Think Like a Stoic: The Ancient Path to a Life Well Lived

by Ken Mogi

The Japanese perspective that made The Little Book of Ikigai a worldwide bestseller meets the wisdom of the ancients. The result is a new version of stoicism that is practical, global, future-proof and, above all, optimistic.

In a world overflowing with abundance and information, the calm and clarity of stoicism has never been more necessary. In this new book, bestselling author Ken Mogi explores the ancient Greek philosophy as well as its resonance with other cultures around the world, not least his own Japanese perspective.

With his expertise as a neuroscientist, Mogi uncovers the cognitive foundations of the resilience that is so central to stoicism. Rooted in science, he finds in stoicism robust coping strategies for the challenges of modern life, and ways to balance self-discipline with enjoying life's pleasures.

But stoicism is also a mindset that uniquely equips us to handle the future, from global challenges such as the climate emergency to the rise and rise of artificial intelligence. Thinking like a stoic, he argues, can offer us not just a path for personal growth and wisdom, but the key to the future of humanity.

Genres: Philosophy

208 pages, Hardcover

Published January 6, 2026

About the author

Associated Names:
* 茂木 健一郎 (Japanese)
* Ken Mogi (English)
* โมงิ เคนอิจิโร่ (Thai)

Kenichirō "Ken" Mogi (茂木 健一郎 Mogi Kenichirō) is a Japanese scientist. He is a senior researcher at Sony Computer Science Laboratories and a visiting professor at the Tokyo Institute of Technology. According to the profile posted at his personal blog, his mission is "to solve the so-called mind-brain problem."

After graduating from the University of Tokyo in 1985 with a degree in science and in 1987 with a degree in law, Mogi received in 1992 a Ph.D. with the thesis "Mathematical Model of Muscle Contraction".

Ken Mogi was Japan's first TED speaker. He presented in 2012 March.

Mogi has published over 50 books, most of which are written in Japanese. They cover not only brain science but also includes, but not limited to, philosophy, history, art, education, and linguistics. His books have been frequently used as a source of university entrance examinations. His book "Nō to Kasō" (脳と仮想, "Brain and Imagination") has received 2005 Hideo Kobayashi award, and another book "Ima Koko kara Subete no Basho e" (今ここからすべての場所へ, "From Here, to Everywhere") has received 2008 Takeo Kuwabara academic award.

Reviews

[Periplus Bookshop · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ketiaka informasi melimpah, sehingga seolah seseorang terus dibombardir oleh tekanan—baik dari media, perubahan sosial, hingga krisis global seperti perubahan iklim dan kecerdasan buatan—karya ini menyajikan filosofi Stoik yang dirangkum secara segar dan relevan. Ken Mogi mengajak pembaca menyusuri akar klasik filsafat Yunani, namun tidak berhenti di situ: ia memadukannya dengan perspektif Jepang dan riset neurologis untuk menunjukkan bagaimana kebiasaan pikir Stoik dapat memperkuat ketahanan mental. Konsep-konsep seperti menerima apa yang tidak dapat dikendalikan, menjaga keseimbangan antara disiplin dan kenikmatan hidup, serta membangun optimisme yang realistis dibedah dengan gaya yang bersahabat namun tidak meremehkan kompleksitas manusia. Pendekatannya bersifat global dan kontemporer: pengaruh lintas budaya terlihat jelas, dan aplikasi dalam menghadapi isu-isu besar masa kini tak luput diuraikan — misalnya bagaimana Stoik bisa membantu merespons tantangan masa depan. Buku ini cocok dibaca oleh mereka yang tertarik pada filsafat praktis, pengembangan diri, psikologi, bahkan bagi pembaca umum yang mencari ketenangan dan kejelasan dalam hidup yang penuh ketidakpastian. Selain itu, buku ini sangat direkomendasikan untuk mahasiswa filsafat, profesional yang menghadapi tekanan tinggi, hingga aktivis sosial yang memerlukan landasan mental kuat dalam menghadapi perubahan. https://blog.periplus.com/2025/09/15/...