With this book, Jacques Barzun pays what he describes as an "intellectual debt" to William James—psychologist, philosopher, and, for Barzun, guide and mentor. Commenting on James's life, thought, and legacy, Barzun leaves us with a wise and civilized distillation of the great thinker's work.
Jacques Barzun is the author of more than thirty books, including From Dawn to Decadence: Five Hundred Years of Western Cultural Life, 1500 to the Present and Berlioz and His Century, the latter available from the University of Chicago Press.
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"James anticipated the second half of the 20th century; relativism and urgent existentialism are more than implicit in his thinking. However, he was also an old-fashioned Yankee stoic, skeptical but always yearning for a faith he knew he would never really have. In this book he emerges as a friend to a distinguished contemporary historian - Jacques Barzun's intellectual guide and moral example. Somewhere in the universe the ardent, robust walker William James must be quietly delighted at receiving this eloquent and wise testimonial." - Robert Coles, New York Times Book Review "This book contains the central constructive thesis upon which its author's profound reputation is based. It is, in itself, an education in the liberal arts." - Martin Lebowitz, The Virginia Quarterly Review
