Emerson's Speech, The American Scholar

Literature has been the base of the foundation to this world from the process of knowledge thinking. Emerson directly classifies and praises the works of books in his speech, “The American Scholar.” Emerson states the establishment of books have an effect of advancing society, that they are written to change and open ways of thinking, and are the only main reliable source. Therefore, his strong argument claims books are useful.

Books have an amazing effect to advance society. “Instantly, the book becomes, noxious. The guide is a tyrant.” Books have their flaws, but Emerson implies that books are a necessity need to build on for those in the future. Books are kept as a record, like lessons and teachings, for the past to learn upon it and to then make wiser decisions. “Colleges are built on it.” The creation of books allows knowledge to be distributed among the peers of a society. This effects an improvement on society. Therefore, Emerson proves have their usefulness.
Not only do they provide knowledge, books also expand a broader way of thinking.
“It came into him - life; it went out from - truth.” Books, literature, and writing in general, allows anyone to express one’s opinion. It expands a person’s thinking and inspires others who have a similar opinion and the ideas prosper into something. “The sluggish and perverted mind of the multitude, always slow to open to the incursions of Reason, having once so opened, having once received this book, stands upon it, and makes an outcry, if it is disparaged.” Emerson claims writers are thinkers, not “Man Thinking,” meaning they provide a broad sense idea of both sides, not just a one-sided opinion. He refers people like Cicero, Locke, and Bacon, were “young men in libraries” influence other people’s thinking. Emerson not only justifies books are useful, but is
power.

Books are the main reliable resource. “Books are the best of things, well used; abused, among the worst.” Emerson ends his speech with this quote that books are the only source and it can’t be compared to or replaced whatsoever. He claims books are mistreated of their value. “Each age, it is found, must write its own books; or rather, each generation for the next succeeding. The books of an older period will not fit this.” Books provide the truth and new ones should be continued to be made to record for the future. For example, wars and battles are recorded as a reference to how it prosper to make today. Simply, Emerson refers books will provide a successful and advanced generation.

Emerson makes an appealing argument on his idea of books. He refers books advance society, opens a broader way of thinking, and that they are an irreplaceable and reliable source. His repetition of praising books throughout his speech strongly proves that books make a difference.