A lifelong Emerson lover, teacher, and spiritual seeker reveals how American philosopher Ralph Waldo Emerson's twelve essential teachings hold the answer to living an authentic and fulfilling life, one that is in harmony with our souls. Ralph Waldo Emerson was a spiritual revolutionary whose profound vision of human potential came to define the American character. Known as America's original Stoic, he offered a radical message of optimism, authenticity, and self-realization that is more necessary today than ever. In this timely, remarkable book, noted memoirist and teacher Mark Matousek reveals the depths of Emerson's extraordinary wisdom, demonstrating how his timeless philosophy can help us navigate the challenges of contemporary life. Using personal stories, psychological research, and life lessons from Emerson and his contemporaries--including Thoreau and Whitman-- he offers practical lessons in the art of living. In the following pages, you will discover: <ul> <li>Why Emerson should be considered America's original stoic</li> <li>How to dispel the illusion of our own powerlessness and turn toward boundless human potential</li> <li>Practical tools for cultivating happiness in a fragile, unpredictable, dangerous world</li> <li>The gifts of self-reliance and spiritual renewal necessary for thriving</li> <li>A roadmap to discovering essential wisdom on living an authentic and meaningful life</li> </ul> Emerson's far-reaching vision of excellence and spiritual flourishing is the medicine we need to heal ourselves. "Trust yourself," he teaches. "Once you make a decision, the universe conspires to make it happen." This philosophy of hope, known as transcendentalism, is the vein of gold in the American psyche. Lessons from an American Stoic helps us to reclaim our national treasure.

Lessons from an American Stoic: How Emerson Can Change Your Life

Matousek, Mark

Religion & Spirituality

HarperOne

Ethical Wisdom: What Makes Us Good

Since the days of the first primitive tribes, we have tried to determine why one man is good and another evil. Mark Matousek arrives at the answer in Ethical Wisdom.
Contrary to what we've been taught in our reason-obsessed culture, emotions are the bedrock of ethical life; without them, human beings cannot be empathic, moral, or good.
But how do we make the judgment call between self-interest and caring for others? What does being good really mean? Which parts of morality are biological, which ethical? When should instinct be trusted and when does it lead us into trouble? How can we know ourselves to be good amidst the hypocrisy, fears, and sabotaging appetites that pervade our two-sided natures?
Drawing on the latest scientific research and interviews with social scientists, spiritual leaders, ex-cons, altruists, and philosophers, Matousek examines morality from a scientific, sociological, and anthropological standpoint. Each chapter features a series of questions, readings, interviews, parables, and anecdotes that zoom in on a particular niche of moral inquiry, making this book both utilitarian and fun.
Ethical Wisdom is an insightful and important book for readers crisscrossing their own murky moral terrain.

Politics & Social Sciences

Philosophy

DOUBLEDAY

As imperfect human beings, we often face ethical and moral challenges as we relate with others on a daily basis, be it with our office mates, our Facebook friends, or our best friend since grade school. In this riveting and insightful tour of the meaning and purpose of connection, Matousek draws from personal experience, interviews, and letters from readers to provide a reservoir rich in wisdom about friendship, commitment, honesty, greed, jealousy, loyalty, competition, imitation, abandonment, and reconciliation. In twenty-four succinct essays, each followed by thought-provoking questions, he examines a plethora of moral dilemmas. Backed by scientific evidence, interviews with experts, philosophical teachings, and psychological insight, Ethical Wisdom for Friends is a simple, edifying, and entertaining look at these concepts for everyday seekers who more interested in hands-on advice than abstract information.

Ethical Wisdom for Friends: How to Navigate Life's Most Complicated, Curious, and Common Relationship Dilemmas

Parenting & Relationships

In this engagingly written and deeply insightful book, bestselling author Mark Matousek explores a perennially troubling question: How can we be both good and evil? Contrary to what we’ve been taught in our reason-obsessed culture, argues Matousek, emotions are the bedrock of ethical life; without them, human beings cannot be empathic, moral, or good. But how do we make the judgment call between self-interest and caring for others? What does being good really mean? Which parts of morality are biological, which ethical? When should instinct be trusted and when does it lead us into trouble? How can we know ourselves to be good amidst the hypocrisy, fears, and sabotaging appetites that pervade our two-sided natures? Drawing on the latest scientific research and interviews with social scientists, spiritual leaders, ex-cons, altruists, and philosophers, Matousek examines morality from all angles in thisthoroughly entertaining and helpful guide to crossing one’s own murky moral terrain.

Ethical Wisdom: The Search for a Moral Life

Anchor

Mother of the Unseen World: The Mystery of Mother Meera

“Mother of the Unseen World is absolutely riveting, deeply searching, and thought-provoking.”—Gretchen Rubin For readers interested in the mysteries of spiritual awakening, an exploration of the Indian “avatar” Mother Meera, known as an embodiment of the Divine Feminine Throughout history there have been rare individuals who transcend what seems humanly possible, “enlightened” beings born with knowledge and experience that defy explanation. Kamala Reddy was a ten-year-old servant in rural India when her mysterious powers were recognized; she is believed to be an “avatar”—a divine incarnation in human form—and was soon given the name Mother Meera. Over the past forty years, she has welcomed millions of seekers from all faiths to have darshan (silent blessing) at her homes in Germany and India. Mother Meera has no dogma, offers her gifts free of charge, and belongs to no particular religion. Her transformational work is done using a particular light, she explains, which she transmits through her fingertips when she touches each person’s head during darshan, undoing “energetic knots” and quickening a person’s spiritual development. “Like electricity, the light is everywhere, but one must know how to activate it. I have come for that,” she says. Mark Matousek was a nonbeliever when he met Mother Meera in 1985. Yet, in her presence, he experienced inexplicable occurrences that forced him to challenge his worldview. Now, in this deeply moving and wise book, he takes us as close as possible to this extraordinary woman. Is divine incarnation truly possible, he asks, as most of the world’s religions insist? Who is Mother Meera, really? Speaking to members of her inner circle, working at her school for the poor in India, and interviewing the elusive master herself, Matousek takes the reader on a mysterious quest into the “unseen world” where the divine and human intersect. Advance praise for Mother of the Unseen World “Mother of the Unseen World reads like a classic adventure novel, with one exception—much of the adventure goes on inside the reader as we follow Mark Matousek’s everyman journey from pain and doubt to discovery and awakening.”—Elizabeth Lesser, author of Broken Open and co-founder of Omega Institute “Mark Matousek brings us to the feet of Mother Meera in this transcendent, rapturous, astonishing book.”—Eve Ensler, author of The Vagina Monologues and In the Body of the World “At once a spiritual autobiography and an exploration of one of the most mystical beings of our time.”—Dani Shapiro “Mother Meera’s message of peace and love has touched me profoundly.”—Ringo Starr

Biographies & Memoirs

Random House]

Writing to Awaken is an inspirational investigation of the self through expressive writing, guiding readers along the path of awakening through radical truth-telling and self-inquiry. With targeted and revelatory questions, readers are prompted to explore their personal narratives-to write openly and honestly about their deepest wounds, greatest challenges, hidden gifts, yearnings, and opportunities for growth-in order to discover a deeply authentic understanding of themselves and move toward a more liberated, truthful life.

Writing to Awaken: A Journey of Truth, Transformation, and Self-Discovery

ReadHowYouWant

A self-confessed cynic and nonbeliever, who had overcome a troubled childhood and found success and the high life at Interview magazine, describes his painful spiritual awakening, founded on the principles of mystery, passion, sacredness, and bliss.

Sex, Death, Enlightenment: A True Story

Riverhead

The Boy He Left Behind: A Man's Search for his Lost Father

The author chronicles his compelling search for his own father by hiring a detective and reveals his own life as he follows the hardbitten investigator from one deadend to the next search for the longmissing man. 20,000 first printing.

The Boy He Left Behind: A Man's Search for His Lost Father

Riverhead Hardcover

Sex Death Enlightenment: A True Story

A self-confessed cynic and nonbeliever, who had overcome a troubled childhood and found success and the high life at Interview magazine, describes his painful spiritual awakening, founded on the principles of mystery, passion, sacredness, and bliss

Literature & Fiction

Riverhead Trade

The author chronicles his compelling search for his own father by hiring a detective and reveals his own life as he follows the hard-bitten investigator from one dead-end to the next in his search for the long-missing man. Reprint.

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