Best Selling Books by William James

The Varieties of Religious Experience: A Study in Human Nature is a book by Harvard University psychologist and philosopher William James. It comprises his edited Gifford Lectures on natural theology, which were delivered at the University of Edinburgh, Scotland between 1901 and 1902.

"William James (1842 1910) was an American psychologist and philosopher. Topics of his books included psychology, religious psychology, educational psychology, mysticism, and pragmatism. James played a major role is the transition from 19th century European philosophy to American philosophy. James wrote "True ideas lead us into useful verbal and conceptual quarters as well as directly up to useful sensible termini. They lead to consistency, stability and flowing human intercourse" but "all true processes must lead to the face of directly verifying sensible experiences somewhere," Shortly before his death William James expressed the desire to collect some of his addresses and essays into one volume. Topics included are: Louis Agassiz, Address to the Emerson Centenary in Concord, Robert Gould Shaw, Francis Boott, Thomas Davidson a Knight-Errant of the Intellectual Life, Herbert Spencers Autobiography, Frederick Myers Services to Psychology, Final Impressions of a Psychical Researcher, On Some Mental Effects of the Earthquake, The Energies of Men, The Moral Equivalent of War, Remarks at the Peace banquet, The Social Value of the College Bred, The University and the Individual, and A Pluralistic Mystic." --

"This book provides a chronological presentation and explanation of letters by William James from 1893-1910. Readers of this book will have seen that the center of his interest had always been religious and philosophical"--Create. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2005 APA, all rights reserved).

Why is real-world experience vital to a mature appreciation of any philosophical system? Why is the search for objective truth a trickier proposition than it seems at first glance? American psychologist and philosopher WILLIAM JAMES (18421910), brother of novelist Henry James, was a groundbreaking researcher at Harvard University, author of such works as Principles of Psychology (1890) and The Varieties of Religious Experience: A Study in Human Nature (1902), and one of the most influential academics of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Here, in a series of essays first published in book form in 1909, and considered a sequel to his series of lectures collected in Pragmatism (also available from Cosimo), James explores these questions as he discusses: [ the function of cognition [ humanism and truth [ the relation between knower and known [ the essence of humanism [ the meaning of the word truth [ the absolute and strenuous life [ and more.

How do students learn? What is the mental life of the pupil? How can students and teachers alike intensify their relationship and enhance the learning environment? American psychologist and philosopher WILLIAM JAMES (18421910), brother of novelist Henry James, was a groundbreaking researcher at Harvard University, as well as a profoundly influential explorer of the learning process and one of the most significant academics of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. In these essays, considered a vital companion to Jamess Principles of Psychology (1890) and gleaned from a series of lectures on psychology given to teachers at Harvard in 1892James addresses both students and teachers on: [ psychology and the teaching art t[ he stream of consciousness [ education and behavior [ the laws of habit [ the acquisition of ideas [ the gospel of relaxation [ what makes a life significant [ and more.

William James, a member of America''s most illustrious intellectual family, is widely acclaimed as the country''s foremost philosopher, the first of its psychologists, and a champion of religious pluralism. As the apostle of pragmatism, his influence on American thought is as strong now as it has ever been. James''s emphasis on the creative power of faith, will, and action, his opening up of philosophy to the fresh air of ordinary experience, his fascination with alternative forms of belief and states of consciousness, and his impatience with dogmas of any kind--all make him a defender of individual experience, and earn him a place beside Emerson and Whitman as an exponent of American democratic culture. In this volume are the brilliant, engagingly written works of James''s early and middle years. The Will to Believe and Other Essays in Popular Philosophy advances the liberating argument that each of us has the right to believe in hypotheses that are not susceptible to proof and that such beliefs might actually change the world. The conversational style of these essays reflects their origin in public lectures, as well as James''s conviction that truth can be discovered as much in the course of everyday life as in the activities of science or of philosophical speculation. Talks to Teachers and to Students, also drawn from lectures, helped transform the emerging science of education. Here James applies his new psychology to classroom theory and conduct, especially for the primary grades. This immensely influential book has never gone out of print. It emphasizes the role in learning of instinct, play, and habit, along with the importance of engaging the voluntary interests of students. James''s warm and sympathetic nature informs his treatment of children, who can best be taught by those who respect the child''s autonomy and who avoid what he calls "hammering in." Psychology: Briefer Course is far more than a shortened version of his monumental Principles of Psychology. It significantly revises parts of the earlier work and adds important new materials. (Students liked to call the longer book "James" and the shorter one "Jimmy".) James''s new psychology moved away from discussions of the soul, morality, and logic, and focused instead on instinct, will, and the importance of action and habit. Passages comparing human consciousness to "a wonderful stream" inspired the "stream of consciousness" in the future work of Joyce, Woolf, and Gertrude Stein, a student of James''s at Harvard. "Human Immortality," which defends the possibility of life after death, and eight more of James''s most important essays round out this second volume devoted to a writer who was called by John Dewey "almost a Columbus of the inner world."

« Memories & Studies » by William James is a landmark collection of essays and addresses that distills the intellectual breadth and humanistic spirit of one of Americas most influential philosophers and psychologists. Through a tapestry of personal memories, philosophical reflections, and psychological insights, James explores the mechanisms of memory, the nature of consciousness, and the practical value of ideas in shaping both individual identity and collective progress. The volume opens with tributes to figures such as Louis Agassiz and Robert Gould Shaw, blending biography with meditations on character, education, and the moral responsibilities of leadership. Jamess essays on education advocate for a personalized approach that nurtures intellectual growth and character, rather than simply transmitting static knowledge. His reflections on philosophy articulate the core of American pragmatism, arguing that the truth of an idea lies in its practical consequences and its capacity to solve real-world problems. In his psychological studies, James investigates the interplay between mind and body, the stream of consciousness, and the role of habits in shaping behavior. He discusses the subconscious, the development and transformation of habits, and the psychological roots of religious experience, always emphasizing the dynamic and evolving nature of human thought. Social essays address the ethical imperatives of peace, the dangers of war, and the cultivation of virtues like courage and benevolence. Throughout, James weaves in personal anecdotes and intellectual autobiography, offering a unique window into the experiences that shaped his philosophy and scientific outlook. The collection stands as a testament to Jamess enduring influence on psychology, philosophy, education, and moral thought, providing both scholars and general readers with a rich resource for understanding the complexities of mind, behavior, and society.

William James, the radical modern philosopher and father of American psychology, found habit and will to be the secret of a good life. He elaborated this discovery into a philosophy of life that runs through his many scintillating writings, ranging from psychology and religion to pragmatism and war. Always he urged people to cultivate habits of mind---especially habits of will, including the power to break bad habits---that give us self-mastery. alert us to truth, equip us to act, and lend zest to life. In the extensive introduction James Sloan Allen shows how William James came to his philosophy of life and how he played it out in ideas and works that have immediate value today. In the selections that are included in the book, we see William James weaving his philosophy through classic writings on habit and its uses, consciousness and the discipline of will, the efficacy of belief and clues to morality, the truths of experience, and the strenuous life and its rewards.

A pioneer in early studies of the human mind and founder of that peculiarly American philosophy called Pragmatism, William James remains America''s most widely read philosopher. Generations of students have been drawn to his lucid presentations of philosophical problems. His works, now being made available for the first time in a definitive edition, have a permanent place in American letters and a continuing influence in philosophy and psychology. The essays gathered in the posthumously published Essays in Radical Empiricism formulate ideas that had brewed in James''s mind for thirty years as he sought a way out of the philosophical dilemmas generated by the new psychology of the late nineteenth century. They constitute the explanatory core of his doctrine of radical empiricism, a doctrine that charts his course between the absolute idealism he could not accept and, at the other extreme, the law of associationism, which reduces knowledge to sheer contiguity of ideas. In his introduction John J. McDermott describes the historical background and the genesis of James''s theory and considers the objections raised by its opponents.

Appended to the fifteen talks to schoolteachers were three talks to college students, as pertinent today as when they were written: "The Gospel of Relaxation," "On a Certain Blindness in Human Beings," and "What Makes a Life Significant?"

In "A Pluralistic Universe," William James presents a profound philosophical exploration advocating for a worldview that embraces plurality over absolutism. Published in 1909, during a period of significant intellectual upheaval, this work challenges the traditional metaphysical systems that sought singular truths. James employs an engaging literary style, blending rigorous argumentation with accessible prose, invoking pragmatism to assert that reality consists of diverse experiences and perspectives. By utilizing a rich tapestry of examples and thought experiments, he emphasizes the importance of individual experience in shaping our understanding of the universe, ultimately positioning pluralism as a more inclusive and practical philosophical stance. William James, an eminent psychologist and philosopher associated with the pragmatism movement, draws from his extensive background in both psychology and philosophy, reflecting his fascination with human experience and consciousness. His personal struggles with the concept of reality, combined with his exposure to the vibrant intellectual climate of his time, deeply influenced his approach to pluralism. James''s interdisciplinary expertise allows him to approach complex topics with both depth and clarity, inviting readers from various backgrounds to contemplate fundamental questions about existence and belief. This book is a must-read for anyone intrigued by the intersections of philosophy, psychology, and spirituality. Readers will find James''s arguments thought-provoking and transformative, offering a refreshing perspective in an age increasingly polarized by dogmatic beliefs. "A Pluralistic Universe" not only invites intellectual engagement but also encourages a deeper appreciation of the diverse tapestries of life that shaping our collective experience.

This new release of the classic text Pragmatism is absolutely timely. James'' seminal statement of pragmatism''s underpinnings and its treatment of essential philosophical questions (the nature of truth; the one and the many; free will; etc.) could not come at a more appropriate time. In a “post-truth” era of fake news, alternative facts, and a belief that "truth isn''t truth," James'' presentation of pragmatism as a method of adjudicating truth-claims is a must-read. Perfect for courses in: Philosophy of Education (Graduate Level), American Philosophy (Graduate and Upper-Level Undergraduate), American Studies, Special topics class on William James or Pragmatism, Sociology of Education (Graduate Level), Religious Studies.

These lectures concerning the nature of religion were delivered at the University of Edinburgh between 1901 and 1902. Soon after its publication, the book found its way into the canon of psychology and philosophy, and has remained in print for over a century.

A selection of seventeen essays from the writings of pioneering American psychologist/philosopher William James that provide insight into his thinking on emotion, war, habit, determinism, religion, and other topics.

These lectures concerning the nature of religion were delivered at the University of Edinburgh between 1901 and 1902. Soon after its publication, the book found its way into the canon of psychology and philosophy, and has remained in print for over a century.