DiscussesthelifeandworkofWilliamJames,afounderofthestudyofpsychology.WilliamJames(1842-1910)waselderbrothertothenovelistHenryJamesandafounderofthestudyofpsychology.Buthewasalsoathinkerwhosoughttoworkacrossconventionalboundaries,anddidnotbelieveinseparatedisciplinesorover-professionalizedwaysofthinking.Jameswasaboveallinterestedinthosemomentswhenthoughtssuddenlycomeintobeing,’hot’and’alive’.WilliamJamesisforanyonewhohasexperiencedthepersonalneedforsuchthinkingandfeelstheexcitementofideas.ItconcernsthepersonalexperienceofreadingJames,involvingextensivequotationfromhisworkinrelationtoPhilipDavis’owninnerlifeandthelivesofotherreadersofJames--athinkerwhoisdefiantlyconvincedofthefundamentalvalidityoftheinnerlifeinthemakingoftheReal.ThisbookisaboutWilliamJames’slife-writing,writingforthesakeofexistence,thatputstogetheramixofliterature,psychology,philosophy,andbiographyinthesearchforpurposeandhumanflourishing,inplaceofformalreligion.ItincludesJames’interestinhisbrother’snovelsandinShakespeareandrama,aswellasThomasHardy’spessimisticchallengetoJames.Davisisareaderofliteraturewhofeelsthatreadersofnovelsandpoemsalsoneedthehelpofpsychologyandphilosophy,togetthethinkingout,tomakeitintoaworkingpartofalife.Hisbookisforreaders,especiallyreadersofliterature,seekingtocreate,likeWilliamJames,aliterarywayofthinkingoutsidetherealmofliterature.
