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This 1902 publication still takes pride of place as a landmark study and remains one of the most influential books ever on psychology and spirituality. The style is accessible and engaging, consistently interesting with well-reasoned arguments. Religions are not compared; the study is restricted to the experiences of the individual.

James considers the feelings, actions and experiences of people insofar as they understand themselves to be in a relationship with whatever they consider the Divine. It has nothing to do with churches, doctrine or dogma, concerning itself only with the religious experiences of everyday life.

He emphasizes the passionate aspect of religion and its power of adding enchantment to life. Dealing objectively with a wide spectrum of observed and personally related religious experiences, James also quotes from the autobiographical writings of famous authors, theologians and mystics from many traditions including Whitman, Luther, Voltaire, Emerson, Tolstoy and many others.

The terrain of study is clearly identified and circumscribed. Chapter titles include Religion & Neurology, the Reality of the Unseen, the Religion of Healthy-Mindedness, the Sick Soul, the Divided Self & the Process of Unification, Conversion, Saintliness, Mysticism and Philosophy.

In his own words: "Both thought and feeling are determinants of conduct, and the same conduct may be determined either by feeling or thought. When we survey the whole field of religion, we find a great variety in the thoughts that have prevailed there; but the feelings on the one hand and the conduct on the other are almost always the same, for Stoic, Christian and Buddhist saints are practically indistinguishable in their lives. The theories which religion generates, being thus variable, are secondary. If you wish to grasp its essence, you must look to the feelings and the conduct as being the more constant elements."

This book offers a treasure trove of insights, revelation, wisdom and points to ponder that contributes substantially to the reader's understanding of consciousness, psychological processes, mystic states, thought & emotion, and the relationship to the Eternal Divine.

Although it is not a difficult text to grasp, patience is called for since every sentence is loaded with so many layers of meaning that one often has to reread a previous paragraph in order to fully comprehend and properly process the insights and information. A mindful, meditative study of the text will richly reward the reader.

Other works on religion and/or spirituality that I have found illuminating, inspiring or thought-provoking are Bible Mystery and Bible Meaning & The Creative Process in the Individual by Thomas Troward, Religion in the Making by Alfred North Whitehead, The Hidden Power of the Bible by Ernest Holmes, Alter Your Life by Emmet Fox, Cracking the Bible Code by Jeffrey Satinover, The Thirteen Petalled Rose by Adin Steinsaltz and One Cosmos Under God by Robert Godwin.

I am neither a psychologist nor a theologian. I picked up this book because I had insomnia one night, and thought it would put me to sleep. Contrary to my expectations, it was fascinating. While I will not delve into a discussion about the major tenets of the book(other people already have and have done a much better job than I am capable of) I will say, the strength of this book is James' ability to convey complicated ideas in a straightforward way. It is not at all like modern philosophical texts, which tend to be convoluted at best. Because the book is based on Lectures he delivered in Scotland, it has a conversational tone, that makes it almost fun to read. Most importantly, the ideas behind it and the scope of the work, are accessible to anyone who reads it, which, is really the point of writing seminal texts like this. While it is not an especially quick read, the topics he covers, conversion, 'the sick soul', etc are so interesting that you can't help but stay focused. I appreciated the insight into, not only psychology, but also American religious/spiritual/self improvement movements, which make this book still relevant today. I am glad I read it.

This book is based on a series of Lectures that the late William James gave at the turn of the century. What makes James' writing so odd in the world of religious studies is his refreshingly realistic take on religion and human nature considering it was written previous to the first world war. In an age where people were remarkably positive about human kind and our collective destiny James' views were certainly unpopular. James, however, was ahead of his time. We look back on his work from a century later through the lens of the most bloody and brutal century mankind can remember and find James' assertions to be entirely too accurate.

This was one of the first academic books on the subject of religious experience and is thus extremely important. William James demonstrates such a wide scope of knowledge on the subject that reading this book is like opening a window into the world of nineteenth century religious movements. Considering the amount of important developements that occured within religion at the time: The Quakers, The abolishionists, Mormons, etc. This book can be extremely useful in that aspect as well.
It is certainly worth reading if you have an interest in

religious experience or in nineteenth century religion. James is and most likely will always be one of the greatest voices on this subject, thus, not to read this book would not be a sin, but it would definitely be a mistake.

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5.0 out of 5 stars Masterpiece
It has been said that Henry James wrote his novels as philosophical treatises while his brother William wrote his philosophical works as novels. Read more

Published on July 16 2006 by Pieter

5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant, gentle and compelling -- all without shouting.
It's often said - sometimes quite colorfully - that everyone has an opinion. Against that backdrop, William James' classic book on religion stands out as a model for letting the... Read more

Published on May 25 2002 by an eclectic -

5.0 out of 5 stars Pure Religious Experience
A timeless and proufound book! Whatever you believe, there is much to be had in the Varieties. James weaves through the experiences of many different individuals, clarifying and... Read more

Published on April 25 2002 by J.W.K

5.0 out of 5 stars The Varieties of Religious Experience
Great book for people in recovery.

Published on Oct 4 2001 by Philip Rowland

5.0 out of 5 stars A Stunning Survey of Mystical Experiences
William James writes in a refined, almost Elizabethean style, which is very effective in isolating and postulating the cases of religious and mystical experiences outlined here... Read more

Published on Sep 25 2001

3.0 out of 5 stars Dense for the Common Experience
This is a classic work explaining in a remarkably objective manner the many varieties and possibilities of religious experience. Read more

Published on Sep 19 2001 by Acnoth

5.0 out of 5 stars An all-time classic: a "must read."
To call "Varieties of Religious Experience" a classic is an understatement. What I find really amazing is that it was written in 1902. Read more

Published on July 1 2001 by Mark Hammond

5.0 out of 5 stars A Masterpiece for Everyone
William James's "The Varieties of Religious Experience" is a must read for everyone. If one is interested in spirituality, no matter which belief system one has, it brings a... Read more

Published on May 16 2001 by Renato S. N. Costa

5.0 out of 5 stars The Varieties of Religious Experience
This book is heavy going. Its like slogging up a beautiful mountain and on the way seeing all the beauty nature created on the way. Read more

Published on April 14 2001 by Peter Chant

3.0 out of 5 stars Not bad but what about the Scorpions?
It is said that William James influenced every great writer of his time, that his work had a deep influence on psychology and investigative thought in that area. Read more

Published on Mar 16 2001 by monkeyFishBadgers

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