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Beyond Stoicism: A Guide to the Good Life with Stoics, Skeptics, Epicureans, and Other Ancient Philosophers
A wide-ranging philosophical and practical guide that teaches how to incorporate the wisdom of many ancient philosophers and build-upon a stoic way of life
For centuries, people have been grappling with life’s biggest Who am I? What’s my purpose? How can I be happy? In modern times, many have found meaningful answers in Stoic philosophy. But there are other Greek and Roman philosophers who offer invaluable insights for modern life.
This book is a compass that helps us navigate these treacherous existential waters. Each chapter introduces a new tool for our toolkit by combining a biographical sketch of a particular philosopher, an exploration of the larger philosophy, and applicable lessons and to tackle common challenges found in our everyday life. We learn how to avoid pain with Epicurus, how to strike the right balance between extremes with Aristotle, how to rebel like the Cynic Hipparchia, and how to embrace uncertainty with the help of Cicero. Organized around three main themes of pleasure, virtue, and doubt, there’s something to learn from each master in our philosophical quest.
Even though these ideas were first presented thousands of years ago, they’re more relevant than ever in the twenty-first century. We still want the same love, friendship, money, reputation; and still fear the same poverty, sickness, pain, and death. These Hellenistic philosophers devised powerful wisdom on how to live—now, we can use it to make our lives better.
For centuries, people have been grappling with life’s biggest Who am I? What’s my purpose? How can I be happy? In modern times, many have found meaningful answers in Stoic philosophy. But there are other Greek and Roman philosophers who offer invaluable insights for modern life.
This book is a compass that helps us navigate these treacherous existential waters. Each chapter introduces a new tool for our toolkit by combining a biographical sketch of a particular philosopher, an exploration of the larger philosophy, and applicable lessons and to tackle common challenges found in our everyday life. We learn how to avoid pain with Epicurus, how to strike the right balance between extremes with Aristotle, how to rebel like the Cynic Hipparchia, and how to embrace uncertainty with the help of Cicero. Organized around three main themes of pleasure, virtue, and doubt, there’s something to learn from each master in our philosophical quest.
Even though these ideas were first presented thousands of years ago, they’re more relevant than ever in the twenty-first century. We still want the same love, friendship, money, reputation; and still fear the same poverty, sickness, pain, and death. These Hellenistic philosophers devised powerful wisdom on how to live—now, we can use it to make our lives better.
313 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 7, 2025
113 people are currently reading
495 people want to read
About the author
Massimo Pigliucci
76 books1,193 followersMassimo Pigliucci is an author, blogger, podcaster, as well as the K.D. Irani Professor of Philosophy at the City College of New York.
His academic work is in evolutionary biology, philosophy of science, the nature of pseudoscience, and practical philosophy. His books include How to Be a Stoic: Using Ancient Philosophy to Live a Modern Life (Basic Books) and Nonsense on Stilts: How to Tell Science from Bunk (University of Chicago Press).
His new book is Beyond Stoicism: A Guide to the Good Life with Stoics, Skeptics, Epicureans, and Other Ancient Philosophers (The Experiment).
His academic work is in evolutionary biology, philosophy of science, the nature of pseudoscience, and practical philosophy. His books include How to Be a Stoic: Using Ancient Philosophy to Live a Modern Life (Basic Books) and Nonsense on Stilts: How to Tell Science from Bunk (University of Chicago Press).
His new book is Beyond Stoicism: A Guide to the Good Life with Stoics, Skeptics, Epicureans, and Other Ancient Philosophers (The Experiment).
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
February 6, 2025
This is a great introduction to Greco-Roman philosophies. For each of 13 schools of thought, there's a brief history and then a practical workbook section.
p. 2) As the Stoic writer Seneca said in his Letter 33, the people "who have made these [philosophical] discoveries before us are not our masters, but our guides."
p. 6) Greek and Roman philosophers drew on three main concepts to craft their own compass for life in the quest for a happy existence: telos, living according to nature, and eudaimonia.
p. 7) The three ports are pleasure (Cyrenaicism and Epicureanism), character (Aristotelianism, Stoicism, Cynicism, and Platonism), and doubt (Socracticism, Sophism, Academic Skepticism, and Pyrrhonism).
p. 15) The idea, he said, is to possess nice things that provide pleasures without being possessed by them.
p. 15) "Children should be given property and resources of a kind that could swim with them even out of a shipwreck."
p. 42) Epicureanism is about reaching two goals in life: aponia and ataraxia.
p. 42) Epicureanism philosophy identifies three kinds of desires: natural and necessary, natural but not necessary, and unnatural and unnecessary.
p. 43) Epicureans realized that some pleasures are dynamic (kinetic) and others are static (katastemtic), and that the static ones are more valuable than the dynamic ones.
p. 45) As Epicurus puts it in his letter to his friend Menoecceus: "Death, therefore, the most awful of evils, is nothing to us, seeing that, when we are, death is not come, and, when death is come, we are not."
p. 45) The Epicurean views on ethics, epistemology, and metaphysics arguably culiminate in the co-called tetrapharmakos, literally meaning the fourfold remedy (for a happy life). As introduced in the epigraph to this chapter, it consists of the following four precepts:
Don't fear god,
Don't worry about death;
What is good is easy to get,
What is terrible is easy to endure.
p. 48) Many of the philosophies the Greeks and Romans practiced were full-time endeavors that required constant attention and effort. They were not simple life hacks to achieve a special goal.
p. 62) The virtuous middle lies in developing the right attitude toward food, appreciating that it is a source of both nourishment and pleasure, but that too much (or too little) nourishment affects our bodily health, while too much (or too little) pleasure affects the health of our soul.
p. 64) We have four cateogories when it comes to virtue: the vicious person, the akratic one (whose will is deficient), the one who makes an effort (enkratic), and finally, the rare truly virtuous individual.
p. 66) According to Aristotle there are three categories of goods: what is beautiful, what is pleasant, and what is advantageous.
p. 67) [Aristotle] suggests there are three types of friendship, which neatly mirror his classification of the three types of goods: friendships of utility (instrumental), friendships of pleasure, and friendships of virtue.
p. 82) If wordly things are what you care about, you'll remain a servant to those things all your life.
p. 86) "Some things are up to us, while others are not. Up to us are opinion, motivation, desire, aversion, and, in a word, whatever is of our own doing; not up to us are our body, our property, reputation, office, and, in a word, whatever is not of our own doing." - Epictetus, Enchiridion, 1.1
p. 86) "eighteenth century Buddhist scholar Shantideva"
p. 88) Epictetus advised his students to always, no matter what the situation, "apply the rule": Is this up to me? If yes, then let's focus our attention on it; if no, then let's take it for what it is and not worry about it. - Epictetus, Discourses, 3.3
p. 188 where p. 118 should be
p. 147-8) Doubt, Discuss, Do Good.
A modern life that puts the three Ds into practice reaches towards the Socratic.
p. 161) Protagoras's philosophy hinged on three main concerns: 1) the study of the meaning of words (orthoepeia, in Greek, meaning right speech); 2) the notion that man is the measure of all things; and 3) agnosticism about the gods and general skepticism of religion.
Chapter 9 Embrace Uncertainty with Carneades is a hard read.
p. 228) Pythagoras advised that having sex would make you weak and much less healthy.
p. 229) Pythagoras was against slavery.
p. 269: Lives of the Eminent Philosophers
p. 270) Cyrenaicism
The Birth of Hedonism: The Cyrenaic Philosophers and Pleasure as a Way of Life
p. 270) Epicureanism
The Fourfold Remedy: Epicurus and the Art of Happiness
p. 270) Aristotelianism
Aristotle: Understanding the World's Greatest Philosopher
p. 271) Cynicism
Cynicism
p. 272) (Political) Platonism
Plato of Athens: A Life in Philosophy
Plato at Syracuse: Essays on Plato in Western Greece with a new translation of the Seventh Letter by Jonah Radding
p. 272) The First Philosophers: The Presocratics and Sophists
p. 273) Skepticism: From Antiquity to the Present
p. 277) #2 - A History of Ancient Greece in Fifty Lives
p. 277) #3 - Lives of the Eminent Philosophers
p. 278) #16 - Foundation for Intentional Community (FIC): https://www.ic.org/
p. 278) #17 - Society of Friends of Epicurus: https://societyofepicurus.com/
p. 278) #18 - Tending the Epicurean Garden
p. 279) #4 - Introducing Aristotle: A Graphic Guide
p. 279) #12 - Aristotle: A Very Short Introduction
p. 281) #4 - A History of Ancient Rome in 100 Lives
p. 290) #1 - Greek Buddha: Pyrrho's Encounter with Early Buddhism in Central Asia
p. 282) #18 What is Traditional Stoicism?, by Chris Fisher: https://traditionalstoicism.com/what-...
Question: What's the difference between Cyreniacs and Hedonists?
p. 2) As the Stoic writer Seneca said in his Letter 33, the people "who have made these [philosophical] discoveries before us are not our masters, but our guides."
p. 6) Greek and Roman philosophers drew on three main concepts to craft their own compass for life in the quest for a happy existence: telos, living according to nature, and eudaimonia.
p. 7) The three ports are pleasure (Cyrenaicism and Epicureanism), character (Aristotelianism, Stoicism, Cynicism, and Platonism), and doubt (Socracticism, Sophism, Academic Skepticism, and Pyrrhonism).
p. 15) The idea, he said, is to possess nice things that provide pleasures without being possessed by them.
p. 15) "Children should be given property and resources of a kind that could swim with them even out of a shipwreck."
p. 42) Epicureanism is about reaching two goals in life: aponia and ataraxia.
p. 42) Epicureanism philosophy identifies three kinds of desires: natural and necessary, natural but not necessary, and unnatural and unnecessary.
p. 43) Epicureans realized that some pleasures are dynamic (kinetic) and others are static (katastemtic), and that the static ones are more valuable than the dynamic ones.
p. 45) As Epicurus puts it in his letter to his friend Menoecceus: "Death, therefore, the most awful of evils, is nothing to us, seeing that, when we are, death is not come, and, when death is come, we are not."
p. 45) The Epicurean views on ethics, epistemology, and metaphysics arguably culiminate in the co-called tetrapharmakos, literally meaning the fourfold remedy (for a happy life). As introduced in the epigraph to this chapter, it consists of the following four precepts:
Don't fear god,
Don't worry about death;
What is good is easy to get,
What is terrible is easy to endure.
p. 48) Many of the philosophies the Greeks and Romans practiced were full-time endeavors that required constant attention and effort. They were not simple life hacks to achieve a special goal.
p. 62) The virtuous middle lies in developing the right attitude toward food, appreciating that it is a source of both nourishment and pleasure, but that too much (or too little) nourishment affects our bodily health, while too much (or too little) pleasure affects the health of our soul.
p. 64) We have four cateogories when it comes to virtue: the vicious person, the akratic one (whose will is deficient), the one who makes an effort (enkratic), and finally, the rare truly virtuous individual.
p. 66) According to Aristotle there are three categories of goods: what is beautiful, what is pleasant, and what is advantageous.
p. 67) [Aristotle] suggests there are three types of friendship, which neatly mirror his classification of the three types of goods: friendships of utility (instrumental), friendships of pleasure, and friendships of virtue.
p. 82) If wordly things are what you care about, you'll remain a servant to those things all your life.
p. 86) "Some things are up to us, while others are not. Up to us are opinion, motivation, desire, aversion, and, in a word, whatever is of our own doing; not up to us are our body, our property, reputation, office, and, in a word, whatever is not of our own doing." - Epictetus, Enchiridion, 1.1
p. 86) "eighteenth century Buddhist scholar Shantideva"
p. 88) Epictetus advised his students to always, no matter what the situation, "apply the rule": Is this up to me? If yes, then let's focus our attention on it; if no, then let's take it for what it is and not worry about it. - Epictetus, Discourses, 3.3
p. 188 where p. 118 should be
p. 147-8) Doubt, Discuss, Do Good.
A modern life that puts the three Ds into practice reaches towards the Socratic.
p. 161) Protagoras's philosophy hinged on three main concerns: 1) the study of the meaning of words (orthoepeia, in Greek, meaning right speech); 2) the notion that man is the measure of all things; and 3) agnosticism about the gods and general skepticism of religion.
Chapter 9 Embrace Uncertainty with Carneades is a hard read.
p. 228) Pythagoras advised that having sex would make you weak and much less healthy.
p. 229) Pythagoras was against slavery.
p. 269: Lives of the Eminent Philosophers
p. 270) Cyrenaicism
The Birth of Hedonism: The Cyrenaic Philosophers and Pleasure as a Way of Life
p. 270) Epicureanism
The Fourfold Remedy: Epicurus and the Art of Happiness
p. 270) Aristotelianism
Aristotle: Understanding the World's Greatest Philosopher
p. 271) Cynicism
Cynicism
p. 272) (Political) Platonism
Plato of Athens: A Life in Philosophy
Plato at Syracuse: Essays on Plato in Western Greece with a new translation of the Seventh Letter by Jonah Radding
p. 272) The First Philosophers: The Presocratics and Sophists
p. 273) Skepticism: From Antiquity to the Present
p. 277) #2 - A History of Ancient Greece in Fifty Lives
p. 277) #3 - Lives of the Eminent Philosophers
p. 278) #16 - Foundation for Intentional Community (FIC): https://www.ic.org/
p. 278) #17 - Society of Friends of Epicurus: https://societyofepicurus.com/
p. 278) #18 - Tending the Epicurean Garden
p. 279) #4 - Introducing Aristotle: A Graphic Guide
p. 279) #12 - Aristotle: A Very Short Introduction
p. 281) #4 - A History of Ancient Rome in 100 Lives
p. 290) #1 - Greek Buddha: Pyrrho's Encounter with Early Buddhism in Central Asia
p. 282) #18 What is Traditional Stoicism?, by Chris Fisher: https://traditionalstoicism.com/what-...
Question: What's the difference between Cyreniacs and Hedonists?
February 3, 2025
I think it was just too much for me to hurry and read. I am going to need to go over it again.
Read
August 15, 2025Best to buy the physical book because it’s a workbook as well as informational.
March 25, 2025
What an objectively terrible book- but not for the reason some fellow readers point to.
I’ve read a review or two claiming this book is a sharp contrast to what philosophy should be— challenging and mind provoking. But for all its shortcomings, that’s something this book *does* indeed address, whether by literally telling the reader, or by providing coursework to prove just how challenging it can be. The book is designed to be a daily workshop to 1.) read a summary of the philosopher’s work then 2.) apply it to daily life and finally 3.) record your findings.
It was an approach I wasn’t thrilled with, but I respected.
My reason for this rating boils down with how the book was paced and its lack of depth. The title mentions stoicism, giving me the false impression this philosophy will be a key highlight. Instead, it was among the shortest chapters. More broadly, each chapter barely scratches the surface on what the philosopher thought and how he/she challenged others.
Towards the end, it seemed as if the authors needed to hit a page requirement and started adding philosophers with little-to-no information about them. Pythagoras for instance emphasized the need to be friendly- so what? So did Mr. Rogers. I learned he was against eating crumbs from the table and emphasized putting your right shoe on first— coincidentally, I think Mr. Rogers also put his right shoe first. But why is this relevant? In the last 2-3 chapters, the authors admitted it’s difficult for one to try to apply these philosophies to their life given the scarce information about them… so why did you bring them up to begin with?
My proposal for a better book: focus on 4-5 major philosophers and go more in depth with them. Zeno, Plato, Aristotle, Socrates all deserved more attention— but that was compromised for the sake of adding every major philosopher within a 250 page book.
I’ve read a review or two claiming this book is a sharp contrast to what philosophy should be— challenging and mind provoking. But for all its shortcomings, that’s something this book *does* indeed address, whether by literally telling the reader, or by providing coursework to prove just how challenging it can be. The book is designed to be a daily workshop to 1.) read a summary of the philosopher’s work then 2.) apply it to daily life and finally 3.) record your findings.
It was an approach I wasn’t thrilled with, but I respected.
My reason for this rating boils down with how the book was paced and its lack of depth. The title mentions stoicism, giving me the false impression this philosophy will be a key highlight. Instead, it was among the shortest chapters. More broadly, each chapter barely scratches the surface on what the philosopher thought and how he/she challenged others.
Towards the end, it seemed as if the authors needed to hit a page requirement and started adding philosophers with little-to-no information about them. Pythagoras for instance emphasized the need to be friendly- so what? So did Mr. Rogers. I learned he was against eating crumbs from the table and emphasized putting your right shoe on first— coincidentally, I think Mr. Rogers also put his right shoe first. But why is this relevant? In the last 2-3 chapters, the authors admitted it’s difficult for one to try to apply these philosophies to their life given the scarce information about them… so why did you bring them up to begin with?
My proposal for a better book: focus on 4-5 major philosophers and go more in depth with them. Zeno, Plato, Aristotle, Socrates all deserved more attention— but that was compromised for the sake of adding every major philosopher within a 250 page book.
July 3, 2025
I ordered Beyond Stoicism on the 24th of November last year.
The 57 days I had to wait between then and the expected arrival date (20 January 2025) seemed quite long.
I thought Murphy had it in for me when - a week before it was to arrive, I think - I was notified that it would no longer be arriving on the 20th, but would instead arrive a week later.
I was disappointed, and a little annoyed; however, it made it so much more of a pleasant surprise (than it otherwise would have been had it not been delayed) when it did, in fact, arrive on the 20th.
To be fair, I wasn't entirely without access to it before the 20th: I also purchased the audiobook, which came with an accompanying pdf document, from the 7th of January.
This gave the added advantage that I could both listen to, and read, the book at the same time. Another interesting aspect pertaining to my experience 'absorbing' the book is that the print version I had (Beyond Stoicism, the US release title) and the audio (Live Like a Philosopher, the UK title) already from the start gave me two parallel but slightly different perspectives from which to think about the text.
Even the subtitles ('A Guide to the Good Life... ' vs '... Living a Happy Life', respectively) had me thinking, throughout my contemplating it, about the relation between happiness and goodness, as well as the various ways in which these terms could be understood.
The quote at the beginning of the book, from Aristotle’s Protrepticus, refers to a philosopher as one who:
'... alone lives by looking at nature and the divine. Like a good helmsman, he moors his life to what is eternal and unchanging, drops his anchor there, and lives his own master.’
This image of mooring one's life fits in well with the metaphor carried throughout the book - that of considering various philosophies of life, and their corresponding practices, and how they could be practised in (or applied to) one's everyday life. Investigating the various Hellenistic schools of thought from which one’s ‘way of life’ could be approached is compared to taking one’s ship (or other sea-faring vessel) to a port. Three are mentioned: the Port of Pleasure, the Port of Virtue, and the Port of Doubt.
In the first port - that of pleasure - are two philosophies for consideration - that of the Cyrenaics, and that of the Epicureans. From both perspectives, what leads to a happy life is the pursuit of pleasure. Cyrenaics were hedonists: the pleasure pursued was ‘physical pleasure in the here and now’.
The Epicureans, by contrast, divided pleasures into three classes: those that are natural and necessary, those that are natural and unnecessary, and those that are unnatural and unnecessary. They thought the highest good to be pleasure; but they viewed the height of pleasure to be a lack of pain (whether physical or mental): that was natural and necessary; furthermore, it would be the most sustainable in the long term.
The second port is that of virtue, including the following four philosophies: Aristotelianism, Stoicism, Cynicism, and Platonism.
Here, the highest good is not pleasure but, rather, virtue. In Aristoteliansm, the good life consists in living according to virtue: deciding on the virtues one values most, and striving to become ever better at living in accord with them.
In Stoicism, virtue is the highest good. It is also necessary to be mindful of how one views things, since making accurate judgments can aid in achieving and maintaining peace of mind.
In Cynicism, virtue is the only good; another key aspect of this philosophy is the flouting of societal conventions.
Platonism is multifaceted; the aspect of it elaborated on in the book is that of achieving political good in the context in which one finds oneself.
The third port is that of doubt. The philosophies covered here are ‘Socraticism’, Sophism, Academic Skepticism, and Pyrrhonian Skepticism.
Socrates had an approach to knowledge that was the antithesis of dogmatism: he questioned everything, to such an extent that after a conversation with him, one had more questions than answers about that which one formally considered to be true.
The Sophists were relativists, that made pretty much everything - including morality - a matter of opinion. Conversation with them was characterised by the capability of arguing both for and against a given proposition.
The difference between the two types of Skepticism is that in Academic Skepticism, one holds beliefs tentatively, and changes them according to any pertinent information (evidence supporting one belief or another); in Pyrrhonian Skepticism, on the other hand, one maintains a complete suspension of judgement where there exists any degree of uncertainty.
After visiting the three ports, one approaches ‘uncharted waters’: the last portion of the book, featuring Pythagoreanism, Megarianism, and Neoplatonism, is entitled, ‘Here be Dragons’.
These are philosophies about which we have relatively little information (compared with the philosophies at the three ports); as a result, it’s more difficult to piece together how proponents of each school of thought would have applied their philosophies in living out their day-to-day lives.
I journaled about my experience learning about each philosophy, as well as going through the exercises that gave me an idea of ways of thinking and specific actions and practices associated with each of them.
I thoroughly enjoyed the process; I highly recommend the book - it guides one in thinking through various ways in which happiness can be achieved and maintained, and gives various perspectives on how this can be done.
The 57 days I had to wait between then and the expected arrival date (20 January 2025) seemed quite long.
I thought Murphy had it in for me when - a week before it was to arrive, I think - I was notified that it would no longer be arriving on the 20th, but would instead arrive a week later.
I was disappointed, and a little annoyed; however, it made it so much more of a pleasant surprise (than it otherwise would have been had it not been delayed) when it did, in fact, arrive on the 20th.
To be fair, I wasn't entirely without access to it before the 20th: I also purchased the audiobook, which came with an accompanying pdf document, from the 7th of January.
This gave the added advantage that I could both listen to, and read, the book at the same time. Another interesting aspect pertaining to my experience 'absorbing' the book is that the print version I had (Beyond Stoicism, the US release title) and the audio (Live Like a Philosopher, the UK title) already from the start gave me two parallel but slightly different perspectives from which to think about the text.
Even the subtitles ('A Guide to the Good Life... ' vs '... Living a Happy Life', respectively) had me thinking, throughout my contemplating it, about the relation between happiness and goodness, as well as the various ways in which these terms could be understood.
The quote at the beginning of the book, from Aristotle’s Protrepticus, refers to a philosopher as one who:
'... alone lives by looking at nature and the divine. Like a good helmsman, he moors his life to what is eternal and unchanging, drops his anchor there, and lives his own master.’
This image of mooring one's life fits in well with the metaphor carried throughout the book - that of considering various philosophies of life, and their corresponding practices, and how they could be practised in (or applied to) one's everyday life. Investigating the various Hellenistic schools of thought from which one’s ‘way of life’ could be approached is compared to taking one’s ship (or other sea-faring vessel) to a port. Three are mentioned: the Port of Pleasure, the Port of Virtue, and the Port of Doubt.
In the first port - that of pleasure - are two philosophies for consideration - that of the Cyrenaics, and that of the Epicureans. From both perspectives, what leads to a happy life is the pursuit of pleasure. Cyrenaics were hedonists: the pleasure pursued was ‘physical pleasure in the here and now’.
The Epicureans, by contrast, divided pleasures into three classes: those that are natural and necessary, those that are natural and unnecessary, and those that are unnatural and unnecessary. They thought the highest good to be pleasure; but they viewed the height of pleasure to be a lack of pain (whether physical or mental): that was natural and necessary; furthermore, it would be the most sustainable in the long term.
The second port is that of virtue, including the following four philosophies: Aristotelianism, Stoicism, Cynicism, and Platonism.
Here, the highest good is not pleasure but, rather, virtue. In Aristoteliansm, the good life consists in living according to virtue: deciding on the virtues one values most, and striving to become ever better at living in accord with them.
In Stoicism, virtue is the highest good. It is also necessary to be mindful of how one views things, since making accurate judgments can aid in achieving and maintaining peace of mind.
In Cynicism, virtue is the only good; another key aspect of this philosophy is the flouting of societal conventions.
Platonism is multifaceted; the aspect of it elaborated on in the book is that of achieving political good in the context in which one finds oneself.
The third port is that of doubt. The philosophies covered here are ‘Socraticism’, Sophism, Academic Skepticism, and Pyrrhonian Skepticism.
Socrates had an approach to knowledge that was the antithesis of dogmatism: he questioned everything, to such an extent that after a conversation with him, one had more questions than answers about that which one formally considered to be true.
The Sophists were relativists, that made pretty much everything - including morality - a matter of opinion. Conversation with them was characterised by the capability of arguing both for and against a given proposition.
The difference between the two types of Skepticism is that in Academic Skepticism, one holds beliefs tentatively, and changes them according to any pertinent information (evidence supporting one belief or another); in Pyrrhonian Skepticism, on the other hand, one maintains a complete suspension of judgement where there exists any degree of uncertainty.
After visiting the three ports, one approaches ‘uncharted waters’: the last portion of the book, featuring Pythagoreanism, Megarianism, and Neoplatonism, is entitled, ‘Here be Dragons’.
These are philosophies about which we have relatively little information (compared with the philosophies at the three ports); as a result, it’s more difficult to piece together how proponents of each school of thought would have applied their philosophies in living out their day-to-day lives.
I journaled about my experience learning about each philosophy, as well as going through the exercises that gave me an idea of ways of thinking and specific actions and practices associated with each of them.
I thoroughly enjoyed the process; I highly recommend the book - it guides one in thinking through various ways in which happiness can be achieved and maintained, and gives various perspectives on how this can be done.
January 14, 2025
While I generally tend to be a more charitable reviewer, some things are hard to overlook. To see where I’m going with this review, compare the following two quotes, one from a prominent ancient Stoic, and one from a modern one, the book’s author.
First, Epictetus:
“The philosopher's school, ye men, is a surgery: you ought not to go out of it with pleasure, but with pain. For you are not in sound health when you enter.” — Epictetus
Next, the book’s author:
“Please don’t let the word ‘philosophies’ scare you off. There will be no final exam, no multiple-choice questions asking you to name that philosopher or when he or she was born and died. Instead, we’ll use the best of ancient ideas as a compass to find a new path forward today, one with a sense of purpose and intentionality.” — Massimo Pigliucci
See the difference?
Philosophy is supposed to be difficult; it challenges you, it demands high standards of thought and action. It is not supposed to be pleasant, easy, or convenient; its aim is to test your beliefs and change your life for the better, but only after an initial period of discomfort and struggle. Epicteuts understood this.
How about this book’s author? The opposite. He wants to coddle you through the subject in the gentlest possible manner, presenting philosophy, not as the challenge it should be, but as a cheapened form of painless self help. It would be like your personal trainer telling you not to be scared off by weights.
There is, of course, an argument to be made for popularizing important subjects. If this book stimulates interest in a non-intimidating way, and helps people live more thoughtfully, if not quite philosophically, then what’s the harm?
It’s a valid point, but I don’t think this should come at the expense of rigor; otherwise, it can give someone the wrong impression that they deeply understand a subject that they can only superficially grasp. And wasn’t that the danger, after all, that Socrates fought against his entire life?
As for the book itself, the less charitable side of me wants to say it consists of nothing other than a series of cliche-filled, uninventive encyclopedia entries. That’s probably a bit harsh, but not much. If you’re familiar with the material, you’ll get why I’m saying this.
I don’t want to say, however, that the book is all bad. Here are some of the good parts.
First, it promotes the concept of eclecticism. As the authors wrote:
“We don’t think there is sufficient evidence to believe that a single philosophy of life is a natural fit for everyone. Rather, we believe that different philosophies are suitable for different people, based on their individual personalities and backgrounds. It’s even possible that combining aspects of various philosophies could be the best approach for you.”
Eclecticism is generally a good thing, as it prevents you from slavishly and mindlessly following a single school or individual that may not necessarily fit your personality or specific circumstances. Cultivating the best ideas from several places is, in fact, how Stoicism itself got started. You would probably be wise to do the same.
Second, the book does cover some lesser-known philosophers, even for those who have been studying the subject for a while. I’d be pretty impressed, for example, if you already knew a lot about Aristippus, Stilpo, or Hipparchia. In that sense, you’re bound to learn something new here.
And third, the book provides guidance on how to apply the lessons of each school of thought to your life; you’ll learn how to better appreciate and control physical pleasure, how to develop your character and mental resilience, and how to think more critically about a host of topics.
Whatever your personality or inclinations, you’re bound to find something useful. Do you like flouting convention and making people feel uncomfortable? Try out philosophical Cynicism. Do you like guilt-free sex and overindulgence in food? You’ll probably love the chapter of Cyrenaicism. Or do you believe that your dog may contain the transmigrated soul of an old friend? Then Pythagoreansim might be right for you.
The bottom line is that it’s hard for me to recommend this book to all but the most inexperienced reader of philosophy. But even then, there are better and more challenging reads. And challenging yourself is not a bad thing. Try, for example, Philosophy and Life: Exploring the Great Questions of How to Live by AC Grayling or Philosophy as a Way of Life by Pierre Hadot.
First, Epictetus:
“The philosopher's school, ye men, is a surgery: you ought not to go out of it with pleasure, but with pain. For you are not in sound health when you enter.” — Epictetus
Next, the book’s author:
“Please don’t let the word ‘philosophies’ scare you off. There will be no final exam, no multiple-choice questions asking you to name that philosopher or when he or she was born and died. Instead, we’ll use the best of ancient ideas as a compass to find a new path forward today, one with a sense of purpose and intentionality.” — Massimo Pigliucci
See the difference?
Philosophy is supposed to be difficult; it challenges you, it demands high standards of thought and action. It is not supposed to be pleasant, easy, or convenient; its aim is to test your beliefs and change your life for the better, but only after an initial period of discomfort and struggle. Epicteuts understood this.
How about this book’s author? The opposite. He wants to coddle you through the subject in the gentlest possible manner, presenting philosophy, not as the challenge it should be, but as a cheapened form of painless self help. It would be like your personal trainer telling you not to be scared off by weights.
There is, of course, an argument to be made for popularizing important subjects. If this book stimulates interest in a non-intimidating way, and helps people live more thoughtfully, if not quite philosophically, then what’s the harm?
It’s a valid point, but I don’t think this should come at the expense of rigor; otherwise, it can give someone the wrong impression that they deeply understand a subject that they can only superficially grasp. And wasn’t that the danger, after all, that Socrates fought against his entire life?
As for the book itself, the less charitable side of me wants to say it consists of nothing other than a series of cliche-filled, uninventive encyclopedia entries. That’s probably a bit harsh, but not much. If you’re familiar with the material, you’ll get why I’m saying this.
I don’t want to say, however, that the book is all bad. Here are some of the good parts.
First, it promotes the concept of eclecticism. As the authors wrote:
“We don’t think there is sufficient evidence to believe that a single philosophy of life is a natural fit for everyone. Rather, we believe that different philosophies are suitable for different people, based on their individual personalities and backgrounds. It’s even possible that combining aspects of various philosophies could be the best approach for you.”
Eclecticism is generally a good thing, as it prevents you from slavishly and mindlessly following a single school or individual that may not necessarily fit your personality or specific circumstances. Cultivating the best ideas from several places is, in fact, how Stoicism itself got started. You would probably be wise to do the same.
Second, the book does cover some lesser-known philosophers, even for those who have been studying the subject for a while. I’d be pretty impressed, for example, if you already knew a lot about Aristippus, Stilpo, or Hipparchia. In that sense, you’re bound to learn something new here.
And third, the book provides guidance on how to apply the lessons of each school of thought to your life; you’ll learn how to better appreciate and control physical pleasure, how to develop your character and mental resilience, and how to think more critically about a host of topics.
Whatever your personality or inclinations, you’re bound to find something useful. Do you like flouting convention and making people feel uncomfortable? Try out philosophical Cynicism. Do you like guilt-free sex and overindulgence in food? You’ll probably love the chapter of Cyrenaicism. Or do you believe that your dog may contain the transmigrated soul of an old friend? Then Pythagoreansim might be right for you.
The bottom line is that it’s hard for me to recommend this book to all but the most inexperienced reader of philosophy. But even then, there are better and more challenging reads. And challenging yourself is not a bad thing. Try, for example, Philosophy and Life: Exploring the Great Questions of How to Live by AC Grayling or Philosophy as a Way of Life by Pierre Hadot.
January 29, 2025
This is now the third book of Massimo Pigliucci's that I've read and reviewed. And I have to admit it was my least favorite. I liked it - I just didn't love it.
Part of it was the approach to the topic. From the jacket description:
"Navigate the challenges of modern life, with ancient and time-tested Greek and Roman thinkers at your side.
What is a good life? And how can we create that life in a world filled with uncertainty? 'Beyond Stoicism' invites you to find your own answers to these big questions with help from thirteen of the most prominent Greco-Roman philosophers—many of whom inspired, or were inspired by, the Stoics. By taking cues from the lives and ideas of the Cynics, Epicureans, and others, you’ll learn to:
Seek pleasure with Aristippus
Strike the right balance with Aristotle
Focus on what’s up to you with Epictetus
Be a rebel like Hipparchia
Embrace uncertainty with Carneades
Question everything with Socrates
Work toward a just society with Plato
And much more
Times have changed, but the quest for eudaimonia—a life worth living—stays the same: We still seek pleasure and crave love, avoid pain and fear death. That’s why all these ancient sages can continue to guide us, practicing Stoics and new seekers alike.
With exercises to help you test-drive each philosophy today."
My frustration with this approach was that some of the philosophers and their life philosophies simply weren't that interesting to me. That frustration was compounded by their presence limiting the amount of depth the authors could go into on the philosophers and philosophies I did care about. Consequently, I felt as if some of the chapters came across and trite or superficial.
Also, the book suffered from something that far too many nonfiction works do: excessive length. Don't get me wrong - I have no problem reading lengthy books. However, their writing has to be entertaining and enjoyable to read on top of informative. Alas, this one was not. Consequently, it fell into my standard criticism of most nonfiction works; namely, it probably would have been a better book had it been about 25% shorter.
More specifically, it was the above-mentioned exercises that I thought bogged down the book. I understand the authors wanted readers to apply their learning. But I found the application sections overly lengthy, which made the text seem longer than it actually was. (Ultimately, the book felt like an Intro to Greco-Roman text book that was more appropriate for 18- or 19-year-old college freshmen.)
Still, I am glad I read it. And I will continue to read Pigliucci's work. I just didn't enjoy it as much as I did his "Quest for Character" and "How to Be a Stoic."
Part of it was the approach to the topic. From the jacket description:
"Navigate the challenges of modern life, with ancient and time-tested Greek and Roman thinkers at your side.
What is a good life? And how can we create that life in a world filled with uncertainty? 'Beyond Stoicism' invites you to find your own answers to these big questions with help from thirteen of the most prominent Greco-Roman philosophers—many of whom inspired, or were inspired by, the Stoics. By taking cues from the lives and ideas of the Cynics, Epicureans, and others, you’ll learn to:
Seek pleasure with Aristippus
Strike the right balance with Aristotle
Focus on what’s up to you with Epictetus
Be a rebel like Hipparchia
Embrace uncertainty with Carneades
Question everything with Socrates
Work toward a just society with Plato
And much more
Times have changed, but the quest for eudaimonia—a life worth living—stays the same: We still seek pleasure and crave love, avoid pain and fear death. That’s why all these ancient sages can continue to guide us, practicing Stoics and new seekers alike.
With exercises to help you test-drive each philosophy today."
My frustration with this approach was that some of the philosophers and their life philosophies simply weren't that interesting to me. That frustration was compounded by their presence limiting the amount of depth the authors could go into on the philosophers and philosophies I did care about. Consequently, I felt as if some of the chapters came across and trite or superficial.
Also, the book suffered from something that far too many nonfiction works do: excessive length. Don't get me wrong - I have no problem reading lengthy books. However, their writing has to be entertaining and enjoyable to read on top of informative. Alas, this one was not. Consequently, it fell into my standard criticism of most nonfiction works; namely, it probably would have been a better book had it been about 25% shorter.
More specifically, it was the above-mentioned exercises that I thought bogged down the book. I understand the authors wanted readers to apply their learning. But I found the application sections overly lengthy, which made the text seem longer than it actually was. (Ultimately, the book felt like an Intro to Greco-Roman text book that was more appropriate for 18- or 19-year-old college freshmen.)
Still, I am glad I read it. And I will continue to read Pigliucci's work. I just didn't enjoy it as much as I did his "Quest for Character" and "How to Be a Stoic."
February 2, 2025
In contrast to the popular review of this book by Mr. Boissonneault, I give the book four stars for many of the same reasons he gives it only two: the authors' intentions in writing the book.
On page 48 of the paperback edition of the book, the authors remind the reader of the purpose of the book: "Our aim is to provide you with a taste of what these [Greek and Roman] philosophies were like if you were to live them, and to give you a chance to explore the shores before setting sail for your favorite philosophy's port."
This book is not to be the end all. It is not meant to be hard. One should not expect to become an Epicurean or any other of the philosophies discussed based on the brief descriptions and simple exercises provided. As the authors state, that is not their intention. I believe they have accomplished that goal and the book should not be rated lowly based on what a reader expectations or desires of the book to be.
There seems to be another underlying reason for compiling the slate of options in my opinion and it is hinted at in the first sentence of the paragraph preceding the one containing the quote above. "[Fully embracing the Epicurean lifestyle] stands in stark contrast to the Cyrenaic philosophy which we covered in the last chapter, which is essentially a well-thought-out version of the default life many of us actually live." The emphasis added is my own.
Cyrenaic philosophy is basically self-absorbed, antisocial, non-productive hedonism as presented in the book. Pigliucci, Lopez and Kunz seem to be saying by offering this compilation, that there are better options for living one's life that don't abandon virtually most of one's mental capacity. From a societal perspective it is an urgent necessity that we adopt them if one wants to even attempt to avoid the autocratic/oligarchic totalitarianism we seem to be sliding into (again, this last sentence is my words, not theirs.)
Some folks may recognize something has to change to avoid the coming darkness, but not know where to start in that journey. This book provides options to gain a toehold for those not already so deeply enjoined into a philosophically led life, as some reviewers might be.
In close, I'm glad the book is here. The title "Beyond Stoicism" would appear to me to be working from the mass popularity of earlier works by the authors. It makes no sense if you're new to them. Hopefully it doesn't keep the 'uninitiated' from even considering it. People need exposure to as many different tools as possible to engage in positive change. This is one more of them.
On page 48 of the paperback edition of the book, the authors remind the reader of the purpose of the book: "Our aim is to provide you with a taste of what these [Greek and Roman] philosophies were like if you were to live them, and to give you a chance to explore the shores before setting sail for your favorite philosophy's port."
This book is not to be the end all. It is not meant to be hard. One should not expect to become an Epicurean or any other of the philosophies discussed based on the brief descriptions and simple exercises provided. As the authors state, that is not their intention. I believe they have accomplished that goal and the book should not be rated lowly based on what a reader expectations or desires of the book to be.
There seems to be another underlying reason for compiling the slate of options in my opinion and it is hinted at in the first sentence of the paragraph preceding the one containing the quote above. "[Fully embracing the Epicurean lifestyle] stands in stark contrast to the Cyrenaic philosophy which we covered in the last chapter, which is essentially a well-thought-out version of the default life many of us actually live." The emphasis added is my own.
Cyrenaic philosophy is basically self-absorbed, antisocial, non-productive hedonism as presented in the book. Pigliucci, Lopez and Kunz seem to be saying by offering this compilation, that there are better options for living one's life that don't abandon virtually most of one's mental capacity. From a societal perspective it is an urgent necessity that we adopt them if one wants to even attempt to avoid the autocratic/oligarchic totalitarianism we seem to be sliding into (again, this last sentence is my words, not theirs.)
Some folks may recognize something has to change to avoid the coming darkness, but not know where to start in that journey. This book provides options to gain a toehold for those not already so deeply enjoined into a philosophically led life, as some reviewers might be.
In close, I'm glad the book is here. The title "Beyond Stoicism" would appear to me to be working from the mass popularity of earlier works by the authors. It makes no sense if you're new to them. Hopefully it doesn't keep the 'uninitiated' from even considering it. People need exposure to as many different tools as possible to engage in positive change. This is one more of them.
June 3, 2025
Massimo Pigliucci has been carrying the Stoic torch for a while now and teams up again with Greg Lopez, and for the first time, Meredith Alexander Kunz in this latest work.
Together, they guide us through various ancient philosophical schools and thinkers. Not just Stoicism, but also Epicureanism, The Cynics, Megarian school, and even the less-discussed Cyrenaics.
Live Like a Philosopher is meant to be experienced. It’s like stepping into a time machine and visiting each school of thought at its peak. Each chapter breaks down a philosophical tradition, explores its key ideas and the life of its prominent figurehead, and most importantly, shows you how to try it out in your own life.
If you’ve read Massimo and Greg’s previous work, you’ll be familiar with this practical, exercise-based approach to philosophy.
Each section closes with one or more exercise. Essentially, something to action, often over several days, rather than just reading and moving on.
It’s like a philosophical workout. One chapter has you questioning everything with Socrates; the next, you’re exploring the ethics of true pleasure with Epicurus.
These aren't just ideas → they’re ways of life, to be practised, and remembered.
This book doesn’t preach or drone on. It doesn’t pretend the ancients had all the answers, and it certainly doesn’t treat them like Gods or Sages. Instead, the authors present their ideas honestly, showing where each thinker shines, and indeed where they fall short.
Still, for a first step into the river, Live Like a Philosopher offers clear water and a and a steady path to sail on.
Together, they guide us through various ancient philosophical schools and thinkers. Not just Stoicism, but also Epicureanism, The Cynics, Megarian school, and even the less-discussed Cyrenaics.
Live Like a Philosopher is meant to be experienced. It’s like stepping into a time machine and visiting each school of thought at its peak. Each chapter breaks down a philosophical tradition, explores its key ideas and the life of its prominent figurehead, and most importantly, shows you how to try it out in your own life.
If you’ve read Massimo and Greg’s previous work, you’ll be familiar with this practical, exercise-based approach to philosophy.
Each section closes with one or more exercise. Essentially, something to action, often over several days, rather than just reading and moving on.
It’s like a philosophical workout. One chapter has you questioning everything with Socrates; the next, you’re exploring the ethics of true pleasure with Epicurus.
These aren't just ideas → they’re ways of life, to be practised, and remembered.
This book doesn’t preach or drone on. It doesn’t pretend the ancients had all the answers, and it certainly doesn’t treat them like Gods or Sages. Instead, the authors present their ideas honestly, showing where each thinker shines, and indeed where they fall short.
Still, for a first step into the river, Live Like a Philosopher offers clear water and a and a steady path to sail on.
January 21, 2026
The book gives practical summaries of different Greco-Roman philosophies along with practical exercises for your practical understanding. Massimo is known for advocating stoicism, but in this book, he shows us different perspectives. The book is medium sized, philosophy is a frightening topic for many, and there is a myriad of books around philosophy. However, I highly recommend this book for people who are interested in applying philosophy and mindful reflection to live a better life. I think of this book as the next level of Sophie's World by Gaarder.
I am currently leaning in the practice of stoicism, and I took with me practical exercises to improve my stoic thinking. However, I can now incorporate key ideas from other philosophies because it opened my eyes to them. For example, I liked the approach of uncertainty from Socrates, his definition of knowledge, and his Socratic inquiry method.
Other notable points of this book are the practical and vivid summaries for most of the Greco-Roman philosophies. The references to the life of the philosophers, their context, main ideas, and key events in their life make it interesting. And how it rounds the explanation-up with practical exercises makes it very round (though to be honest I did not do the exercises because I was engaged in a more casual reading). I wish I had a teacher in high school that explained philosophy to me in this way.
The exercises may make it feel like a more academic than casual reading book. However, you can do as me and just read through them, you will still get a general picture of the philosophy.
I am currently leaning in the practice of stoicism, and I took with me practical exercises to improve my stoic thinking. However, I can now incorporate key ideas from other philosophies because it opened my eyes to them. For example, I liked the approach of uncertainty from Socrates, his definition of knowledge, and his Socratic inquiry method.
Other notable points of this book are the practical and vivid summaries for most of the Greco-Roman philosophies. The references to the life of the philosophers, their context, main ideas, and key events in their life make it interesting. And how it rounds the explanation-up with practical exercises makes it very round (though to be honest I did not do the exercises because I was engaged in a more casual reading). I wish I had a teacher in high school that explained philosophy to me in this way.
The exercises may make it feel like a more academic than casual reading book. However, you can do as me and just read through them, you will still get a general picture of the philosophy.
February 12, 2025
Rating: 2.5
I think the ideal reader of this book should have some acquaintance with philosophy. Having never taken a course in the subject (which I now believe was a very smart move), I was not the ideal reader by a long shot. Based on the description of the book, I understood that I was going to be exposed to different takes on what a “good life” consisted of and guidance about how one might live one. Hmm. . . to some extent I was, yes. While I followed most of the material in the first half of the book and acknowledge learning quite a bit, I eventually ran into trouble. By the two-thirds or three-quarters point, when the authors launched into a summary of Bayesian probability, I had simply had it. I could not continue.
Overall, this text reads like one that might be set for a university introductory/survey credit course on the philosophy of living a satisfying or meaningful life—a night school or elective class, perhaps, for those not majoring in the discipline—complete with exercises. A great many of these reflective tasks demanded too much effort to be enjoyable, and I’m doubtful that most readers would wrestle with them. Performing Socratic questioning of one’s own assumptions, I found, is excruciatingly difficult. Believe me, I tried.
To be clear: this is not a bad book, but it didn’t provide me with what I’d hoped for. The rating reflects the emotional response of a less-than-ideal (and a now burned-out) reader. A pleasure this book was not.
I think the ideal reader of this book should have some acquaintance with philosophy. Having never taken a course in the subject (which I now believe was a very smart move), I was not the ideal reader by a long shot. Based on the description of the book, I understood that I was going to be exposed to different takes on what a “good life” consisted of and guidance about how one might live one. Hmm. . . to some extent I was, yes. While I followed most of the material in the first half of the book and acknowledge learning quite a bit, I eventually ran into trouble. By the two-thirds or three-quarters point, when the authors launched into a summary of Bayesian probability, I had simply had it. I could not continue.
Overall, this text reads like one that might be set for a university introductory/survey credit course on the philosophy of living a satisfying or meaningful life—a night school or elective class, perhaps, for those not majoring in the discipline—complete with exercises. A great many of these reflective tasks demanded too much effort to be enjoyable, and I’m doubtful that most readers would wrestle with them. Performing Socratic questioning of one’s own assumptions, I found, is excruciatingly difficult. Believe me, I tried.
To be clear: this is not a bad book, but it didn’t provide me with what I’d hoped for. The rating reflects the emotional response of a less-than-ideal (and a now burned-out) reader. A pleasure this book was not.
January 10, 2025
Thank you The Experiment Publishing for the advance gifted copy. My opinions are my own
This guide provided a great introduction to thirteen Greek and Roman philosophers through the lens of the Stoic school of thought in such a way as to make their philosophy relevant to today. The book centers around three key themes: pleasure, character, and doubt (reframed by authors as feeling good, doing good, and thinking well). It starts with most intuitive ideas and works through them as they get less so. There are practical exercises along the way, structured so that each chapter can be read and the philosophy therein implemented in one week before you go on to the next philosophy (but you can go at any pace). 13 chapters = 13 weeks, and then there are additional ideas to explore at the end of the book. I felt encouraged to sample various philosophies to find those that fit my life best, going beyond Stoicism to incorporate wide-ranging ideas. And wow, is there a LOT to be learned here! The ancients were human like us, with ideas on how to handle stress and pain, life and death, and how to live well in the meantime (choosing virtue and justice but striving for betterment with ambition). This book makes it all approachable, and not dry and irrelevant (as it has been presented to me in the past).
This guide provided a great introduction to thirteen Greek and Roman philosophers through the lens of the Stoic school of thought in such a way as to make their philosophy relevant to today. The book centers around three key themes: pleasure, character, and doubt (reframed by authors as feeling good, doing good, and thinking well). It starts with most intuitive ideas and works through them as they get less so. There are practical exercises along the way, structured so that each chapter can be read and the philosophy therein implemented in one week before you go on to the next philosophy (but you can go at any pace). 13 chapters = 13 weeks, and then there are additional ideas to explore at the end of the book. I felt encouraged to sample various philosophies to find those that fit my life best, going beyond Stoicism to incorporate wide-ranging ideas. And wow, is there a LOT to be learned here! The ancients were human like us, with ideas on how to handle stress and pain, life and death, and how to live well in the meantime (choosing virtue and justice but striving for betterment with ambition). This book makes it all approachable, and not dry and irrelevant (as it has been presented to me in the past).
September 6, 2025
I am biased in favor of the book, Beyond Stoicism: A Guide to the Good Life with Stoics, Skeptics, Epicureans, and Other Ancient Philosophers. I read it for a Stoic retreat, and the chapters formed the basis for two days of discussion. Two of the book's authors, Massimo Pigliucci and Gregory Lopez, led the retreat. Their dedication to helping others understand and use philosophy to enhance their lives was evident throughout. Their leadership, coupled with an array of interesting, intelligent participants, made the weekend memorable. This experience formed the basis for my bias in the book's favor.
Beyond Stoicism is geared towards Stoics who wish to create a more eclectic personal philosophy by exploring the key ideas of thirteen Greco-Roman schools of thought. Each chapter examines its historical context, guiding principles, and practical applications. There are exercises at each chapter's end to help the reader synthesize and apply these principles to their daily lives.
The writing is clear and concise, and the book can benefit both the novice and advanced practitioner. It is well-suited for a classroom or a retreat. I recommend it for anyone interested in Greco-Roman philosophy.
Beyond Stoicism is geared towards Stoics who wish to create a more eclectic personal philosophy by exploring the key ideas of thirteen Greco-Roman schools of thought. Each chapter examines its historical context, guiding principles, and practical applications. There are exercises at each chapter's end to help the reader synthesize and apply these principles to their daily lives.
The writing is clear and concise, and the book can benefit both the novice and advanced practitioner. It is well-suited for a classroom or a retreat. I recommend it for anyone interested in Greco-Roman philosophy.
October 28, 2025
This is a practical and readable guide that explores how ancient philosophies like Stoicism, Epicureanism, and Skepticism have evolved, showing how many lessons from these thinkers still matter today. The book doesn’t go too deep into any one philosophy, but it does a great job presenting their histories, major ideas, and how these schools built on one another through the centuries. What sets this book apart is how accessible it is, the authors use plenty of relatable stories and easy-to-follow explanations, so newcomers won’t feel lost. The chapters contain straightforward exercises and practical advice you can try in real life, making the ancient wisdom feel relevant and actionable. Whether you’re just curious or looking for new tools to improve your life, this book makes it easy to find inspiration and fresh perspectives from philosophy’s greatest minds.
June 13, 2025
This is a great first introduction to both the history philosophy and how to apply the ethical frameworks to modern life. The practice lessons are a nice touch, but I didn't do them all nor wait another day between each lesson.
The lesson for me was that Stoicism really appealed to me for its focus on reason and its answer to ethics, how to live a good life. The focus on tranquility and understanding what is in your control has brought so much peace.
The second lesson was that the academic (not Pyrrhic) skeptics like Carneades really reflected my epistemology, which is very Bayesian. The metaphysics of Stoicism and all the ancient philosophies is outdated.
By taking epistemology of skepticism with ancient and more modern influences like David Hume, and blending it with the ethics (how to live a good life) from Stoicism, I now have a complete, secular philosophy of life that has brought me meaning and peace, along with the epistemology that skepticism and science bring.
The lesson for me was that Stoicism really appealed to me for its focus on reason and its answer to ethics, how to live a good life. The focus on tranquility and understanding what is in your control has brought so much peace.
The second lesson was that the academic (not Pyrrhic) skeptics like Carneades really reflected my epistemology, which is very Bayesian. The metaphysics of Stoicism and all the ancient philosophies is outdated.
By taking epistemology of skepticism with ancient and more modern influences like David Hume, and blending it with the ethics (how to live a good life) from Stoicism, I now have a complete, secular philosophy of life that has brought me meaning and peace, along with the epistemology that skepticism and science bring.
September 4, 2025
Easy to read broad spectrum (maybe too shallow for some) tour of ancient philosophy. Exercises each day (for a week of each philosophy) tied to “living like__(fill in the blank with a philosophy each chapter)__.”
Stoics, Arsitippus (Cyrenaics), Epicureans, Aristotle, Hipparchia (Cynics), Plato, Socrates, Protagoras, Carneades (the skeptical turn of the Academy), and Pyrrho (the Greek Buddhist?)
The authors’ goal is to help you to understand the philosophical principles that you may apply them in whole or in part to your own philosophy of life. In this reader they have succeeded. Well worth the slow read (an exercise a day) during my journaling practice.
Stoics, Arsitippus (Cyrenaics), Epicureans, Aristotle, Hipparchia (Cynics), Plato, Socrates, Protagoras, Carneades (the skeptical turn of the Academy), and Pyrrho (the Greek Buddhist?)
The authors’ goal is to help you to understand the philosophical principles that you may apply them in whole or in part to your own philosophy of life. In this reader they have succeeded. Well worth the slow read (an exercise a day) during my journaling practice.
November 15, 2025
I've read other books by Massimo so looked forward to this one. I feel like this was just one step above an introduction which is something that I was looking for. I learned about philosophies (and philosophers) that I really had no exposure to so that was a bonus. While I was not a big fan of the exercises (I am not in general in any context) I really did enjoy having to think about what it'd be like to apply certain philosophies in our lives in 2025. If you're looking for an in-depth exploration of philosophies this book isn't it. If you have a base and are looking to go one step further or wondering how to apply philosophy into your personal life, then this book is for you.
April 14, 2025
I enjoyed this book! It was a bit out of my comfort zone since I have never taken a course in philosophy and only know the major philosophers on a cursory level. I appreciated how each chapter began with an anecdote, then moved on to a practical explanation and how to apply it to my own life. I related to some philosophers more than others but appreciated the broad approach and organization into the different portals. Overall a worthwhile read!
October 23, 2025
We know about Aristotle who said virtue is about moderation, but there are so many others who discussed other kinds of self-management. There are good sections on moral duty, Epictetus’s control of the will, and even the old Cynics living out virtue in the street - or the Cyrenaics who taught that pleasure is the only intrinsic good.
February 6, 2025
Basically an ancient philosophy 101 course. Interesting, but just scratches the surface of the topic.
June 3, 2025
Came across several philosophers I wasn't aware of. Worthy read. Each chapter comes with exercises!
June 4, 2025
I loved the book! Excellent lessons with personal examples to bolster your understanding of philosophy and living well
September 4, 2025
this is an active listening audiobook. you need to write a lot not great for casual listening
January 13, 2026
It was Ok - nothing more than that.
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