William James: His Life and Thought [Paperback]

Professor Gerald E. Myers (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 10, 1988

This book is the first comprehensive interpretative and critical study of one of America's foremost philosophers and psychologists. Gerald Myers traces James's life and career and then uses this fresh biographical information to illuminate his writings and ideas.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

"Here, written in a Jamesian spirit of intelligent openmindedness and including fresh biographical material, is the first critical study of his thought in its entire and amazing range," praised PW of this "lucid exposition," which "leaves the reader impressed anew" with the notable James. Illustrated.
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

"This study is comprehensive, the notes (some 231 pages) are an outstanding bibliographical resource, and the individual chapters can be consulted as self-contained essays on psychological topics," raved LJ's reviewer of this 1986 study of the philosopher and psychologist. A solid title for all collections. (LJ 11/1/86)
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 649 pages
• Publisher: Yale University Press (September 10, 1988)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0300042116
• ISBN-13: 978-0300042115
• Product Dimensions: 9.9 x 7 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,898,565 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars most comprehensive tour of James's Ideas, March 16, 2010

By 

Larry J. Crockett (Twin Cities Minnesota) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: William James: His Life and Thought (Paperback)

I have made an intensive study of pragmatism in general and James in particular over the last several years, so I have built a large library in the process and read many of them. Some are more accessible and certainly quicker reads since this is a 600-page book. And I found parts of Myers' exploration of James's psychology a little tedious--partly because I am a little less interested in the details of James's psychology. But the rest of the book is simply extraordinary. In particular, the chapters covering "Knowledge," "Reality," "Morality," and "Religion" are--despite some skepticism by Myers--the most careful and comprehensive I have found. This book would be too much for an intro course or a casual reader, but for the serious student of James, for secondary literature, it is simply unparalleled. Highly recommended.