Title: What There Is, As It Is: The Epigrammatic Poems of Ludwig Feuerbach
Author: Martin Wasserman
Publisher: XlibrisUS
ISBN: 978-1984577054
Pages: 74
Genre: Poetry
Reviewed by: Anthony Avina

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Aldous Huxley once said, “There’s only one corner of the universe you can be certain of improving, and that’s your own self.” In reality, the only thing in a person’s life anyone can be one hundred percent certain of is themselves, or the “self.” In author Martin Wasserman’s book of poetry, What There Is, As It Is: The Epigrammatic Poems of Ludwig Feuerbach, the author translates Feuerbach’s poetry that reflects very special themes.

In the book, the author shares the poetry of Ludwig Feuerbach, a philosopher who spoke primarily on the value of the self and using reason and understanding to not only bring “exalted beings” back down to Earth in a more grounded sense, but to showcase man’s value outside of some religious need for morality. In essence, these poems speak of mankind’s own inherent power to be their best selves, without the promise of some cosmic reward from a higher being waiting for them on the “other side.”

A beautiful collection of poetry, the author has done a remarkable job of bringing these poems to life for the modern era. In an age where science and understanding is more relied on and the question of religion is more contentious than ever before, these poems give readers food for thought as they separate themselves from the teachings of their past and their own egos to find their own self-worth and morality without any direction from a higher power.

This is the perfect read for anyone who enjoys poetry and exploring other avenues of thought and beliefs other than organized religion. I found the poetry moving and spoke to me in a way few other poets do. The mixture of poetry and philosophy was amazing to see play out on the pages of this book, moving not only the heart but the mind as well.

This is a must-read book for poetry lovers and philosophers alike. An eloquent study of the self and mankind’s value outside of a higher power, the words were moving and the emotions impacted by the larger ideas made this a truly intriguing read. Martin Wasserman’s What There Is, As It Is is a wonderful book and readers should grab their copies now as the holiday season gets closer.