William James―psychologist, philosopher, and religious seeker―is a kind of rare writers who can speak instantly and powerfully to any person about life’s meaning and worth, and whose ideas not only change how people think, but how they live. The thinker who helped found the philosophy of pragmatism and inspire Alcoholics Anonymous, James famously asked “is life worth living?” Bringing together many of his best and hottest essays, talks, and other writings, this anthology presents James’s answer to that and other existential questions, in his own unique manner―caring, humorous, eloquent, incisive, humble, and perpetually on the trail of the “ever not rather.”
Here we meet a James perfectly attuned to the concerns of today―one who argues for human freedom, articulates a healthy-minded psychology, urges us to explore the stream of consciousness, presents a new definition of truth based on its practical consequences, and never forecloses the potential for mystical transcendence. Introduced by John Kaag and Jonathan van Belle, these compelling and accessible selections reveal why James is without doubt one of the great guides to the business of living.
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