American essayist, philosopher and poet Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803 - 1882) lead Transcendentalism in the early nineteenth century and greatly influenced the later New Thought movement. Summing up his work, Emerson said that his primary principle was "the infinitude of the private man", and advised to "make the most of yourself, for that is all there is of you." His First Series collects together the following 12 essays: History, Self-Reliance,

Oscar Wilde (1854 - 1900) is remembered best for his sharp wit, his comedic plays and for his contribution to aestheticism and decadence. In this collection of essays, however, Wilde writes predominantly on socialism, anarchy and libertarianism. He believed in these passionately and was influenced among others by William Morris and John Ruskin.

In her earlier works, Helen Keller described the details of the early illness that left her deaf and blind, and in the prevailing opinion of the day, unable to be educated, as well as the methods that were eventually used to teach her how to communicate. In the remarkable memoir The World I Live In, Keller offers a much more personal take on her situation, inviting readers inside her own personal experience.