First We Read Then We Write Emerson on the Creative Process (Audible Audio Edition) Robert D Richardson Gary D MacFadden University Press Audiobooks Books
Download As PDF : First We Read Then We Write Emerson on the Creative Process (Audible Audio Edition) Robert D Richardson Gary D MacFadden University Press Audiobooks Books
Writing was the central passion of Emerson's life. While his thoughts on the craft are well developed in "The Poet", "The American Scholar", Nature, "Goethe", and "Persian Poetry", less well known are the many pages in his private journals devoted to the relationship between writing and reading. Here, for the first time, is the Concord Sage's energetic, exuberant, and unconventional advice on the idea of writing, focused and distilled by the preeminent Emerson biographer at work today.
Emerson advised that "the way to write is to throw your body at the mark when your arrows are spent." First We Read, Then We Write contains numerous such surprises - from "every word we speak is million-faced" to "talent alone cannot make a writer" - but it is no mere collection of aphorisms and exhortations. Instead, in Robert Richardson's hands, the biographical and historical context in which Emerson worked becomes clear. Emerson's advice grew from his personal experience; in practically every moment of his adult life he was either preparing to write, trying to write, or writing. Richardson shows us an Emerson who is no granite bust, but instead is a fully fleshed, creative person disarmingly willing to confront his own failures.
Emerson urges his readers to try anything - strategies, tricks, makeshifts - speaking not only of the nuts and bolts of writing but also of the grain and sinew of his determination. Whether a writer by trade or a novice, every reader will find something to treasure in this volume. Fearlessly wrestling with "the birthing stage of art", Emerson's counsel on being a reader and writer will be read and reread for years to come.
First We Read Then We Write Emerson on the Creative Process (Audible Audio Edition) Robert D Richardson Gary D MacFadden University Press Audiobooks Books
Briefly, Desiderius Erasmus, (1469-1536) was the greatest scholar and teacher of the northern Renaissance, the first editor of the New Testament, and also an important figure in patristics and classical literature. If there were a Rushmorean monument for book lovers, he would be among the first selected, probably joined by Ralph Waldo Emerson. Both read books with great passion and appreciation long before they began to write about them and discuss their significance in lectures.In First We Read, Then We Write: Emerson on the Creative Process, Robert D. Richardson shares the very best of Ralph Waldo Emerson’s thoughts about the creative process in general, and about writing in particular. There is no doubt in Richardson’s mind that Emerson could have published the material but probably didn’t because he was never wholly satisfied with his own work. His standards were so high “that even the Almighty could not have met them.”
In my opinion, Richardson’s Emerson: The Mind on Fire is the finest biography of him written thus far. What we have in First We Read, Then We Write is the only assemblage I know of that focuses on Emerson as a literary exemplar, sharing his thoughts about creative reading as well as creative writing.
The primary sources include two magnificent essays, “The American Scholar” and "The Poet." Emerson thought of himself more as a poet than as an essayist, one who earned this living as a lecturer. He viewed the poet as one who is representative, who “stands among partial men for the complete man, and apprises us not of his wealth, but of the commonwealth.” Writing is a noble calling that calls for noble sacrifice.” But Emerson never wrote an essay on the subject of writing.
Here is a representative selection of brief passages that caught my eye:
o On what young writers need to keep in mind: “Meek young men grow up in libraries believing it is their duty to accept the views which Cicero, Locke, and Bacon have given, forgetful that Cicero, Locke, and Bacon were only young men in libraries when they wrote those books.”
o On having passion and courage for writing: “The way to write is to throw your body at the mark when your arrows are spent.”
o On good writing: “Good writing and brilliant conversation are perpetual allegories.”
o On self-editing: “All writing should be selection in order to drop every dead word.”
o On priorities: “There is then creative reading as well as creative writing. First we read, then we beget; first we read, then we write.”
o Finally, to the reader of his essay, Nature: “Every spirit builds itself a house, and beyond its house a world, and beyond its world a heaven. Know then, that the world exists for you. For you is the phenomenon perfect. What we are, that only can we see. All that Adam had, all that Caesar could, you have and can do. Adam called his house, heaven and earth; Caesar called his house, Rome; you perhaps call yours, a cobbler’s trade; a hundred acres of polished land; or a scholar’s garret. Yet line for line and point for point; your dominion is as great as theirs, though without fine names. Build, therefore, your own world.”
Hopefully, many of those who read this volume will be encouraged to read several of Emerson’s essays as well as Richardson’s biography. There are several excellent collections of the essays and journals. My personal favorite is a Library of America College Edition, Emerson: Essays and Lectures: Nature: Addresses and Lectures/Essays: First and Second Series/ Representative Men/English Traits/The Conduct of Life.
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First We Read Then We Write Emerson on the Creative Process (Audible Audio Edition) Robert D Richardson Gary D MacFadden University Press Audiobooks Books Reviews
This is an excellent book. All though short and sweet it has so much information and interesting thoughts packed into it. Anyone interested in being a life long learner should read this book.
This book is as much about Ralph Waldo Emerson as it is about reading and writing. It reveals the books he read as well as the way he thought and wrote. Thinking was not part of the title but it was clear that it is every bit as important. Emerson was an intellectual in that he read, thought, and wrote. That is the intellectual's life and anyone aspiring to that life would find this a helpful book. "There is always a right word, and every other that is wrong." This book also discussed the writers who had influenced Emerson; writers like Goethe and Shakespeare.
If you know a student or fledging author in need of a thoughtful gift, consider the purchase of this book on the essence of that most useful creative art, writing. (Or, buy it for yourself.)
Professor Richardson brings a lifetime of acquired knowledge to this fine summary of Ralph Waldo Emerson's scattered expressions related to both reading and writing.
The message that any book we read means something unique to each reader resonates with me. The feeling that we are the sum of our experiences, and that many of our experiences have come through reading, gives a fullness to the idea that we read in order to gain knowledge. Emerson maintains, however, that we cannot gain from reading any thought that is not already in our minds.
Robert Richardson's short book is an extremely close look at Emerson's writings and comments about reading and writing, with enough biographical material to place Emerson's journal and paper extracts in context. While the novella-long essay is informative and occasionally thrilling when revealing bookish sentiments stated so beautifully by both Emerson and Richardson, I think these chapters will be appreciated only by those of us with stacks of books all over the house and doing double service as furniture. Sad. But if one wants to see an example of gorgeous writing, this is one to check out.
Great book for the time invested. It's a quick biography of his reading and thinking... not too much about the events in his life. It is obviously very quotable, and is great to get a piece of the relaxed, natural, individually focused transcendental ideas that Emerson is known for.
One thing I thought was interesting was his seeming emphasis on reader centrism rather than author's purpose. I would like to delve into these areas more. It seems like he would want people to recognize what the author is saying, but then again it seems like he wants you to get something from the author or move on to the next. I like Emerson, but I also like trying to focus on the author's purpose. I bet depending on what angle you asked him from he would answer differently.
There's a lot of good quotes in here, but here are a few that I collected
"Never read a book that is not a year old"
"If a man has good corn, or wood, or boards, or pigs to sell, or can make better chairs, or knives, crucibles or church organs than anybody else, you will find a broad, hard-beaten road to his house, though it be in the woods."
"now and then a man exquisitely made can and must live alone; but coop up most men, and you undo them."
On his relationship with Thomas Carlyle "Strict conversation with a friend is the magazine out of which all good writing is drawn"
On writing "you should start with no skeleton or plan. the natural one will grow as you work. knock away all scaffolding."
"The foregoing generations beheld God and nature face to face; we, through their eyes. Why should not we also enjoy an original relation to the universe? Why should not we have a poetry and philosophy of insight, and not of tradition, and a religion by revelation to us, and no the history of theirs?"
Briefly, Desiderius Erasmus, (1469-1536) was the greatest scholar and teacher of the northern Renaissance, the first editor of the New Testament, and also an important figure in patristics and classical literature. If there were a Rushmorean monument for book lovers, he would be among the first selected, probably joined by Ralph Waldo Emerson. Both read books with great passion and appreciation long before they began to write about them and discuss their significance in lectures.
In First We Read, Then We Write Emerson on the Creative Process, Robert D. Richardson shares the very best of Ralph Waldo Emerson’s thoughts about the creative process in general, and about writing in particular. There is no doubt in Richardson’s mind that Emerson could have published the material but probably didn’t because he was never wholly satisfied with his own work. His standards were so high “that even the Almighty could not have met them.”
In my opinion, Richardson’s Emerson The Mind on Fire is the finest biography of him written thus far. What we have in First We Read, Then We Write is the only assemblage I know of that focuses on Emerson as a literary exemplar, sharing his thoughts about creative reading as well as creative writing.
The primary sources include two magnificent essays, “The American Scholar” and "The Poet." Emerson thought of himself more as a poet than as an essayist, one who earned this living as a lecturer. He viewed the poet as one who is representative, who “stands among partial men for the complete man, and apprises us not of his wealth, but of the commonwealth.” Writing is a noble calling that calls for noble sacrifice.” But Emerson never wrote an essay on the subject of writing.
Here is a representative selection of brief passages that caught my eye
o On what young writers need to keep in mind “Meek young men grow up in libraries believing it is their duty to accept the views which Cicero, Locke, and Bacon have given, forgetful that Cicero, Locke, and Bacon were only young men in libraries when they wrote those books.”
o On having passion and courage for writing “The way to write is to throw your body at the mark when your arrows are spent.”
o On good writing “Good writing and brilliant conversation are perpetual allegories.”
o On self-editing “All writing should be selection in order to drop every dead word.”
o On priorities “There is then creative reading as well as creative writing. First we read, then we beget; first we read, then we write.”
o Finally, to the reader of his essay, Nature “Every spirit builds itself a house, and beyond its house a world, and beyond its world a heaven. Know then, that the world exists for you. For you is the phenomenon perfect. What we are, that only can we see. All that Adam had, all that Caesar could, you have and can do. Adam called his house, heaven and earth; Caesar called his house, Rome; you perhaps call yours, a cobbler’s trade; a hundred acres of polished land; or a scholar’s garret. Yet line for line and point for point; your dominion is as great as theirs, though without fine names. Build, therefore, your own world.”
Hopefully, many of those who read this volume will be encouraged to read several of Emerson’s essays as well as Richardson’s biography. There are several excellent collections of the essays and journals. My personal favorite is a Library of America College Edition, Emerson Essays and Lectures Nature Addresses and Lectures/Essays First and Second Series/ Representative Men/English Traits/The Conduct of Life.
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