"If it is beyond your power to control, let it go."  "Do not wish that all things will go well with you, but that you will go well with all things."  "In this way, you overcome life's challenges, rather than being overcome by them."  Epictetus (c. AD...

The Manual

James Allen's classic rephrased in contemporary language. Widely considered the greatest self-help book of all time, As a Man Thinketh reveals how our thoughts determine our character, circumstances, health, appearance, and achievements. The choice i...

As a Man Thinketh: 21st Century Edition

How to think clearly, act purposefully, overcome any obstacle, and find peace and happiness along the way. Marcus Aurelius (121-180 CE) was one of the few true philosopher-kings in history. His father died when Marcus was three. At age fifteen, he wa...

The Meditations: An Emperor's Guide to Mastery

When Walt Whitman self-published "Leaves of Grass" in 1855, he rocked the literary world and forever changed the course of poetry. In subsequent editions, Whitman continued to revise and expand his poems - but none matched the raw power and immediacy of the first edition. This volume presents the 1855 "Leaves of Grass" in its entirety, unchanged, along with Ralph Waldo Emerson's famous letter to Whitman. 

Leaves of Grass

Ralph Waldo Emerson's "Nature" is perhaps the greatest original work of philosophy written by an American. This specially-prepared edition includes a foreword on the origin and significance the book.  "Emerson defined genius as the ability to see the...

Nature

"Trust thyself: every heart vibrates to that iron string."  "Insist on yourself; never imitate."  "To be great is to be misunderstood."  A carefully produced edition of Emerson's most famous essay. Beware of other publishers' slapdash editions. 

Self-Reliance

One evening in Paris, 1879, Mark Twain rose to the podium and tackled the touchiest of subjects: masturbation. His remarks rubbed Victorian society the wrong way and were censored for over a century.  Here, at long last, is Twain's hilarious lecture on "The Science of Onanism". This book includes an introduction by Sam Torode, author of The Dirty Parts of the Bible. 

Mark Twain on Masturbation

This book compiles both the first (1855) and final (1892) versions of Walt Whitman's masterpiece Song of Myself in one volume, making it unique and valuable for students of American literature.

Song of Myself: The First and Final Editions of the Great American Poem

This audiobook includes both of Henry David Thoreau's most popular and enduring works, the book Walden and the essay "On the Duty of Civil Disobedience."

Walden and Civil Disobedience

G. K. Chesterton's unconventional memoir of faith, Orthodoxy, is his most enduring nonfiction work.  "Since he published Orthodoxy in 1908, G. K. Chesterton has inspired Christians and challenged skeptics with his unique wit and wisdom. He delivered biting analysis still relevant today."—Christianity Today  Visit ChestertonBooks.com to see other books in our G. K. Chesterton series.

Orthodoxy

If you've wanted to read Ralph Waldo Emerson but find his 19th-century prose too daunting, help is here.... In Everyday Emerson, best-selling author Sam Torode (The Dirty Parts of the Bible: A Novel) rephrases the works of Ralph Waldo Emerson in cont...

Everyday Emerson: The Wisdom of Ralph Waldo Emerson Paraphrased

For Henry David Thoreau, there was no separation between public politics and personal principle. "On the Duty of Civil Disobedience" is his famous account of the night he spent in jail for refusing to pay taxes to a government that supported slavery ...

Civil Disobedience and Other Political Writings (American Renaissance Books Edition)

A Fresh New Edition of The Manual Epictetus (c. 50-135 CE) was brought as a slave to Rome, where he became a great teacher. His philosophy, called stoicism, was practical, not theoretical - aimed at relieving suffering here and now.  And Epictetus kn...

The Manual: 21st Century Edition

Discover America's forgotten sage. This is a new anthology of Elbert Hubbard's most insightful, inspiring, and provocative writings, edited and introduced by Sam Torode. Elbert Hubbard (1856-1915) was a philosopher, entrepreneur, and leader of the ar...

Elbert Hubbard: A Treasury of Insights, Inspirations, and Provocations

Verses sacred and profane (mostly profane), concerning wine, women, song, and Scripture.  The Book of Craw - comprised of poems and proverbs from Craw's own notebook - is a companion volume to The Dirty Parts of the Bible: A Novel.  (Note for emphasis: This is a book of poetry, not a novel.) 

The Book of Craw: A Hobo's Testament

Ancient, Classical & Medieval Literature

On my father's side, I'm a distant relation of Henry David Thoreau (Torode and Thoreau are alternate spellings of Thorold, a family originating on the Isle of Guernsey). On my mother's side, my ancestors include Texas farmers, preachers, outlaws, and old-time country musicians. My novel, "The Dirty Parts of the Bible," reflects both sides of my heritage, combining philosophical exploration with a quest to Texas. After finishing "Dirty Parts," I went on to create a series of short books paraphrasing my favorite philosophers, making their ideas more accessible to today's readers. These include Marcus Aurelius, Epictetus, James Allen, and my favorite of all, Ralph Waldo Emerson. I also enjoy singing and songwriting, and have performed Frank Si

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