Self-reliance
by Ralph Waldo Emerson · first published 1900
66% recommend34% neutral
Why HN recommends it
Short essay urging trust in your own judgment and nonconformity over social approval. Readers return to it yearly for motivation and perspective, and pair it with Marcus Aurelius and other philosophy.
Summarised by Claude from recommending comments
Affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Mentions per year
What Hacker News says
Related books
2015–2018On Becoming a Person
Carl Rogers
Recommended by 3 · mentioned by 33 recommend · 3 mention3 recommend · 33 recommend
2010–2026Orthodoxy
Gilbert Keith Chesterton
Recommended by 22 · mentioned by 3522 recommend · 35 mention22 recommend · 3522 recommend
2010–2018L'Etranger. Albert Camus
Michel Mougenot
Recommended by 5 · mentioned by 55 recommend · 5 mention5 recommend · 55 recommend
2018–2022Representative men
Ralph Waldo Emerson
Recommended by 1 · mentioned by 31 recommend · 3 mention1 recommend · 31 recommend
The Swerve, How the World Became Modern
Stephen Greenblatt
Recommended by 5 · mentioned by 75 recommend · 7 mention5 recommend · 75 recommend
Hermann Hesse
Siddhartha
Recommended by 42 · mentioned by 5442 recommend · 54 mention42 recommend · 5442 recommend
I myself prefer transcendentalism. I need to be surrounded by more positive emotions. I read this text, "Self-Reliance" by Ralph Waldo Emerson - modern translation, at least at once a year: http://www.youmeworks.com/self_reliance_translated.html Great discussion in this topic btw.
on “How Stoicism can help us” ↗Meditations by Marcus Aurelius Essays by Michel de Montaigne Self Reliance by Emerson Theory of Moral Sentiment by Adam Smith A Treatise of Human Nature by Hume And the memoir of my vote for the most interesting man who ever lived, Humphry Davy's Consolations in Travel
on “Ask HN: What are your favorite books or essays written at least 100 years ago?” ↗…Nations Fail - Robinson -------------------- Economics/Decision making/Psychology Undercover Economist, Freakonomics, Nudge, Thinking Fast and Slow -------------------- Random titles The Selfish Gene, Self-Reliance, The Elements of Style (about writing), Slaughterhouse-Five -------------------- Some links to inspire your reading (though you may want to checkout the websites first to get an idea of the topics they…
on “Ask HN: What are your favorite books? I'm bored” ↗1) All of Robin Sharma's books - especially The Monk who sold his Ferrari 2) The Conquest of Happiness by Bertrand Russell 3) Self Reliance by Ralph Waldo Emerson 4) The Meditations of Marcus Aurelius 5) Barking up the wrong tree by Eric Barker 6) This might be strange - but Harry Potter series also teach us a lot, especially about Courage…
on “Ask HN: Which books have made you introspect?” ↗…-Competitive programming 3 -Structure and interpretation of computer programs Best for fun (non-fiction): -Meditations -Sapiens -How to win friends and influence people -A brief history of time -Self-reliance -Frente a la estrella polar
on “Ask HN: Best books you read in the past decade?” ↗Self-Reliance by Ralph Waldo Emerson Pushing to the Front by Orison Swett Marden Meditations by Marcus Aurelius I'm still working my way back in time, but so far these three are great!
on “Ask HN: What is the best book you have read with the greatest impact on you?” ↗I read "Self Reliance" by Ralph Waldo Emerson, "The New Psycho-Cybernetics" by Maxwell Maltz, and "The Power of Habit" by Charles Duhigg. These three are at the front of my mind. Especially Emerson. "Self-Reliance" was pivotal.…
on “Ask HN: Those who were broke and lost in life in 20s. How'd you find way again?” ↗Self-Reliance by Ralph Waldo Emerson
on “Ask HN: What's the "best" book you've ever read?” ↗Thank you for sharing this great piece of wisdom! Recently, I read Self-Reliance by Emerson, and its modern “translation” https://www.youmeworks.com/self_reliance_translated.html and try to base my way of living on that foundation. As our existence seems ultimately meaningless, and…
on “Thoughts on Man's Purpose in Life (1977)” ↗"The Metamorphosis" by Kafka and "Self-Reliance" by Emerson. Both offer some pretty significant challenges to one's notion of self.
on “Ask HN: What books fundamentally changed the way you think about the world?” ↗I like Nietszche, Emerson (especially 'Self-Reliance'), Walt Whitman and the Tao Te Ching. For fiction Zorba the Greek and Dune are two of my favorites.
on ““Study Death Always”: Seneca’s advice for living centered on dying” ↗That made me think of an essay I often revisit, Emerson's Self-Reliance (1841): Whoso would be a man must be a nonconformist. ... For nonconformity the world whips you with its displeasure. And therefore a man must know how to estimate a sour face. The by-standers look askance…
on “I Am Deleting the Blog” ↗…specifically the more modern Gregory Hays translation. Epictectus's discourses are pretty good too, but are less pithy and have a lower signal to noise ratio when it comes to true wisdom IMO. Emerson's Self Reliance, History, and finally The Oversoul will reveal the same wisdom from all the other works I mentioned.
on “Ask HN: What's the most life-changing blog post you've ever read?” ↗Less with the extremely unhelpful 'just ship more' messages.... I'm sure you've read getting real, but anyway: http://gettingreal.37signals.com/toc.php I've always liked Emerson's 'Self Reliance': http://www.emersoncentral.com/selfreliance.htm Otherwise just pick any random productivity technique. I don't think it matters which one, they're all just codifying the things you already know, and…
on “Ask HN: Best books, blogs, podcasts on shipping more/being more prolific?” ↗…because so many great examples come to mind. As for reading, a few things popped into my head in no particular order: The Greatest Salesman in the World, by Og Mandino Emerson's Essays, particularly "Self Reliance" Biographies of people like James Clerk Maxwell and Tesla If, by Kipling Any of Bucky Fuller's books And really, just look around at what people are doing in our industry. Our peers are a constant…
on “Ask HN: What are your sources of inspiration and motivation?” ↗