The Principles of Psychology (Vol. 1&2)

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Description

One of the greatest classics of modern Western literature and science and the source of the ripest thoughts of America’s most important philosopher.

  • Author: William James
  • Publisher: e-artnow
  • Published: 2018-05-11
  • Pages: 1245
  • ISBN-13: 9788026893400

Additional information

Author

William James

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Summary

What the internet says

Aggregated insights from reviews and discussions across the web.

Overall reception: Mostly positive

William James's *The Principles of Psychology* (1890) is widely regarded as a landmark text that established psychology as a serious scientific discipline. Across Goodreads and Amazon, readers consistently praise the work's comprehensiveness, prescience, and James's exceptional writing style. Reviewers note that despite being over 130 years old, the book accurately predicted many aspects of modern psychology and neuroscience, particularly in areas like attention, emotion, consciousness, and the stream of thought. One Amazon reviewer observes that "James's century old writing is in alignment (and conversation) with contemporary approaches in neuroscience/neurophilosophy," while a Goodreads reader describes it as "one of the most fascinating reads in the entire canon." The work is valued not just as a historical document but as a source of genuine psychological insight, with readers appreciating James's philosophical grounding and his engagement with thinkers like Hume, Locke, Berkeley, and Kant.

What readers loved

  • Accurately predicted many aspects of modern psychology and neuroscience despite being written in 1890
  • Exceptionally clear and engaging writing style, described as 'brilliantly written' and accessible despite complex subject matter
  • Comprehensive coverage spanning 28 chapters and nearly 900 pages, addressing habit, memory, emotion, consciousness, perception, attention, and will
  • Philosophical depth that roots psychological insights in classical philosophy, examining fundamental assumptions
  • Remains relevant today with timeless insights into mental phenomena that align with contemporary neuroscience
  • Lucid descriptions of human mental activity with detailed considerations of stream of thought, time perception, and imagination
  • Provides important historical context for understanding the development of psychology as a scientific discipline

Common critiques

  • Extremely lengthy and challenging read requiring patience, with some sections described as 'tedious' and containing 'excruciating detail'
  • Contains antiquated viewpoints including racism, sexism, and classism reflecting Victorian-era social attitudes
  • Some Kindle editions have serious quality issues, including missing chapters (6, 7, and 21) and poorly formatted tables of contents
  • Religious and spiritual assumptions occasionally seep into the scientific analysis despite James's attempts to separate them
  • Not suitable as a modern introduction to psychology due to outdated facts and theories that have been superseded

Based on reviews from

  • Goodreads - Main Edition
  • Goodreads - Volume 1
  • Amazon - Dover Edition Review
  • Amazon - 2 Volumes Edition
Last updated May 18, 2026 Summary based on publicly available reviews. May not reflect every reader's experience.