Staff Pick
Are you curious about the psychology of conversions? Looking for a defense of spiritual or metaphysical pluralism? Do you consider yourself more or less an empiricist? Read this book. William James, philosopher and psychologist, writes in rigorous and vigorous prose while masterfully mixing psychology, history, religious anthropology, and more into one of the few truly open-hearted and welcoming works of modern philosophy. Recommended By Jonathan V. B., Powells.com
Synopses & Reviews
The Varieties of Religious Experience, by
William James, is part of the
Barnes & Noble Classics series, which offers quality editions at affordable prices to the student and the general reader, including new scholarship, thoughtful design, and pages of carefully crafted extras. Here are some of the remarkable features of
Barnes & Noble Classics:
- New introductions commissioned from today's top writers and scholars
- Biographies of the authors
- Chronologies of contemporary historical, biographical, and cultural events
- Footnotes and endnotes
- Selective discussions of imitations, parodies, poems, books, plays, paintings, operas, statuary, and films inspired by the work
- Comments by other famous authors
- Study questions to challenge the reader's viewpoints and expectations
- Bibliographies for further reading
- Indices & Glossaries, when appropriate
All editions are beautifully designed and are printed to superior specifications; some include illustrations of historical interest.
Barnes & Noble Classics pulls together a constellation of influencesbiographical, historical, and literaryto enrich each reader's understanding of these enduring works.
Acclaimed as one of the greatest works of nonfiction published in the twentieth century, William Jamess The Varieties of Religious Experience was revolutionary in its view of religious life as centered not within the Church but solely within the feelings, acts, and experiences of individual men in their solitude.”
Using the language of psychology, James tries to explain religious phenomenasuch as conversion, repentance, mysticism, and saintlinessas psychic energy that arises from the unconscious mind in times of trouble. To support his theories, James turns to the autobiographical writings of a wide variety of mystics and writers, including Walt Whitman, Martin Luther, Voltaire, Emerson, and Tolstoy. The result is a colorful and wide-ranging collection of recorded experiences that James compares, categorizes, and analyzes. Many of his categoriesincluding the sick soul, the divided self, and healthy-mindednesshave become standard in the study of religions.
Exquisitely written, The Varieties of Religious Experience has had a profound influence on modern spiritual thought, including the psychology of religion and recovery programs such as Alcoholics Anonymous.
Wayne Proudfoot is Professor of Religion at Columbia University, specializing in the philosophy of religion. He has published Religious Experience, as well as articles on William James, Charles Sanders Peirce, and American Protestant thought.
Synopsis
The Varieties of Religious Experience, by
William James, is part of the
Barnes & Noble Classicsseries, which offers quality editions at affordable prices to the student and the general reader, including new scholarship, thoughtful design, and pages of carefully crafted extras. Here are some of the remarkable features of
Barnes & Noble Classics - New introductions commissioned from today's top writers and scholars
- Biographies of the authors
- Chronologies of contemporary historical, biographical, and cultural events
- Footnotes and endnotes
- Selective discussions of imitations, parodies, poems, books, plays, paintings, operas, statuary, and films inspired by the work
- Comments by other famous authors
- Study questions to challenge the reader's viewpoints and expectations
- Bibliographies for further reading
- Indices & Glossaries, when appropriate
All editions are beautifully designed and are printed to superior specifications; some include illustrations of historical interest.
Barnes & Noble Classics pulls together a constellation of influencesbiographical, historical, and literaryto enrich each reader's understanding of these enduring works.
Acclaimed as one of the greatest works of nonfiction published in the twentieth century, William James s The Varieties of Religious Experience was revolutionary in its view of religious life as centered not within the Church but solely within the feelings, acts, and experiences of individual men in their solitude.
Using the language of psychology, James tries to explain religious phenomenasuch as conversion, repentance, mysticism, and saintlinessas psychic energy that arises from the unconscious mind in times of trouble. To support his theories, James turns to the autobiographical writings of a wide variety of mystics and writers, including Walt Whitman, Martin Luther, Voltaire, Emerson, and Tolstoy. The result is a colorful and wide-ranging collection of recorded experiences that James compares, categorizes, and analyzes. Many of his categoriesincluding the sick soul, the divided self, and healthy-mindednesshave become standard in the study of religions.
Exquisitely written, The Varieties of Religious Experience has had a profound influence on modern spiritual thought, including the psychology of religion and recovery programs such as Alcoholics Anonymous.
Wayne Proudfoot is Professor of Religion at Columbia University, specializing in the philosophy of religion. He has published
Religious Experience, as well as articles on William James, Charles Sanders Peirce, and American Protestant thought.
"
Synopsis
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New introductions commissioned from today's top writers and scholars Biographies of the authors Chronologies of contemporary historical, biographical, and cultural events Footnotes and endnotes Selective discussions of imitations, parodies, poems, books, plays, paintings, operas, statuary, and films inspired by the work Comments by other famous authors Study questions to challenge the reader's viewpoints and expectations Bibliographies for further reading Indices & Glossaries, when appropriate
All editions are beautifully designed and are printed to superior specifications; some include illustrations of historical interest. &&LI&&RBarnes & Noble Classics &&L/I&&Rpulls together a constellation of influences--biographical, historical, and literary--to enrich each reader's understanding of these enduring works.&&L/DIV&&R&&L/DIV&&R&&LP style=MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt&&R &&L/P&&R&&LP style=MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt&&RAcclaimed as one of the greatest works of nonfiction published in the twentieth century, &&LB&&RWilliam James&&L/B&&R's &&LI&&RThe Varieties of Religious Experience&&L/I&&R was revolutionary in its view of religious life as centered not within the Church but solely within "the feelings, acts, and experiences of individual men in their solitude."&&LBR&&R&&LBR&&RUsing the language of psychology, James tries to explain religious phenomena--such as conversion, repentance, mysticism, and saintliness--as psychic energy that arises from the unconscious mind in times of trouble. To support his theories, James turns to the autobiographical writings of a wide variety of mystics and writers, including Walt Whitman, Martin Luther, Voltaire, Emerson, and Tolstoy. The result is a colorful and wide-ranging collection of recorded experiences that James compares, categorizes, and analyzes. Many of his categories--including the sick soul, the divided self, and healthy-mindedness--have become standard in the study of religions.&&LBR&&R&&LBR&&RExquisitely written, &&LI&&RThe Varieties of Religious Experience&&L/I&&R has had a profound influence on modern spiritual thought, including the psychology of religion and recovery programs such as Alcoholics Anonymous.&&LBR&&R&&L/P&&R&&LP style=MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt&&R&&LSTRONG&&RWayne Proudfoot&&L/B&&R &&L/B&&Ris Professor of Religion at Columbia University, specializing in the philosophy of religion. He has published &&LI&&RReligious Experience, &&L/I&&Ras well as articles on William James, Charles Sanders Peirce, and American Protestant thought. &&L/P&&R&&L/DIV&&R
About the Author
Wayne Proudfoot is Professor of Religion at Columbia University, specializing in the philosophy of religion. He has published
Religious Experience, as well as articles on William James, Charles Sanders Peirce, and American Protestant thought.