The Varieties of Religious ExperienceThe Varieties of Religious Experience
Score Classic
What it's about
In lectures given in Scotland in 1901 and 1902, the psychologist William James studied religion not as doctrine but as experience: conversions, mystical visions, saintliness, prayer, and the difference between 'healthy-minded' people who feel the world is good and 'sick souls' who must be reborn. He drew on hundreds of firsthand accounts and asked what these experiences do for people.
Why it's worth reading
It's on the Modern Library and Guardian lists of the best nonfiction of all time. It's still the classic book on the psychology of religion, generous and open-minded.
You'll love it if you liked
The Denial of Death
The Structure of Scientific Revolutions
A Grief ObservedGood to know
It's long, with many quoted testimonies. The language is formal but clear.
By the numbers
- Readers43 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics80 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller10 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
Why it made the list
Reads as
Thought-provoking
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Quick answers
Is The Varieties of Religious Experience worth reading?
Yes. It's on the Modern Library and Guardian lists of the best nonfiction of all time. It ranks #1,018 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 72.8 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is The Varieties of Religious Experience about?
In lectures given in Scotland in 1901 and 1902, the psychologist William James studied religion not as doctrine but as experience: conversions, mystical visions, saintliness, prayer, and the difference between 'healthy-minded' people who feel the world is good and 'sick souls' who must be reborn. He drew on hundreds of firsthand accounts and asked what these experiences do for people.
How long does it take to read The Varieties of Religious Experience?
About 21 hours (824 pages), or about 6 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after The Varieties of Religious Experience?
If you liked it, try The Denial of Death by Ernest Becker, The Structure of Scientific Revolutions by Thomas S. Kuhn or A Grief Observed by CS Lewis.