How to Live - A Handbook of Stoic Philosophy: Discourses and The Enchiridion

by Epictetus

Genres: Nonfiction, Philosophy, Classics

232 pages, Paperback

Published June 23, 2024

About the author

Epictetus was a Greek Stoic philosopher. He was probably born a slave at Hierapolis, Phrygia (present day Pamukkale, Turkey), and lived in Rome until his exile to Nicopolis in northwestern Greece, where he lived most of his life and died. His teachings were noted down and published by his pupil Arrian in his Discourses. Philosophy, he taught, is a way of life and not just a theoretical discipline. To Epictetus, all external events are determined by fate, and are thus beyond our control, but we can accept whatever happens calmly and dispassionately. Individuals, however, are responsible for their own actions which they can examine and control through rigorous self-discipline. Suffering arises from trying to control what is uncontrollable, or from neglecting what is within our power. As part of the universal city that is the universe, human beings have a duty of care to all fellow humans. The person who followed these precepts would achieve happiness.

Other language versions:
Epictète
Epícteto
Epiktet

Reviews

[Nick Davies · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mixed opinions on this one. I'm in agreement with a lot of Stoicism, but hoped and expected to get more from this. Though relatively short a book, The Discourses (which make up the vast majority of this volume) were chewy and hard to get through, hence I preferred the more condensed summary section (The Enchiridion) that made up the final portion.

I understand that this is my fault, this is subjective, and by necessity was this as faithful a translation of Epictetus's teachings as was possible - hence the convoluted nature of his words would be preserved. I appreciate that sitting down to read a ~230 page book on philosophy cover to cover, in the same time it would take to read a similarly short novel, was an unreasonable expectation for something better carefully picked through (I may return with a pencil to underline and annotate). I realise the practical differences between the ancient and modern worlds make this less easy a read.

But for all this, plenty thought provoking content, and a useful reference. I might however have preferred and got more from a more meta guide to Stoicism as opposed to directly from the horses mouth. Or, amusingly, from the mouth of a donkey fed on wine and figs.

[Leath Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

As with most of the major Stoic writings, "How to Live" by Epictetus is littered throughout with arcane nuggets of wisdom. For the modern reader, however, the text is verbose and circumlocutory. Additionally, a lot of the narrative, like regularly instructing the reader on how to treat their slaves, is sorely out of time. Even so, the cardinal virtues of stoicism (wisdom, courage, justice, and temperance) are concepts worth celebrating and using in the construction of a good life. Modern times can just do without the superfluous ideological nonsense of antiquity.