The Seeker and the Sage

by Brigid Delaney

How Stoic principles can help us navigate the challenges of our divided, unstable world. Can the principles of Stoicism lead us to a peaceful, 'good' life?

We are all going to die, so how should we live?

A traumatised journalist is given a dream assignment - track down the mayor of a remote and mysterious town whose citizens are reported to be the happiest people on Earth.

Journeying into a harsh and inhospitable landscape, she overcomes many obstacles before arriving in Silver Springs, whose citizens live according to the ancient philosophy of Stoicism and where she has been granted three days to interview the mayor.

The journalist wants to know how to live a good life and be a good person when she returns to the chaos outside the valley. The mayor wants to protect his dominion from being tainted by the modern world.

In her bestseller, Reasons Not to Worry, Brigid Delaney explores the foundations of Stoicism and how you can apply them to your life. Now, in The Seeker and the Sage, she how can the wisdom of this ancient philosophy apply to communities, and how can we create our own utopias in an increasingly troubled world?

Genres: Fiction, Personal Development

331 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 30, 2025

About the author

Brigid Delaney is the author of Wellmania, This Restless Life, Wild Things and a book explaining Stoic philosophy – Reasons Not to Worry.

She has worked as a columnist and journalist for Guardian Australia, and is currently a speechwriter for a federal Minister.

Reviews

[Bianca · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought I was borrowing a novel.
It turns out, it is a book about stoicism, which I've been meaning to read more on anyway, so I guess it was meant to be? :-)

One of the quintessential stoic principles is that our own actions, thoughts, and reactions are within our control, while also reiterating that you can never control others.
There's a whole lot about accepting what is, about logic and so on.

Stoicism does preach moderation in everything. Is anyone moderate in all aspects of their lives? Could we all do with less binge-watching, doom scrolling, drinking, numbing ourselves with this or that? Absolutely!

Some of the ethos and principles seem good and worthwhile or something to aspire to.
At times, I felt that to embody a stoic, one would become dispassionate and/or passive and too much like a robot. But that could be my fiery and reactive personality fighting against the calm and the measured?

Anyway, this gave me some food for thought. One could definitely benefit from most, if not all, stoic principles.

[Rosie · Rating 2 out of 5]

It’s honestly such a shame that this is fiction, and not particularly great fiction. Stoicism is so cool, I really wanted to enjoy this!

[Giuliana · Rating 1 out of 5]

I really wanted to appreciate this book, I think the dialogue format is great, and the fictional narrative is interesting. Unfortunately it's very clumsily executed, and I believe the examples of the protagonist's 'from where I'm from' comments are mostly inept at best, and downright harmful at worst.

I was willing to continue for the very brief pearls where things came together, but then I arrived at an abrupt stop when the protagonist and the 'stoic mayor's character conflate 'worrying' with serious illnesses such as major depression, as well as conflating 'lack of focus' with neurodiversity; as though taking pharmaceutical medications such as antidepressants or central nervous stimulants (respectively) is a recreational choice and an ineffective crutch for all humans. It is irresponsible to be spreading this type of misinformation that amplifies mental illness and neurodiversity stigma.

While there may currently be issues of prescribing pharmaceutical medications for people who don't need them, I request that if there are any future editions of this book, someone with the capacity to effectively revise it to remove this harmful content which trivialises and misrepresents serious mental health conditions and neurodiversity.

This stark reviewing oversight has me questioning the research and integrity of what I understand is meant to be the non-fiction components of this book. Until it's revised, the entire thing would best be considered fiction, including the fictional characters' interpretations of stoicism.

[starryfishy · Rating 2 out of 5]

i got to page 148 but this book does not feel rewarding to read in the slightest

the interview style of conversation is great (but kind of exhausting), and the concept of the book was interesting (i did enjoy the “journey” segment). the rest of it is just such a slog to get through

the narrator is genuinely so insufferable, but there’s no reason for her to be that way. she’s a journalist who has done research on vulnerable topics, including interviewing people living in circumstances that largely contrast her own background. yet, when talking to the mayor, she acts insanely privileged and cannot FATHOM the idea that people live without luxury items and the internet. she even references her childhood, saying she was cautious of her mother’s short temper. if that’s how she grew up, why is she so isolated in her privileged bubble????

also, her journey doesn’t really hold up to what it sounded like the journey was supposed to be. like, the descriptions are limited and sometimes vague, it just makes the journey seem mildly inconvenient rather than the grand venture it was meant to be. and when she arrives at the town, there’s no descriptions of the town itself, the architecture or scenery (outside of some comments on the vegetation), and she talks to no one except the mayor and his daughter. it seems so unrealistic

perhaps these issues were addressed later in the book, but i can’t be bothered reading on

[Giovanna Walker · Rating 1 out of 5]

Nonfiction? Huh? A fictional story about a woman who goes through a traumatic event and heads off to an imaginary place?
I wanted to read more about stoicism. This is not the book.
Started off reading thinking - OMG - and realised a few paragraphs in, hey, this story isn't REAL. So I found trying to relate to an unreal character in an unreal event going to an invented city....mmmm...hard to relate to.
I felt like I'd been duped, non-fiction???
Could have used a better device to have these conversations.
I was so put off I couldn't continue, whatever value the conversations with the 'sage' (only named Mayor) might have. (Mayor? Called that to imply some authority?)
Yeah, I totally missed the point.

[Jacinta Lougheed · Rating 5 out of 5]

A highly immersive read, crafted in an interview style and layered with reflective internal dialogue from our MFC as she wrestles with aligning her life experiences to each stoic lesson she debates with the Major.
This novel offers a deep and assessing look of how fully we are—or aren’t—living our lives to the fullest capacity, and how practicing a stoic philosophy can simplify our lives and enrich community spirit to help us all enjoy the preciousness of living in the NOW.

“We are all going to die, so how do we live?”

I really enjoyed this novel and had to re read again once at the end for a second interpretive perspective. Loved it!

[H Alexander · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really enjoyed Reasons not to worry, which made this read especially hard.

This is probably the worst book I’ve read this year, but not the worst ever. It’s a classic case of a phenomenal nonfiction writer struggling with fiction. The plot is uninspired and turgid, and none of the characters act or speak like real people. The themes and ideas have the grace and subtlety of a brick to the face.

That being said, Delaney is still a great writer and her imagery is great. I personally blame her editors/publishers for not doing a better job supporting her, and I’d read future non fiction from her.

[Lachie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loves this book.
I find the easiest books to read are when they are presented in this conversational like format. I think it's the easiest way for me to digest the information.

I actually went through the whole way until the last few pages thinking this was based on the authors true story and experience. So when it was revealed to be metaphoric and the place of the story is likely not to exist, it was a real twist for me.

I also am in to stoicism and so this was a perfect book for me. I will likely read again at some point.

[Anne Milson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an amazing book, cleverly crafted. I found it hard to put down, and the dialogue is so good. I found the stoic arguments easy to follow and the two main characters’ discussions on stoicism were clear and vigorous. Two good people from different positions talking about a better life and a life better lived. The ending shocked me, I didn’t see that coming. Highly recommended.

[Tiffanie Kendall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant. The blending of fiction and philosophy was so well done. Exploring stoic philosophy can sometimes feel dense and inaccessible yet the writer manages to make these ancient philosophies so compelling and relevant to the times in which we live. I wasn’t sure how this book would end, but it was perfection.

[Ash · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a journalist, this book made me happy. It scratched an itch. The ending I didn't see coming, but the whole lot taught me so much. Now time to go back through and highlight my favourite quotes. Good entry point into stoicism.

[Chad Morrison · Rating 4 out of 5]

75% of this was absolutely gold and a pleasure to read. The final 25% had the smell of an editor adding final polish to keep the word down and the romance +1 added.

[Anneb]

no

[Emma Moss · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once you get your head around the premise, I think it’s a great introduction to the principles of stoic philosophy.

[Erica · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not very familiar with Stoicism but found this book really accessible, engaging and it has given me plenty of food for thought.

[Jodie McLeod · Rating 4 out of 5]

First book club book for 2026 - an interesting read

[Reader · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not great

[Michelle Peters · Rating 2 out of 5]

Great concept. Terrible execution.

[Marleena Lopizzo · Rating 3 out of 5]

The topic of Stoicism intrigues me but this book was a slog. You realise at the end she's not in the land of the living anymore and that the shooting didn't occur. Author is used to writing non-fiction, not sure this was her best attempt.