While a good introduction to Emerson, I found myself suspicious of Whelan´s invasive editing, especially given his propensity for rewording phrases or offering parenthetical explanations that sometimes seemed quite self-evident. In the end, however, I found myself bored enough with Emerson´s style to be thankful for the abridgement. His ideas are certainly worthwhile, especially in "Spiritual Laws," "Politics," and the titular essay. Also invaluable is the addition by Whelan of Emerson´s lecture "The Transcendalist," where RWE explains the relation between transcendentalism and idealism, and how both are the opposite of materialism. ( )