New Essential Steiner: An Introduction to Rudolf Steiner for the 21st Century (Paperback)

~ (Author), Robert A. McDermott (Editor)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

The New Essential Steiner is an illuminating, completely new introduction to the philosophy and essential writings of Rudolf Steiner, introduced and edited by Robert McDermott, who also edited the now-classic Essential Steiner. This new volume offers selections from a wide variety of Steiner's published works, presenting a broad, accessible overview of Anthroposophy.

In his introduction, McDermott recounts Steiner's life and work, from his childhood and education to his work as a natural scientist, philosopher, scholar, educator, artist, interpreter of culture, and seer. He places Steiner in relation to major traditions of thought and explores the genesis and development of Anthroposophy.

Although Rudolf Steiner is considered by many to be the greatest spiritual seer and philosophical thinker of the twentieth century and is credited with major cultural contributions such as the worldwide Waldorf school movement and the ever-growing biodynamic agricultural movement, he nevertheless remains relatively unknown to both academics and the public. The purpose of this volume is to redress that situation by introducing Steiner's work to a broader audience and making his name more universally recognized.

The New Essential Steiner includes selections from Steiner's writings, which are grouped into chapters that demonstrate the breadth of his thinking and spiritual accomplishments.

CONTENTS:

• Introduction:
• Rudolf Steiner and Anthroposophy
• Significant Events in the Life of Rudolf Steiner
• Autobiographical Notes: "The Barr Document"
• "Introducing Rudolf Steiner" by Owen Barfield
• Philosophy: Self and World
• Evolution: Cosmic & Human
• Anthropos: Body, Soul, and Spirit
• Spiritual Intelligence
• Christ and Other Exalted Beings
• Reincarnation, Karma, and the Dead
• Arts
• Society
• Education
• Psychology
• Health and Healing
• Gaia and the Future
• A Guide to Further Reading
• Index

About the Author

Robert McDermott, Ph.D., is president emeritus and chair of the Philosophy, Cosmology, and Consciousness Program at the California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS). His publications include Radhakrishnan (1970); The Essential Aurobindo (1974, 1987); The Essential Steiner (1984); (with Rudolf Steiner) The Bhagavad Gita and the West (2009); and The New Essential Steiner (2009). He has also published on William James, Josiah Royce, M. K. Gandhi, the evolution of consciousness, and American thought. His administrative service includes president of the New York Center for Anthroposophy; president of the Rudolf Steiner [summer] Institute; chair of the board of Sunbridge College (New York) and of Rudolf Steiner College (California). He was a member of the council of the Anthroposophical Society in America (1996-2004). He is the founding chair of the board of the Sophia Project, an anthroposophical home in Oakland, California, for mothers and children at risk of homelessness. He is a Lindisfarne Fellow, a Fetzer mentor, and a member of the Esalen Corportion.

Robert McDermott, Ph.D., is president emeritus and chair of the Philosophy, Cosmology, and Consciousness Program at the California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS). His publications include Radhakrishnan (1970); The Essential Aurobindo (1974, 1987); The Essential Steiner (1984); (with Rudolf Steiner) The Bhagavad Gita and the West (2009); and The New Essential Steiner (2009). He has also published on William James, Josiah Royce, M. K. Gandhi, the evolution of consciousness, and American thought. His administrative service includes president of the New York Center for Anthroposophy; president of the Rudolf Steiner [summer] Institute; chair of the board of Sunbridge College (New York) and of Rudolf Steiner College (California). He was a member of the council of the Anthroposophical Society in America (1996-2004). He is the founding chair of the board of the Sophia Project, an anthroposophic home in Oakland, California, for mothers and children at risk of homelessness. He is a Lindisfarne fellow, a Fetzer mentor, and a member of the Esalen Corportion.

Robert McDermott, Ph.D., is president emeritus and chair of the Philosophy, Cosmology, and Consciousness Program at the California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS). His publications include Radhakrishnan (1970); The Essential Aurobindo (1974, 1987); The Essential Steiner (1984); (with Rudolf Steiner) The Bhagavad Gita and the West (2009); and The New Essential Steiner (2009). He has also published on William James, Josiah Royce, M. K. Gandhi, the evolution of consciousness, and American thought. His administrative service includes president of the New York Center for Anthroposophy; president of the Rudolf Steiner [summer] Institute; chair of the board of Sunbridge College (New York) and of Rudolf Steiner College (California). He was a member of the council of the Anthroposophical Society in America (1996-2004). He is the founding chair of the board of the Sophia Project, an anthroposophical home in Oakland, California, for mothers and children at risk of homelessness. He is a Lindisfarne Fellow, a Fetzer mentor, and a member of the Esalen Corportion.

Rudolf Steiner (1861-1925) was born in Kraljevic, Austria, where he grew up the son of a railroad station chief. As a young man, he lived in Weimar and Berlin, where he became a respected and well-published scientific, literary, and philosophical scholar, known especially for his work with Goethe's scientific writings. At the beginning of the twentieth century, he began to develop his earlier philosophical principles into an approach to systematic research into psychological and spiritual phenomena. Formally beginning his spiritual teaching career under the auspices of the Theosophical Society, Steiner came to use the term Anthroposophy, or spiritual science, for his philosophy, spiritual research, and its results. The influence of Steiner's multifaceted genius has led to innovative and holistic approaches in holistic medicine and therapies, philosophy, religious renewal, Waldorf education, education for special needs (including the Camphill Village movement), threefold economics, biodynamic agriculture, Goethean science, architecture, and the arts of drama, speech, and eurythmy. In 1924, Rudolf Steiner founded the General Anthroposophical Society, which today has branches throughout the world. He died in Dornach, Switzerland.

Product Details

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Lindisfarne Books (November 30, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1584200561
• ISBN-13: 978-1584200567
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #559,207 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Essential Book for Anyone learning or teaching Anthroposophy, January 9, 2010

By	R. M. Hewetson "Well-Spoken" (Hawkes Bay, New Zealand) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I have just finished "The New Essential Steiner" by Robert McDermott. I teach at a tertiary organisation preparing teachers and have found this book an excellent tool to use to introduce our students to the world of Steiner's thinking. Robert McDermott's introduction is clear and appealing. He examines why Steiner is still so little known despite being one of the most advanced thinkers of our age, commenting that too many of his "followers" put Steiner against modern thinkers and movements - a place Steiner would have shuddered to have found himself. He states: "Despite obstacles to the spread of Steiner's ideas and their influence, there is increasing evidence that they have become more familiar and received more credit than they did a generation ago. It is no longer unusual to observe academics and seekers acknowledging that Steiner's innovations such as Waldorf Education, biodynamic agriculture, anthroposophically extended medicine, and anthroposophic arts represent significant contributions to contemporary thought and culture."
McDermott give a clear and compelling introduction to Steiner making clear who he was and what his work was about. He then presents Steiner's work as having 12 distinct branches:
1. Philosophy: Self and World
2. Evolution: Cosmic and Human
3. Anthropos: Body, Soul and Spirit
4. Spiritual intelligence
5. Christ and other exalted beings
6. Reincarnation, Karma and the dead
7. Arts
8. Society
9. Education
10. Psychology
11. Health and Healing
12. Gaia and the Future
In each section McDermot gives a very interesting overview of the field and then presents Steiner's writing about that field. These articles are newly translated with gender references removed, making them much more available to modern readership, and with excellent references and referrals for where else to read more.
As a person who has read Steiner for many years and teaches in Waldorf Education, I found this book a tremendous help in putting areas of his work in relation to one another and to modern scientific thinking. I found the book incredibly interesting, quotable, refreshing, stimulating. It is a book I would highly recommend both to enquirers about Steiner and Anthroposophy and to those very familiar with it as a way to help introduce others, to sharpen their own understanding and to gain an overview of the depth and breadth of Steiner's contribution to the world.
Robyn Hewetson, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand