Cover of Ourselves by Charlotte Mason, Volume IV of the Home Education Series
Home Education Series · Volume IV

Ourselves

by Charlotte Mason

11h 58m
Duration
1905
Published
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About This Audiobook

Charlotte Mason's Ourselves (Volume 4 of her Home Education Series), subtitled Ourselves, Our Souls and Bodies, stands apart from the previous volumes as it is written directly to children and young people (with Book I aimed at younger students around upper elementary/middle school ages and Book II for older ones). Using the extended allegory of "Mansoul"—a vast, intricate kingdom representing the inner person, complete with government, provinces, perils, and potential— Mason invites readers to explore self-knowledge and self-direction. The book emphasizes that every individual possesses immense possibilities and divine capacities, but also inherent tendencies toward both good and evil; the central duty of life is to govern this inner realm wisely, mastering oneself under God's law to become a person of strong character, moral integrity, and spiritual vitality. Rather than abstract philosophy, Mason speaks personally and accessibly to young readers, urging self-reverence, self-control, and a humble recognition that human nature is universal.

Meet the Author
Portrait of Charlotte Mason
Charlotte MasonEnglish Educator & Reformer · 1842 – 1923

Charlotte Mason was a pioneering British educator and philosopher whose innovative ideas on childhood learning continue to influence homeschooling and educational practices worldwide. Born Charlotte Maria Shaw Mason on January 1, 1842, in Garth near Bangor, Wales, she was an only child largely educated at home by her parents after being orphaned as a teenager. Facing financial hardship, she trained as a teacher at the Home and Colonial Training College in London and gained practical experience teaching in various British schools, including in Worthing, as well as instructing adults at Bishop Otter College in Chichester. Her early career exposed her to the limitations of conventional Victorian education, prompting her to develop a distinctive philosophy that viewed children as born persons—full individuals with inherent dignity, curiosity, and moral potential—rather than blank slates to be filled or vessels to be molded mechanically. In the mid-1880s, Mason delivered a transformative series of Lectures to Ladies in Bradford, articulating her vision that education is an atmosphere, a discipline, and a life. This led to the founding of the Parents' National Educational Union (PNEU) in 1887, the Parents' Union School (later correspondence curriculum), the House of Education teacher training college in Ambleside (established 1892), and the Parents' Review journal. Her core principles—summarized in her famous 20 Principles—drew from observations of children, contemporary science, and biblical insights, emphasizing that children naturally hunger for knowledge and form vital "relations" with ideas, people, and the world. She advocated a broad, liberal curriculum accessible to all social classes, featuring living books (engaging, narrative-rich literature rather than dry textbooks), nature study, narration (oral or written retelling to process ideas), habit training, short focused lessons, picture study, composer study, handicrafts, and direct experiences in the outdoors. Mason's most enduring contributions appear in her six-volume Home Education Series (published 1886–1925)-- Home Education, Parents and Children, School Education, Ourselves, Formation of Character, and A Philosophy of Education. In her final volume, she outlines her mature thoughts that have ripened over the years and is definitely a wonderful text to begin with as an introduction to Mason. These books detail practical methods while grounding education in respect for the child's personhood, the role of the Holy Spirit as supreme educator, and the belief that knowledge is a vital spiritual food. She also authored geography texts and poetic meditations on the Gospels. Remaining unmarried and dedicated to her work, Mason lived in Ambleside, where she directed the House of Education until her death on January 16, 1923, at age 81. Today, she is celebrated as a champion of child-centered, holistic education that nurtures mind, body, and spirit, with her methods revived in modern homeschooling communities and inspiring living books approaches that prioritize wonder, beauty, and meaningful relationships over rote learning.

Read our essay: Charlotte Mason — A Gentle, Timeless Philosophy

In This Volume
  1. Paideia Introduction1:59
  2. Preface4:56
  3. Introduction9:11
  4. The Country of Mansoul5:11
  5. The Perils of Mansoul6:22
  6. The Government of Mansoul3:22
  7. Esquires of the Body: Hunger5:46
  8. Esquires of the Body: Thirst3:54
  9. Esquires of the Body: Restlessness and Rest5:30
  10. Esquires of the Body: Chastity5:04
  11. Pages of the Body: The Five Senses15:24
  12. Ourselves3:06
  13. My Lord Intellect18:58
  14. The Dæmons of Intellect4:38
  15. My Lord Chief Explorer, Imagination9:59
  16. The Beauty Sense2:39
  17. My Lord Chief Attorney-General, Reason18:17
  18. The Lords of the Exchequer, The Desires (Part I)13:20
  19. The Lords of the Exchequer, The Desires (Part II)14:29
  20. The Ways of Love10:09
  21. Love's Lords in Waiting: Pity7:24
  22. Love's Lords in Waiting: Benevolence5:41
  23. Love's Lords in Waiting: Sympathy7:36
  24. Love's Lords in Waiting: Kindness6:49
  25. Love's Lords in Waiting: Generosity8:36
  26. Love's Lords in Waiting: Gratitude6:06
  27. Love's Lords in Waiting: Courage11:19
  28. Love's Lords in Waiting: Loyalty15:12
  29. Love's Lords in Waiting: Humility8:06
  30. Love's Lords in Waiting: Gladness8:09
  31. Justice: Universal6:48
  32. Justice to the Persons of Others17:59
  33. Truth: Justice in Word9:37
  34. Spoken Truth11:35
  35. Some Causes of Lying6:15
  36. Integrity: Justice in Action22:30
  37. Opinions: Justice in Thought13:37
  38. Principles: Justice in Motive5:47
  39. Justice to Ourselves: Self-Ordering22:59
  40. Vocation10:53
  41. Self-Direction: Introductory6:48
  42. The Court of Appeal6:20
  43. The Instruction of Conscience4:24
  44. Rulings of Conscience: Temperance14:53
  45. Rulings of Conscience: Chastity13:16
  46. Chastity: Ordered Friendship7:03
  47. Chastity: The Final Unchastity14:27
  48. Rulings of Conscience: Fortitude13:29
  49. Rulings of Conscience: Prudence11:59
  50. Conscience: Opinions "In the Air"5:39
  51. The Uninstructed Conscience14:18
  52. The Instructed Conscience5:18
  53. Instructors of Conscience: Poetry, Novels, Essays4:46
  54. Instructors of Conscience: History & Philosophy7:57
  55. Instructors of Conscience: Theology33:19
  56. Instructors of Conscience: Nature, Science, Art12:34
  57. Instructors of Conscience: Sociology, Self-Knowledge8:50
  58. Conviction of Sin10:43
  59. Temptation11:24
  60. Duty and Law7:34
  61. The Will-less Life5:28
  62. Will and Wilfulness14:56
  63. Will Not Moral or Immoral6:19
  64. The Will and Its Peers2:48
  65. The Function of Will6:07
  66. The Scope of Will7:45
  67. Self-Control & Self-Denial6:31
  68. The Effort of Decision6:42
  69. Intention, Purpose, Resolution8:28
  70. A Way of the Will9:11
  71. Freewill6:56
  72. The Capacities of the Soul5:24
  73. The Disabilities of the Soul7:46
  74. The Knowledge of God9:58
  75. Prayer4:19
  76. Thanksgiving4:28
  77. Praise4:40
  78. Faith in God9:35
  79. Paideia Closing0:37

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Charlotte Mason — A Gentle, Timeless Philosophy

An introduction to Charlotte Mason — the life and ideas behind this book.