William James: Writings 1878–1899 (1992) is a definitive volume from the Library of America series, collecting the foundational works of America’s most influential philosopher-psychologist during his most prolific decades. This meticulously edited anthology includes:
- The Principles of Psychology (1890) – James’s revolutionary text that shaped modern psychology, introducing concepts like “stream of consciousness” and the “James-Lange theory of emotion.”
- The Will to Believe (1897) – Essays defending faith and pragmatism against rigid scientism.
- Talks to Teachers (1899) – Applying psychology to education with startling freshness.
The volume showcases James’s lively prose, blending empirical rigor with existential wit. Scholar Gerald E. Myers provides chronology and notes, contextualizing James’s clash with Wundt’s structuralism and his influence on Dewey, Wittgenstein, and Borges.
For companion reads, seek Writings 1902–1910 (LOA, 1987) for Pragmatism and Varieties of Religious Experience.
