The Varieties of Religious Experience Audiobook

" An interestingly objective viewpoint on religious philosophy, at least as restricted to personal, uniquely religious mindsets. The author includes a plethora of genuinely interesting excerpts from individual monologues related to the topic that do serve to illustrate his eventual position. However, given the date of the material (1902), most of the tools necessary for hard exploration of the topic in the fashion that the author's position necessitates have yet to be developed. "

" James does an admirable job analyzing what is essential to the religious sensibility at the beginning of the 20th century, which, as should be expected, produces many results that are still relevant today, and many that are not (especially for non-Christians). "

" A very interesting book giving different backgrounds as to how people believe, historically "

" I was very much looking forward to reading James' Varieties, so when found one I took a read in an instant. But the book isn't as daring as I thought it would be. James' words on atheism are political at best, rather than outspoken. But this book is dubbed historical, so I should, for the time being, be suspicious of my disappointment; and try to find another time to read it for the second time --see if history turned out to be right, and that I missed many things on the first read. "

" This was a book that I picked up while having temporary religious doubt. It was written in 1902. It takes different aspects of religion- conversion, saintliness, mysticism- and it approaches and dissects them from the point of view of psychology. Some interesting points were made. For me, it really just read like a textbook. There were a lot of firsthand examples of the various topics James covered. I'm not at all adverse to reading this book again to try to understand it better. "

" I borrowed this from a friend so that I could read "Will to Believe." I never returned the book (or it's approx. 3 years, 2 months, and about 15 days late). William James is making me immoral. "

" A very practical and non-judgmental approach to personal religious experience. I wish his attitude were more common in this supposedly religiously tolerant country of ours. The only thing I bristled at was the way he looked down on "savage" religions. He obviously made no attempt to understand the personal experience of those following traditional African or Native American religious traditions. Or any others he would have considered savage. "

" A great work. Really a series of lectures. Very humane "

" I actually had to buy this book for a college class so I wasn't expecting to enjoy it too much. Required reading often bores me to tears. But this book actually held my interest from start to finish. Studying the common threads between religion in different cultures was interesting. It's hard to believe this book was not written recently. Of all the required reading I've had to do in college this book had the greatest effect on me. "

" I spent three months studying this book. "

" First book we read for MA program. I'm pretty sure James is right. About everything. Particularly the 'sick soul.' "

" Once you wade through the rhetorical flourish, there is alot to take away from this book. "

" Investigative reading into the era "

" Gods. This is the longest a book has taken me in a while. Maybe since I read The Grapes of Wrath. That one, at least, I enjoyed more. "

" If you are interested in the psychology of religion, this is the classic, written in the late 19th century and the foundation for a lot of modern thinking about the human need for spirituality. It's rough going in places but worth it (or do what I did -- skip over the hard parts!). "

" Much easier to read than anticipated. "

" Once you wade through the rhetorical flourish, there is alot to take away from this book. "

" His writing style is ROUGH. "

" COEXIST. We share our world with a wide variety of diverse human beings. Each and every one of us deserves to be respected. "

" can't be beat, and he was not feeling at all well when he did this "

" A satisfyingly academic and respectful treatment of the individual experience of religion. "

" I had come to this book with high expectations, but found it did not live up to them. It is a good book, and probably worth re-reading, but just haven't got to it yet. "

" This book had a huge influence on me in college, so I must put it on my list. I can't remember enough to say anything too detailed, but his insights into why people are religious are fascinating. "

" Much too verbose for my liking "

" This is a place holder for the review I will eventually do. James did it first and did it pretty darn well. "

" A classic of James that pre-dates the 'neuro-theology' trends that arose later in the century. James covers fascinating topics like yoga, mysticism, and the effects of laughing gas, in his characteristic 'American pragmatic' style. "

" One of the best books on religion I have ever had the pleasure to read. William James is at once objective and deeply humane in his poignant analysis of personal and institutional religion. "

" A useful text for anyone who seeks to have religion in his life without giving up our innate faculties of reason, doubt, science, and accountabilty. James is perhaps the most important of American philosophers. His writing is accessible and clear, offering his unique ideas about religion in America. "

" COEXIST. We share our world with a wide variety of diverse human beings. Each and every one of us deserves to be respected. "

" This was to be able to see religion examined from a psychological perspective. "

" His writing style is ROUGH. "

" Slow going but worth it. A much quoted book. My one sentence summary: Religous experience is personal and emotional, and tends to turn into dogma when codified and shared. "

" I really loved this book -- although I only would read it by picking and choosing certain chapters. Helped me to understand spiritual experiences, as well as understand the beginnings of American psychology. I especially liked the stories of ordinary people who had spiritual experiences. "

" First book we read for MA program. I'm pretty sure James is right. About everything. Particularly the 'sick soul.' "

" Very interesting, especially the first few lectures. However, it left me wishing I had been in the audience so I could ask follow up questions. "

" A great work. Really a series of lectures. Very humane "

" This is a classic by an author who some describe as the greatest American psychologist that ever lived. His chapter on the Sick Soul directs us to vistas and ways of viewing various pathological states that are unique and even awe inspiring. "

" This one was very long and hard to follow at times but aside from that I tend to agree with the conclusions reached in the book. "

" One of the best books on religion I have ever had the pleasure to read. William James is at once objective and deeply humane in his poignant analysis of personal and institutional religion. "

" This one was very long and hard to follow at times but aside from that I tend to agree with the conclusions reached in the book. "

" The philosophical foundations for this analysis of religious experience utilize James' pragmatic approach to inquiry. It is very readable and easy to follow. "

" This was to be able to see religion examined from a psychological perspective. "

" Excellent book with very interesting and inspirational examples and case histories...learned a lot... "

" Much too verbose for my liking "

" I have been working my way through this book for three years now. Have not lost hope though. "

" American pragmatism applied to religion. As Dad said, value creates truth rather than truth creating value. Helpful for understanding much of American religious culture. "

" A noodle-twist of the first order. Read it if you're hungry for astonishment. "

" This is a classic that I am glad to say is still around and may be purchased at many bookstores. J. Robert Ewbank author "John Wesley, Natural Man, and the 'Isms'" "