What were the big questions of life that Emerson focused on in Self-Reliance and Nature?

In this book philosopher Ralph Waldo Emerson argues that society has an adverse effect on personal growth. Self sufficiency is the thing that gives one the freedom to discover true self. This notion is greatly supported by the capitalist cultures. Individual will is more important than social expectations. He speaks against uniformed beliefs that the church offers, again putting emphasis on individuality. His notion on honesty is also important, being true to yourself and to others. The American culture is built on self-reliance and self-sufficiency. The question is, how these notions can be percieved today, when we are facing the crisis of individualism.