Product Description

Presents the text of the well-known inspirational poem that advises one to "go placidly amid the noise and haste" because "you are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars."

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #212544 in Books
• Published on: 2004-06-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 48 pages

From School Library Journal
Grade 6 Up-Ehrmann's well-known inspirational work, written in 1927, offers cogent advice on how to live at peace with oneself. This edition is distinguished by Tauss's striking photographs, most of which show children and adults of different cultures. Each of the images captures the essence of the passage it accompanies. For instance, the opening sentence ("Go placidly/amid the noise and haste,/and remember what peace/there may be in silence") is matched with a scene of a deserted city street that brilliantly creates a sense of stillness. Lines on the timelessness of love ("Especially do not feign affection./Neither be cynical/about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment/it is as perennial as the grass") are accompanied by one photo that shows parents and children nestled in bed, and another of them engaged in a pillow fight. Perhaps the most memorable illustration shows a boy and a girl set against a galaxy of stars. This complements the life-affirming statement, "You/are/a child/of the/universe,/no less than the trees and the stars;/you have a right to be here." All of the photos are well composed and have a dreamy quality, suffused with a soft light. However, while the pictures have intergenerational appeal, the vocabulary employed and the philosophy expressed in the text are adult in nature.
Karey Wehner, formerly at San Francisco Public Library
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About the Author
Max Ehrmann was an attorney turned philosopher-poet who live in Terre Haute, Ind. He spent his life wrestling with the realities of making a living and following his personal calling to a life of poetry, literature, and thought. He wrote A Prayer, which became a message of hope for thousands, but he is best known for Desiderata, which he wrote for himself, "because it counsels those virtues I felt myself most in need of." Max included this work as part of a personal Christmas greeting in 1933, and Desiderata's power and appeal have continued to reach out to and significantly affect readers ever since. He died in 1945.

Customer Reviews

Incredibly beautiful!
Desiderata, Words for Life by Max Ehrmann with photographs by Marc Tauss is gorgeous. It is filled with thought provoking words and dreamy, lush photos. Desiderata is beautifully designed with lovely, richly toned photos and simple, elegant typography. Desiderata offers quite a mental escape for one during rough times. It's a perfect book for many different occasions: graduations, birthdays, promotions, etc. I highly recommend it for people of all ages.

THE ENTIRE SUM OF EXISTENCE IS IN THIS POEM !!!!
This New Edition Of Desiderata Blows All Previous Versions Away. I Was So Inspired By The Thoughts and Beautiful Photos This Book Brings To The Reader. It's A Book You Should Look At Everyday, Especially In These Emotional Times. Desiderata Offers Quite A Mental Escape And Brings You Back To Your True Self. I Highly Recommend It For People Of All Ages. This Poem Is Breathtaking.

Photographs of Inspiration
This version of Desiderata is one of the most magnificent and inspirational books I have seen! Marc Tauss' photographs add beauty and completion to this Max Ehrmann work. It is a perfect gift, especially for a graduate. It would make an excellent addition to anyone's library.