爱默生，美国散文作家、思想家、诗人。本书收选了他较有代表性的散文，基本体现了他的思想性髓和文风。爱默生擅长以朴实的语言、浅显而生动的比喻来表达深刻的哲理，他的文章就和他的演讲一样，气势恢宏，狂放恣肆，具有鼓动性。史家称他为“新英格兰的先知与探索者”。而更为可贵的是，他的思想与文章至今仍使人感到清新爽朗。

NATURE

INTRODUCTION

CHAPTER 1

CHAPTER 2 COMMODITY

CHAPTER 3 BEAUTY

CHAPTER 4 LANGUAGE

CHAPTER 5 DISCIPLINE

CHAPTER 6 IDEALISM

CHAPTER 7 SPIRIT

CHAPTER 8 PROSPECTS

ESSAYS: FIRST SERIES

HISTORY

SELF-RELIANCE

COMPENSATION

SPIRITUAL LAWS

LOVE

FRIENDSHIP

PRUDENCE

HEROISM

THE OVER-SOUL

CIRCLES

INTELLECT

ART

ESSAYS: SECOND SERIES

THE POET

EXPERIENCE

CHARACTER

MANNERS

GIFTS

NATURE

POLITICS

NOMINALIST AND REALIST

NEW ENGLAND REFORMERS

REPRESENTATIVE MEN

1. USES OF GREAT MEN

2. PLATO; OR, THE PHILOSOPHER

3. SWEDENBORG; OR, THE MYSTIC

4. MONTAIGNE; OR, THE SKEPTIC

5. SHAKSPEARE; OR, THE POET

6. NAPOLEON, OR, THE MAN OF THE WORLD

7. GOETHE; OR, THE WRITER