought, be yourself don't imitate2. Take on challenges - trust thyself.3. Self reliance is the inverse of conformity. (I completely disagree, conformity is a survival mechanism)4. Desires often make people bitter "Thy love afar is spite at home", "What we love we have, but by desire we bereave ourselves of the love"5. Comments on peoples actions and virtue signalling "Their virtues are penances .... my life is for itself and not a spectacle."6. People are blind and only look at "conformity of opinion".7. Describes the cultivated class as having feminine rage (He's so correct on this point)8. Consistency maketh the man "The force of character is cumulative"9. Primary wisdom is intuition, any that follows the first are tuition. (Nothing is new under the sun, the Romans would say to this)10. Acorn vs Oak. What does the youth need to learn from the Oak it will become the Oak. He condemns history as "cheerful apologue"11. You must cleave companions if your truth of their truth do not align. In other words birds of a feather flock together.12. The most dangerous thing he espouses is man is "law, to himself". If everyone had this philosophy it would be utter anarchy.13. Comments on vagabonding will remind me of the vagabonding book tim ferris keeps referencing.14. Society changes like a wave. "persons who make up a nation today, next year die, and their experience with them". If you want further information on this read GLUBB fate of empires. I think this bit in particular captures what's happening in America now. You've gone from a generation that fought in WW2 to a generation that fought in COD 4.15. He states that the want of self-reliance makes people believe institutions are guards of property, and therefore people defend assaults against the institutions. Just like the bizarre stuff going on in America now against the police. He is forgetting that actually there is truth to the institutions protecting peoples property.16. A cultivated man becomes ashamed of his property out of respect for his nature. (again I just disagree, I think cultivated mean are silver spooned and therefore they know in their heart they earned little to nothing of what they have. This is why they are on a self destructive path).

I found the quality of the printing to be rather poor. Low quality paper & cardstock used, no text on spine. It is printed by Amazon.

Ralph Waldo Emerson has a very unique way of writing and to be honest, I had to read the entire book again after I went through it the first time because his style is hard to adapt to. But the wisdom is excellent once you get it.

Good use of archaic language. For those who enjoy a complex read. I will be reading other books written by Emerson as a result. Perfect for an evening as the books is short.

This is a bedside book that deserves to be there because it condenses experience into a form that enlivens rather than dulls the intellect.