Be Not Afraid of Life : In the Words of William James

"In his review of Sick Souls, Healthy Minds (Princeton 2020), New York Times Book Review editor John Williams wrote: "I'd advise you to read Kaag's primer...But if you haven't read James himself, do that first. It's wonderful that he inspires intermediaries to bring his thought to modern-day readers, but his cogent and humane work doesn't strictly need intermediaries. He remains ready to help you directly." Williams is right: William James does not need to be translated by contemporary theorists in order to speak to our present age. Sometimes the best we can do for James is let him speak to us in his own words, in the way that has inspired more than a century of readers and teachers. The idea for this collection is the result of listening to Williams' wise suggestion: gather the very best and most accessible of James's writings, tie them tightly to an existentially motivating framework, and let the readers come. The essays and selections gathered here will be geared to our present age, to an age that craves meaning, but generally dismisses traditional ways of tapping life's significance. James was one of the first thinkers tarry with what might be called "the modern predicament," a culture-premised on overblown leisure, comfort, sophistication, and excess-that seems intent on being dissatisfied with itself. This collection will be structured to mirror the six chapters of Kaag's Sick Souls, Healthy Minds and be motivated by the same question: Is life worth living? The selections from Be Not Afraid of Life present James-the-existentialist, who rejects determinism, argues forcefully for human freedom, articulates a healthy-minded psychology, urges his readers to explore the stream of consciousness, presents a novel formulation of truth based on practical meaning, and never forecloses the possibility of mystical transcendence. In other words, this anthology gives us a thinker perfectly attuned to the concerns of our present day"-- Provided by publisher

A compelling collection of the life-changing writings ofWilliam James William James-psychologist, philosopher, andspiritual seeker-is one of those rare writers who can speakdirectly and powerfully to anyone about life's meaning and worth,and whose ideas change not only how people think but how they live.The thinker who helped found the philosophy of pragmatism andinspire Alcoholics Anonymous, James famously asked, "is life worthliving?" Bringing together many of his best and most popularessays, talks, and other writings, this anthology presents James'sanswer to that and other existential questions, in his own uniquemanner-caring, humorous, eloquent, incisive, humble, and forever onthe trail of the "ever not quite." Here we meet a James perfectlyattuned to the concerns of today-one who argues for human freedom,articulates a healthy-minded psychology, urges us to explore thestream of consciousness, presents a new definition of truth basedon its practical consequences, and never forecloses the possibilityof mystical transcendence. Introduced by John Kaag and Jonathan vanBelle, these compelling and accessible selections reveal why Jamesis one of the great guides to the business of living.

A compelling collection of the life-changing writings of William JamesWilliam James--psychologist, philosopher, and spiritual seeker--is one of those rare writers who can speak directly and powerfully to anyone about life's meaning and worth, and whose ideas change not only 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 most popular 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 forever on the trail of the "ever not quite."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 possibility of mystical transcendence. Introduced by John Kaag and Jonathan van Belle, these compelling and accessible selections reveal why James is one of the great guides to the business of living A compelling collection of the life-changing writings of William James William James—psychologist, philosopher, and spiritual seeker—is one of those rare writers who can speak directly and powerfully to anyone about life’s meaning and worth, and whose ideas change not only 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 most popular 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 forever on the trail of the “ever not quite.” 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 possibility of mystical transcendence. Introduced by John Kaag and Jonathan van Belle, these compelling and accessible selections reveal why James is one of the great guides to the business of living. A Compelling Collection Of The Life-changing Writings Of William James William James--psychologist, Philosopher, And Spiritual Seeker--is One Of Those Rare Writers Who Can Speak Directly And Powerfully To Anyone 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 Most Popular 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 Forever On The Trail Of The Ever Not Quite. 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 Possibility Of Mystical Transcendence. Introduced By John Kaag And Jonathan Van Belle, These Compelling And Accessible Selections Reveal Why James Is One Of The Great Guides To The Business Of Living. Contents Introduction Determinism and Despair 1 Letter to Thomas Wren Ward (1868) 2 “ The Sick Soul,” from The Varieties of Religious Experience (1902) 3 “ The Dilemma of Determinism” (1897) Freedom and Life 4 “ The Will to Believe” (1897) 5 “ Is Life Worth Living?” (1897) Psychology and the Healthy Mind 6 “ What Makes a Life Significant” (1900) 7 Chapter IX, “The Stream of Thought,” and Chapter X, “The Consciousness of Self,” from The Principles of Psychology (1890) 8 “ The Energies of Men” (1907) Consciousness and Transcendence 9 A Review of Benjamin Paul Blood’s The Anesthetic Revelation and the Gist of Philosophy (1874) 10 “ On a Certain Blindness in Human Beings” (1899) Truth and Consequences 11 “What Pragmatism Means” (1903) 12 “ The Moral Equivalent of War” (1903) Wonder and Hope 13 “Mysticism,” from The Varieties of Religious Experience (1902) 14 “Human Immortality: Two Supposed Objections to the Doctrine” (1897) 15 “A Pluralistic Mystic” (1910) Index