EMERSON ON NATURE The Environmental Philosophy of Ralph Waldo Emerson

In spite of the subtitle, Emerson was not a naturalist; his "nature" was more philosophical. Nevertheless, his 1836 essay “Nature” was one of the seminal texts of his thought. This collection includes that first essay, plus two other essential Emerson texts: “The Over-Soul” (1841) and “Nature” (a later text with the same name, 1844). Together, these three essays give an excellent overview of Emerson's main philosophical themes. Alas, narrator Don Randall is not up to the texts. While his voice is fine, his "gee whiz!" intonation distracts, and his hurried delivery makes it hard to understand and appreciate what Emerson is saying. Emerson's writing style is not simple, and a more relaxed reading would better help the listener grasp his subtle ideas. K.M. © AudioFile 2010, Portland, Maine [Published: SEPTEMBER 2010]