William James : in the maelstrom of American modernism : a biography

The definitive biography of the fascinating William James, whose life and writing put an indelible stamp on psychology, philosophy, teaching, and religion—on modernism itself. Often cited as the "father of American psychology, " William James was an intellectual luminary who made significant contributions to at least five fields: psychology, philosophy, religious studies, teaching, and literature. A member of one of the most unusual and notable of American families, James struggled to achieve greatness amid the brilliance of his theologian father; his brother, the novelist Henry James; and his sister, Alice James. After studying medicine, he ultimately realized that his true interests lay in philosophy and psychology, a choice that guided his storied career at Harvard, where he taught some of America's greatest minds. But it is James's contributions to intellectual study that reveal the true complexity of man. In this biography that seeks to understand James's life through his work—including Principles of Psychology, The Varieties of Religious Experience, and Pragmatism —Robert D. Richardson has crafted an exceptionally insightful work that explores the mind of a genius, resulting in "a gripping and often inspiring story of intellectual and spiritual adventure" ( Publishers Weekly, starred review). "A magnificent biography." — The Washington Post

pivotal Member Of The Metaphysical Club, Author Of The Varieties Of Religious Experience, Older Brother Of Extraordinary Siblings Henry And Alice, The Remarkable William James Put An Indelible Stamp On Psychology, Philosophy, Teaching, And Religion—on Modernism Itself. In This Thought-provoking And Moving Biography, James Emerges As An Immensely Complex And Fascinating Man. Through Passionate Scholarship, Robert D. Richardson Illuminates James’s Life And Hugely Influential Works: The Varieties, Principles Of Psychology, Talks To Teachers, And Pragmatism. At Last, In This Definitive Work William James Is Given His Due As A Man Whose Influence Resonates In Innumerable Areas Of Modern Life.

the Washington Post - Michael Dirda

…a Magnificent Biography, Written With Ease And Panache, Replete With Quotation, Careful Exegesis And Useful Commentary And Suffused With A Well-judged Admiration For Its Subject. Nonetheless, The Reader Will Need To Pay Steady Attention, For James's Thought Can Be Dense In Places, And His Style, While Famously Memorable And Even Aphoristic, Can't Always Make Transparent Everything In His More Scientific Or Speculative Pages. Still, It's Easy To Understand Why James, Who Coined Such Vivid Phrases As The Bitch-goddess Success, The Moral Equivalent Of War And The Sick Soul Was Once Described As Writing Philosophy As If It Were Fiction—just As His Brother Henry Often Seemed To Be Writing Fiction As If It Were Philosophy.

The definitive biography of the fascinating William James, whose life and writing put an indelible stamp on psychology, philosophy, teaching, and religion -- on modernism itself Pivotal member of the Metaphysical Club, author of The Varieties of Religious Experience, eldest sibling in the extraordinary James family, William emerges here as an immensely complex and curious man. William James, ten years in the making, draws on a vast number of unpublished letters, journals, and family records to illuminate what James himself called the "buzzing blooming confusion" of his life. Richardson shows James struggling to achieve amid the domestic chaos and intellectual brilliance of his father, his brother Henry, and his sister Alice. There are portraits of James's early years as a student at the appallingly hidebound Harvard of the 1860s. And there are the harrowing suicidal episodes, after which James, still a young man, turns from depression to action with "a heave of will." Through impassioned scholarship, Richardson illuminates James's hugely influential works: the Varieties, Principles of Psychology, Talks to Teachers, and Pragmatism. As a longtime professor James taught courage and risk-taking. He was W.E.B. Du Bois's adviser and teacher, and he told another of his students, Gertrude Stein, to reject nothing -- that rejecting anything was the beginning of the end for an intellectual. One of the great figures in mysticism, James coined the phrase "stream of consciousness." Biographer Richardson Has Written A Moving Portrait Of James--pivotal Member Of The Metaphysical Club And Author Of The Varieties Of Religious Experience. The Biography, Ten Years In The Making, Draws On Unpublished Letters, Journals, And Family Records. Richardson Paints Extraordinary Scenes From What James Himself Called The Buzzing Blooming Confusion Of His Life, Beginning With Childhood, As He Struggled To Achieve Amid The Domestic Chaos And Intellectual Brilliance Of Father, Brother Henry, And Sister Alice. James Was A Beloved Teacher Who Taught Courage And Risk-taking, And Served As Mentor To W.e.b. Du Bois, Gertrude Stein, And Many Other Harvard Outsiders. Richardson Also Illuminates James's Hugely Influential Works. One Of The Great Figures In Mysticism Here Brought Richly To Life, James Is A Man Whose Leading Ideas Are Still So Fresh And Challenging That They Are Not Yet Fully Assimilated By The Modern World They Helped To Bring About.--from Publisher Description. Pivotal member of the Metaphysical Club, author of The Varieties of Religious Experience, older brother of extraordinary siblings Henry and Alice, the remarkable William James put an indelible stamp on psychology, philosophy, teaching, and religion -- on modernism itself. In this thought-provoking and moving biography, James emerges as an immensely complex and fascinating man. Through passionate scholarship, Robert D. Richardson illuminates James's life and hugely influential works: the Varieties, Principles of Psychology, Talks to Teachers, and Pragmatism. At last, in this definitive work William James is given his due as a man whose influence resonates in innumerable areas of modern life Incorporating information from previously unpublished letters, family records, and journals, a definitive portrait of the influential philosopher, educator, and psychologist follows William James from his youth and his relationship with other members of his brilliant family to his masterful contributions to the modernist movement, mysticism, education, and other fields. Reprint.