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In William James: In the Maelstrom of American Modernism, Robert D. Richardson explores the life and work of nineteenth-century philosopher and psychologist William James, presenting him as a pioneering figure whose ideas prefigured modernist movements. Richardson details James's turbulent health, his academic journey from Harvard Medical School to philosophy and psychology, and his significant contributions to these fields, particularly through his major works such as The Principles of Psychology and his philosophical advocacy for Pragmatism. Contradicting the view of James as an archaic figure, the biography argues that his innovative ideas were instrumental in shaping American modernism, thereby securing his legacy despite stylistic differences with contemporary audiences.