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How to Be Stoic: An Ancient Guide to Keeping Calm
An inviting new translation of essential selections from Marcus Aurelius’s Meditations, distilling the timeless wisdom of one of Stoicism’s most influential works
How do you keep calm when the world seems to be falling apart around you? When Marcus Aurelius was emperor, the Roman Empire was at the height of its power and prosperity, but it also suffered flood, famine, plague, and endless wars. He was frequently away from the capitol leading his legions in battle, and he died in an army camp. To cope with the enormous pressures he faced, Marcus Aurelius turned to the philosophy of Stoicism, writing brief passages to reflect on its ideas and strategies for putting challenges in perspective. The result was the Meditations, a profound and moving work about the human condition. Elegant, spiritual, and by turns serious and humorous, this masterpiece of Stoicism still resonates powerfully today. How to Be Stoic offers a fresh, fluid, and engaging translation of its most stirring and important passages.
Gretchen Reydams-Schils, a leading authority on Roman Stoicism, has carefully chosen and skillfully translated passages that exemplify the key themes of the Meditations, from everyday irritations such as encountering difficult people to existential worries such as the fear of death. How to Be Stoic also features a substantial and authoritative introduction and the original Greek text on facing pages. The result is perhaps the most accessible edition of the Meditations available.
How do you keep calm when the world seems to be falling apart around you? When Marcus Aurelius was emperor, the Roman Empire was at the height of its power and prosperity, but it also suffered flood, famine, plague, and endless wars. He was frequently away from the capitol leading his legions in battle, and he died in an army camp. To cope with the enormous pressures he faced, Marcus Aurelius turned to the philosophy of Stoicism, writing brief passages to reflect on its ideas and strategies for putting challenges in perspective. The result was the Meditations, a profound and moving work about the human condition. Elegant, spiritual, and by turns serious and humorous, this masterpiece of Stoicism still resonates powerfully today. How to Be Stoic offers a fresh, fluid, and engaging translation of its most stirring and important passages.
Gretchen Reydams-Schils, a leading authority on Roman Stoicism, has carefully chosen and skillfully translated passages that exemplify the key themes of the Meditations, from everyday irritations such as encountering difficult people to existential worries such as the fear of death. How to Be Stoic also features a substantial and authoritative introduction and the original Greek text on facing pages. The result is perhaps the most accessible edition of the Meditations available.
- GenresPhilosophy
216 pages, Hardcover
Published May 5, 2026
About the author
Marcus Aurelius
1,307 books6,750 followersMarcus Aurelius Antoninus Augustus (often referred to as "the wise") was Emperor of the Roman Empire from 161 to his death in 180. He was the last of the "Five Good Emperors", and is also considered one of the more important Stoic philosophers. His two decades as emperor were marked by near continual warfare. He was faced with a series of invasions from German tribes, and by conflicts with the Parthian Empire in the east. His reign also had to deal with an internal revolt in the east, led by Avidius Cassius.
Marcus Aurelius' work Meditations, written in Greek while on campaign between 170 and 180, is still revered as a literary monument to a government of service and duty and has been praised for its "exquisite accent and its infinite tenderness."
Marcus Aurelius' work Meditations, written in Greek while on campaign between 170 and 180, is still revered as a literary monument to a government of service and duty and has been praised for its "exquisite accent and its infinite tenderness."
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
June 22, 2026
★★★☆☆ 3/5 Stars
Watch out my friends. This review may be longer then the book! As part of my summer project to refine and broaden my study of Stoicism, this was the first of seven books I plan to read this year. A few years ago, when I was just beginning my Stoic journey, I suspect I would have rated this book more highly. Today, after several years of reading, practicing, and comparing different translations of Meditations, I found it to be just okay.
One of the book’s strengths is the excellent introduction by translator Gretchen Reydams-Schils, a professor at Notre Dame. Her commentary is thoughtful, accessible, and provides useful context for readers new to Roman Stoicism. The translation itself is clear and readable, and the format—with the original Greek text on the left-hand page and the English translation on the right—is a wonderful feature for students and serious readers alike.
My biggest criticism is that this volume contains only about half of Marcus Aurelius’s Meditations. Large portions of the text have been omitted for the sake of clarity and accessibility. While I understand the rationale, I was disappointed that there is little explanation for why certain passages were excluded or why some sections appear to have been reordered. An afterword discussing these editorial choices would have been helpful, but none is provided.
That said, this book is clearly designed for people who are curious about Stoicism but have not yet spent much time reading the original sources. During a recent online discussion celebrating the release of Massimo Pigliucci’s new book, How to Be a Happy Skeptic, Pigliucci and Donald Robertson touched on an interesting point. Robertson observed that many people today identify as Stoics despite never having read a Stoic text. Their understanding often comes secondhand through podcasts, social media posts, and inspirational quotes. For those individuals, I would happily recommend this volume as a starting point.
The bilingual format alone makes it worth considering. Reydams-Schils has produced a lucid, approachable introduction to Marcus Aurelius that lowers the barrier to entry for newcomers. Is it the best translation of Meditations I’ve read? No. But it is a solid jumping-off point for exploring one of history’s most enduring works of practical philosophy.
One final nitpick: I’m not sure about the title. How to Be Stoic doesn’t quite work for me. A better title might have been How to Be a Stoic. After all, someone can be “stoic” in the everyday sense of the word—calm, reserved, and emotionally controlled—without practicing Stoicism at all. Think of Spock from Star Trek. Stoicism, however, is not about suppressing emotions. It is a philosophy centered on virtue, reason, and living in accordance with nature. Perhaps I’m overthinking the title, but words matter, especially in philosophy.
Happy reading, everyone.
Watch out my friends. This review may be longer then the book! As part of my summer project to refine and broaden my study of Stoicism, this was the first of seven books I plan to read this year. A few years ago, when I was just beginning my Stoic journey, I suspect I would have rated this book more highly. Today, after several years of reading, practicing, and comparing different translations of Meditations, I found it to be just okay.
One of the book’s strengths is the excellent introduction by translator Gretchen Reydams-Schils, a professor at Notre Dame. Her commentary is thoughtful, accessible, and provides useful context for readers new to Roman Stoicism. The translation itself is clear and readable, and the format—with the original Greek text on the left-hand page and the English translation on the right—is a wonderful feature for students and serious readers alike.
My biggest criticism is that this volume contains only about half of Marcus Aurelius’s Meditations. Large portions of the text have been omitted for the sake of clarity and accessibility. While I understand the rationale, I was disappointed that there is little explanation for why certain passages were excluded or why some sections appear to have been reordered. An afterword discussing these editorial choices would have been helpful, but none is provided.
That said, this book is clearly designed for people who are curious about Stoicism but have not yet spent much time reading the original sources. During a recent online discussion celebrating the release of Massimo Pigliucci’s new book, How to Be a Happy Skeptic, Pigliucci and Donald Robertson touched on an interesting point. Robertson observed that many people today identify as Stoics despite never having read a Stoic text. Their understanding often comes secondhand through podcasts, social media posts, and inspirational quotes. For those individuals, I would happily recommend this volume as a starting point.
The bilingual format alone makes it worth considering. Reydams-Schils has produced a lucid, approachable introduction to Marcus Aurelius that lowers the barrier to entry for newcomers. Is it the best translation of Meditations I’ve read? No. But it is a solid jumping-off point for exploring one of history’s most enduring works of practical philosophy.
One final nitpick: I’m not sure about the title. How to Be Stoic doesn’t quite work for me. A better title might have been How to Be a Stoic. After all, someone can be “stoic” in the everyday sense of the word—calm, reserved, and emotionally controlled—without practicing Stoicism at all. Think of Spock from Star Trek. Stoicism, however, is not about suppressing emotions. It is a philosophy centered on virtue, reason, and living in accordance with nature. Perhaps I’m overthinking the title, but words matter, especially in philosophy.
Happy reading, everyone.
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February 24, 2026my metaphysics professor translated this edition of marcus aurelius’ “meditations” and then taught it!
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews