Secondary sourceArtifact1902

The Varieties of Religious Experience (LibriVox audio reading)

William James · 1902

A volunteer audiobook reading of William James's 1902 book of Gifford Lectures on the psychology of religious experience. It lets students hear his text, though not his own voice.

James wrote this book, and this recording makes his text available to listen to.

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William James, The Varieties of Religious Experience, LibriVox volunteer audio reading by JoeD.

About this source

What it is

This is a LibriVox audio recording of The Varieties of Religious Experience, a book by William James based on his Gifford Lectures delivered at the University of Edinburgh in 1901 and 1902. The text is read by a volunteer, JoeD, with the preface recorded by musil. LibriVox recordings are made by volunteers and released into the public domain.

Why it matters

The book studies religion as a human experience, looking at personal feelings, conversion and mysticism rather than only doctrine. James argued that science should be used to understand religion. The recording is a modern reading, so it reflects the reader's voice, not James's.

Look closer

Why might a modern volunteer's reading change how you hear James's argument?
What kinds of religious experience does James choose to study, and which does he leave out?
How does James's aim of studying religion scientifically differ from a believer's aim?

This artifact is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of William James on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

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Title page of The Principles of Psychology, Vol. I, by William James, Professor of Psychology in Harvard University. Published by Henry Holt and Company, New York, 1890. Includes an owl-and-book vignette near the bottom.

Book

Primary source

The Principles of Psychology

William James · 1890

Book

Primary source