"The Transcendentalists and Their World" by Robert A. Gross is an illuminating exploration of the lives, beliefs, and impact of the Transcendentalist movement in 19th-century America. Delving into the social, political, and intellectual context that shaped the movement, Gross provides a comprehensive and engaging account of this influential period in American history.

With a keen eye for detail, Gross examines the key figures of Transcendentalism,, shedding light on their philosophies, motivations, and personal struggles. The book also delves into the lesser-known contributors to the movement, offering a more complete understanding of the Transcendentalist community.

By situating the Transcendentalists within the broader context of their time, Gross reveals the movement's profound impact on American society, politics, and culture. He demonstrates how their ideas on self-reliance, individualism, and spiritual growth continue to resonate today.

"The Transcendentalists and Their World" is a masterful and engaging work of scholarship, making it an essential read for those interested in American history, philosophy, and the development of the nation's intellectual tradition.

This rich, intelligent and wide-ranging study brings the Transcendentalists, the town around which they clustered, and their era to vivid life. It evokes the ways in which Concord’s money was earned as well as the ways in which its ideas were shared, and captures not only the individual personalities of figures such as Thoreau and Emerson but also the broader conceptual framework of their ideas. Gross’s lively prose, fresh insights and deft synthesis of source material combine for a unique, entertaining and illuminating book.

This is an excruciatingly detailed local history of Concord, MA in the early 1800s. It covers agriculture, commerce, religion, culture, and daily life during the period. If you want to know details of the period such as how many oxen each farmer in Middlesex county owned, the names and personal habits of the proprietors of every shop in Concord, the members and political leaning of everyone in each social organization, or all the festivities commemorating Concord's bicentennial, this book is for you.

The title is misleading, as the first 40% "A Community in Change" is an obsessive local history of Concord with little to do with Transcendentalists. The author rarely draws any connection between the endless local minutiae and the Transcendentalists, even obscuring the long-term trends his argument says set the stage for the Transcendentalists ascent in Concord. For those who slog through (or skip) the first half, Part II is "The Transcendentalists and Their World." Unfortunately, it only makes up 25% of the book, as the final 35% is back matter. Still, given the length and level of detail, the 25% of the book related to the title is a substantial piece on its own.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC of this fantastic work. This was such a treat! Perhaps, unexpected but I really enjoyed this.

The story of Concord, MA, Emerson, and Thoreau. I learned a ton from this excellent history. The topic may not be one that people will immediately jump at - but I would highly recommend this. I guarantee that everyone will learn much from this one.

After a college course on Transcendentalism, I've been hooked on this uniquely American philosophy. This was the perfect read to help me further my knowledge on the Transcendentalists and how they viewed the world.

Robert Gross once again brings to life as only a master historian can a period in American history which is crucial in understanding who we are as a nation. Impeccably researched, vivid, and studded with insights, this is must reading for anyone interested in America's past.

High detailed. It's clear that a lot of research was put into this book and I enjoyed it a lot, despite never being interested in this area of history before.