As I have gotten back into the habit of reading every day, my Kindle bookshelf has become a bit crowded with “Want to Read” books. Between books I have bought, KU titles, and samples of titles that looked interesting, it is up over 150. I decided to look at some of the ones that had been “waiting” for me the longest to decide if I still wanted to read them.
This edition of Self Reliance by Ralph Waldo Emerson was published in 2014 by The Domino Project. This imprint was created by Seth Godin to experiment with a new model for publishing books that would take advantage of the capabilities enabled by Amazon and eBooks. Seth and his team tried a lot of different things that set the stage for the dramatic changes that have occurred in the publishing industry over the past decade.
I know I started this book a couple of time. It is only 88 pages so it should have been finished in one afternoon or evening reading. I think I would always get stuck on a quote and decide to write about it and then never go back and finish the book. I stayed up a bit earlier this week and finally knocked it out.
Self Reliance by Emerson
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.