Aisha
Marcus Aurelius's 'Meditations' is a collection of personal reflections, offering wisdom and insights to help us navigate life's challenges. If you're looking to further explore Stoicism and its related fields, there are plenty of books to consider. For a deeper dive into Stoicism, Letters from a Stoic by Seneca and Discourses by Epictetus are recommended. The Daily Stoic by Ryan Holiday and Stephen Hanselman offers 366 meditations to make Stoic philosophy a daily practice. For a modern interpretation, How to Be a Stoic by Massimo Pigliucci shows how ancient wisdom can be applied to contemporary challenges. Beyond Stoicism, The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle and Wherever You Go, There You Are by Jon Kabat-Zinn offer insights into mindfulness and living in the present moment. These books provide a wealth of knowledge to build upon the foundation laid by 'Meditations'.
What You'll Learn
'Letters from a Stoic' by Seneca
"Letters from a Stoic" by Seneca is a collection of letters to his friend Lucilius, delving into different aspects of Stoic philosophy. Stoicism, a school of Hellenistic philosophy, champions virtue as the highest good. It emphasizes the belief that our response to external events is within our control, even when the events themselves are not. Stoics uphold wisdom, courage, justice, and temperance as cardinal virtues, guiding their conduct and perceptions.
Seneca's letters offer a practical and accessible exploration of Stoicism, often beginning with observations on daily life and then delving into traditional themes such as the contempt of death, the value of friendship, and virtue as the supreme good. Through his letters, Seneca provides valuable insights and guidance for navigating life's challenges. He emphasizes the importance of living in accordance with nature and accepting what cannot be changed, cultivating inner resilience, and focusing on what is within our control.
Seneca's writing style is clear and engaging, making complex philosophical concepts easily understandable. His letters are filled with quotable passages and timeless wisdom that has resonated with readers over the centuries. "Letters from a Stoic" serves as an excellent introduction to Stoic philosophy and a practical guide for incorporating its principles into daily life.
Seneca, also known as Seneca the Younger, was a Roman Stoic philosopher, statesman, and dramatist. He lived from 4 BC to AD 65 and played a significant role in guiding the Roman Empire under Emperor Nero. Seneca's influence on Nero began when Nero was young, and he later became Nero's tutor and advisor. Despite his association with Nero, Seneca ultimately fell out of favor and was forced to commit suicide by the emperor.
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'Discourses' by Epictetus
The 'Meditations' by Marcus Aurelius has long been a guiding text for those interested in Stoic philosophy. If you are looking for what to read after 'Meditations', 'Discourses' by Epictetus is a great choice. Here's why:
Who Was Epictetus?
Epictetus was a Greek-speaking Stoic philosopher. He was born a slave in Phrygia (present-day Turkey) and lived in Rome until he was banished and moved to Nicopolis in north-western Greece. His teachings were written down and published by his pupil, Arrian, in his 'Discourses'.
The 'Discourses' are a series of informal lectures or conversations that Epictetus had with his students. They focus on the practical application of Stoic philosophy in daily life. Epictetus directs his students to focus their attention on their opinions, anxieties, passions, and desires. He teaches them how to "never fail to get what they desire and avoid what they do not desire." This is achieved through learning to distinguish what is within their control from what is not and how to correctly assent or dissent to external impressions. The ultimate goal of his teachings is to help people find freedom and happiness.
Both 'Meditations' and 'Discourses' delve into Stoic philosophy, but they offer different perspectives. While 'Meditations' is a collection of personal reflections by a Roman Emperor, 'Discourses' is taught by a former slave. This contrast provides a unique view of Stoicism from two distinct social positions. Additionally, 'Discourses' focuses on the practical aspects of Stoicism, making it a great complement to 'Meditations'.
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'On the Shortness of Life' by Seneca
On the Shortness of Life by Seneca
In his moral essay, 'On the Shortness of Life', Stoic philosopher and playwright Seneca offers an urgent reminder on the non-renewability of our most important resource: our time. It is a required reading for anyone who wishes to live to their full potential, and it is a manifesto on how to get back control of your life and live it to the fullest.
Overview
Seneca argues that we waste so much of our time because we do not properly value it. We expend great effort in protecting other valuables such as money and property, but because time appears intangible, we allow others to occupy it and take time away from us. Wise people, on the other hand, understand that time is the most valuable of all resources, and with effort can free themselves from external control to engage in meaningful introspection and create an intentional life.
Seneca urges his readers to live in the present, and adapt themselves to a purposeful life in agreement with nature. Only by doing so, can one then truly unlock both past and future. The completeness of each present moment allows one's awareness to expand to the equal of that of the universe, and achieve true virtue and happiness.
Key Lessons
- Your Most Important Asset: Seneca implores us to be suspicious of any activity that will take a lot of time and be prepared to defend ourselves against unworthy pursuits.
- How Little Is Left Over For You: Seneca mentions that Augustus Caesar, considered one of the greatest Romans of all time, constantly wished aloud for a break from his many duties and desperately longed to live a leisurely life. Seneca wanted to demonstrate that the greatness men strive for can be a horrible trap, an overwhelming river of responsibilities that washes away the only life we get.
- How to Live With Duty and Purpose: Seneca believes it is important to make room for leisure in life, but a life of pure leisure is considered meaningless. He speaks of people who never have to lift a finger and have unlearned basic human functions as a status symbol, something that still occurs in our time.
Seneca's work is a powerful reminder to cultivate strength, insight, and wisdom to live our best life. It is a call to action to seize the day and make the most of our time on earth.
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'The Daily Stoic' by Ryan Holiday and Stephen Hanselman
The Daily Stoic: 366 Meditations on Wisdom, Perseverance, and the Art of Living is a daily motivational book co-authored by Ryan Holiday and Stephen Hanselman. It is a collection of 366 stoic meditations, intended to be read one page per day, with each page featuring a quote from a stoic philosopher along with commentary. The book is organised temporally and thematically across the twelve months of the year, with each month focusing on a different theme. The themes covered include clarity, improving action, unlocking the power of will, and meditation on mortality.
The book features quotations from a range of stoic philosophers, including Epictetus, Marcus Aurelius, Seneca, Musonius Rufus, Zeno, Cleanthes, and Chrysippus. It also includes historical anecdotes and a glossary of Greek terms. The quotations and commentary provide lessons on personal growth, life management, and practicing mindfulness. The overall aim of the book is to help readers cultivate strength, insight, and wisdom to live their best life.
The Daily Stoic has received positive reviews, with many readers finding it to be a valuable guide to living a stoic life. It has been described as a "beautifully packaged daily devotional" that is "accessible" and "easy to understand". Some readers have appreciated the book's focus on practical application, with one reviewer noting that it provides "new daily rituals and new perspectives to produce balanced action, insight, effectiveness, and serenity". The book has also been praised for its ability to make stoic philosophy relevant to modern life, with one reviewer commenting that it provides "a modern take of stoic philosophy".
However, some reviewers have criticised the book for being repetitive and for Holiday's interpretations of the stoic quotations. One reviewer felt that Holiday's commentary was "rudimentary, trivial, and banal", while another found it to be "self-important and unempathetic". There were also some concerns about the lack of diversity in the role models cited in the book, with one reviewer noting that they were all "white guys".
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'How to Be a Stoic' by Massimo Pigliucci
"How to Be a Stoic" by Massimo Pigliucci is a modern interpretation of Stoicism, a practical guide that shows how ancient wisdom can address contemporary challenges. The book seamlessly combines personal anecdotes, historical contexts, and philosophical discussions, serving as a practical guide for integrating Stoic principles into modern life.
Stoicism teaches us to acknowledge our emotions, reflect on what causes them, and redirect them for our own good. It teaches us the importance of a person's character, integrity, and compassion. Pigliucci's book is a great primer to the essence of Stoicism, written in a non-academic style with frank, engaging language, and without technicalities.
The book is organized into three parts:
- The Discipline of Desire: What is Proper to Want and Not to Want
- The Discipline of Action: How to Behave in the World
- The Discipline of Assent: How to React to Situations
These three sections are further divided into chapters dealing with topics such as "Living According to Nature," "God or Atoms," "Disability and Mental Illness," "On Death and Suicide," "Love and Friendship," and similar modern-day issues.
Pigliucci engages in a kind of ongoing dialogue with the philosopher Epictetus, using ancient texts. He covers topics such as character, mental illness, disability, loneliness, and death. In the chapter on disability, he discusses the life of another Stoic academic, Dr. Lawrence Becker, who turned to Stoicism early in life to help meet the challenges of physical disability.
The book ends with a series of suggested spiritual exercises that form a "Stoic's toolkit" to help cope with certain issues and problems.
While some readers have found the book to be an excellent introduction to Stoicism, with plenty of practical advice, others have criticized it for being poorly written and too focused on the author's personal anecdotes and biases.
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Frequently asked questions
You could try Letters from a Stoic by Seneca, Discourses by Epictetus, or On the Shortness of Life, also by Seneca.
Stoicism and the Art of Happiness by Donald Robertson and The Obstacle Is the Way by Ryan Holiday are both popular modern interpretations of Stoicism.
Yes, you could try The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle, Wherever You Go, There You Are by Jon Kabat-Zinn, or Mindfulness in Plain English by Bhante Gunaratana.
Yes, other recommendations include The Inner Citadel by Pierre Hadot, The Practicing Stoic by Ward Farnsworth, Stoic Warriors by Nancy Sherman, and Tao Te Ching by Laozi.
