Ralph Waldo Emerson transformed America by writing in an utterly unique, personal, and insistently optimistic voice about matters that concern us to this day: our lives alone and with others, the true sources of identity, and the specifically American promise of freedom and equality for all. A principal voice of the transcendentalist movement, Emerson embodies an independent American intellectual tradition rooted in deep moral convictions and the pragmatic ability to adapt to changing circumstances. This volume contains Emerson's most consequential essays, selected by NYU University Professor Ulrich Baer, including "Self-Reliance," "Politics," "Experience," and "Friendship," as well as writings about political issues. The introduction by Harold Bloom explains Emerson's unrivaled status as America's foremost philosopher. This beautifully curated Warbler Press edition includes an illuminating biographical timeline of Emerson's life and work.