Track | Section | Length |
01 | 01 - Contents and Preface | 17:07 |
02 | 02 - Lecture I - Religion and Neurology | 59:46 |
03 | 03 - Lecture II -Circumscription of the Topic | 1:03:41 |
04 | 04 - Lecture III - The Reality of the Unseen | 1:03:51 |
05 | 05 - Lecture IV - The Religion of Healthy-Mindedness | 1:01:38 |
06 | 06 - Lecture V - The Religion of Healthy-Mindedness | 1:08:28 |
07 | 07 - Lecture VI - The Sick Soul | 53:15 |
08 | 08 - Lecture VII - The Sick Soul | 46:49 |
09 | 09 - Lecture VIII - The Divided Self and the Process of its Unification | 1:00:41 |
10 | 10 - Lecture IX - Conversion | 1:07:51 |
11 | 11 - Lecture X - Conversion - Concluded part 1 | 53:12 |
12 | 12 - Lecture X - Conversion - Concluded part 2 | 51:31 |
13 | 13 - Lecture XI - Saintliness | 1:08:13 |
14 | 14 - Lecture XII - Saintliness | 1:02:59 |
15 | 15 - Lecture XIII - Saintliness | 37:50 |
16 | 16 - Lecture XIV - The Value of Saintliness | 52:24 |
17 | 17 - Lecture XV - The Value of Saintliness | 1:11:59 |
18 | 18 - Lecture XVI - Mysticism | 1:14:45 |
19 | 19 - Lecture XVII - Mysticism | 57:29 |
20 | 20 - Lecture XVIII - Philosophy | 1:05:52 |
21 | 21 - Lecture XIX - Other Characteristics | 1:05:01 |
22 | 22 - Lecture XX - Conclusions Part 1 | 37:08 |
23 | 23 - Lecture XX - Conclusions Part 2 | 55:25 |
24 | 24 - Postscript | 16:45 |
Notes
Running Time: 22 hours 14 minutes
Read by: Joe D
Book Coordinator: JoeD
Meta Coordinator: Anna Simon
Proof Listener: mim@can
Artwork
Cover: "Ascent of the Blessed" circa 1490 and circa 1516 Hieronymus Bosch (circa 1450–1516)
DVDV Inset: Photograph of William James 1906. Author unknown.
DVD Insert background: “Jacob’s Dream” 1805 by William Blake (1757–1827)
Recordings
These recordings were made using the author’s original published work, which is in the public domain. The readings were recorded by members and volunteers of Librivox.org, which has generously made the recordings available to the public domain. The audio files have been lightly edited and have been engineered using professional audio tools for maximum sonic quality. While Librivox condones the sale and distribution of these recordings, it is not associated with the management or operations of MP3 Audiobook Classics.
- Download and read the eBook online at Gutenberg.org
- Download a PDF datasheet
- The Varieties of Religious Experience discussed in brainpickings.org.
The Varieties of Religious Experience: A Study in Human Nature by William James is an edited collection of the Gifford Lectures on natural theology delivered at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland in 1901 and 1902. James examined religion from the perspectives of his training in medicine, chemistry, psychology, and philosophy to try to give some scientific grounding to the abstractions that underpin the descriptions of much spiritual experience. In reviewing many case histories of religious inspiration he concluded that the existence of an unseen reality was highly likely, that human consciousness contained “great energies” that could be called forth in times of need as “the religious experience”, and that the need for spiritual nourishment is natural and healthy for both individuals and society.
James’ lectures brought him international acclaim as one of the first American philosophers to achieve acceptance and respect in Europe. The Varieties of Religious Experience was well received when published and soon became a core work in the disciplines of both psychology and philosophy. It is still considered one of the best books on religion ever written. The book has remained in print for over a century and is now in its 36th printing. The Modern Library division of Random House ranks it as the penultimate book of non-fiction of the twentieth century.
The August 1902 New York Times review of the first edition ends with the following:
Everywhere there is a frolic welcome to the eccentricities and extravagances of the religious life. Many will question whether its more sober exhibitions would not have been more fruitful of results, but the interest and fascination of the treatment are beyond dispute, and so, too, is the sympathy to which nothing human is indifferent.
Play sample:
Download a PDF datasheet
Item Info | |
EAN - DVD case | 0684758936578 |
EAN - CD jacket | 0686175923964 |
Media | MP3 CD |
Package | DVD case |
Author | William James (1842 - 1910) |
Year | 1902 |
Recording | |
Read by | JoeD |
Length | 22 hours 14 minutes |
Type of Reading | Solo |
The Varieties of Religious Experience
- Author: William James
- Product Code: DB-1078
- Availability: In Stock
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$13.99
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