Rudolf Steiner: An Introduction to His Life and Work - Softcover

Lachman, Gary

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1585425435 ISBN 13: 9781585425433

Publisher: Penguin Publishing Group, 2007

Synopsis

The first truly popular biography of the influential twentieth-century mystic and educator who-while widely known for founding the Waldorf schools and other educational and humanitarian movements-remains a mystery to many who benefit from his ideas.

People everywhere have heard of Waldorf schools, Biodynamic farming, Camphill Villages, and other innovations of the Austrian philosopher Rudolf Steiner (1861-1925). Indeed, Steiner-as an architect, artist, teacher, and agriculturalist-ranks among the most creative and prolific figures of the early twentieth century, pioneering work in alternative education, holistic health, and environmental research.

While his accomplishments are felt all over the world, few people understand this unusual figure. Steiner's own writings and lectures fill several bookcases, intimidating those who would like to know more. Works on Steiner are often dense and "insider" in tone, further deterring the curious. No popular biography, written by a sympathetic but critical outsider, has been available.

Gary Lachman's Rudolf Steiner provides this missing introduction. Along with telling Steiner's story and placing Steiner in his historical context, Lachman's book presents Steiner's key ideas in a readable, accessible manner. In particular, Lachman considers the spread of Steiner's most popular projects, which include Waldorf schools-one of the leading forms of alternative education-and Biodynamic farming-a popular precursor to organic farming. He also traces Steiner's beginnings as a young intellectual in the ferment of fin de si?cle culture, to his rise as a thought leader within the influential occult movement of Theosophy, to the founding of his own metaphysical teaching called Anthroposophy.

Finally, the book illustrates how Steiner's methods are put into practice today, and relates Steiner's insights into cosmology to the work of current thinkers.

Rudolf Steiner is a full-bodied portrait of one of the most original philosophical and spiritual luminaries of the last two centuries, and gives those interested in the history of ideas the opportunity to discover one of the most underappreciated figures of the twentieth century.

About this title

About the Author:

Gary Lachman is the author of many books on consciousness, culture, and the Western esoteric tradition, including Rudolf Steiner: An Introduction to His Life and Work, A Secret History of Consciousness, and Politics and the Occult. He writes for several journals in the US and UK and lectures on his work in the US and Europe. His books have been translated into more than a dozen languages, and he has appeared in several radio and television documentaries. A founding member of the rock group Blondie, Lachman was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2006.

From Booklist:

A founding member of the rock band Blondie (he's a prolific writer on esoterica and the occult, too) brings one of the twentieth century's most enigmatic figures to life. Architect, artist, teacher, agriculturalist, philosopher--Steiner was all those and remains known for many things. He was founder of the Waldorf schools, an alternative education system still in practice throughout the world; a leader of the popular occult movement, theosophy; and founder of the metaphysical teaching called anthroposophy. Rather the stereotypical intellectual, especially in his youth, Steiner was quiet, possessed of a very rich inner life, and admittedly found dealing with the external world difficult. Lachman calls him a visionary and something of a Renaissance man, with many interests (too many, thought critics, who accused him of dilettantism) and unflagging energy. If some of his theories were goofy, Lachman sees beyond them to point out his very real contributions to the world of ideas during his rise from obscure scholar to spiritual leader. A solid introduction to Steiner's life and thought. Ray Olson
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

About this edition

• Publisher: Penguin Publishing Group
• Publication date: 2007
• ISBN 10: 1585425435
• ISBN 13: 9781585425433
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 304