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The Subtle Art of Becoming Yourself: 12 Practical Philosophies for Life
Win a free kindle copy of this book!
1 day and 09:13:55
100 copies available
U.S. only
“Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it.”
~ Attributed to Johann Wolfgang von Goethe.
In a world full of noise, distraction and emotional overload, The Subtle Art of Becoming Yourself offers a clear, practical handbook you can return to every day. Drawing on more than forty years of reading, reflection and lived experience, Spiros Scafidas distils twelve core philosophies into a simple guide for living a happier, more grounded and value aligned life.
These twelve philosophies are drawn from the greatest minds and traditions in human history. Ancient Greek philosophy, Stoicism, Buddhism, the Tao, existentialism, Viktor Frankl, modern psychology and spiritual teachers all sit quietly behind the pages, translated into language that makes sense for a busy, modern life. Spiros has done the heavy lifting for you, choosing the ideas that actually help you live well.
Inside, you will
Know Thyself
Master the Mind
Accept Impermanence
Embrace Change
Love Your Fate (Amor Fati)
Rebel Against the Absurd
Create Purpose
Choose Discipline as Freedom
The Philosophy of Shared Humanity
Live as One with Others
The End of Attachment
Living Authentically in Chaos
Each chapter stands alone as a short, focused reflection you can read in one sitting. At the end of every chapter you will find a practical exercise, a simple question to sit with, suggested reading and films that can deepen the idea and help you turn philosophy into daily action. This book is designed to be used as a daily tool, not just read once and shelved. Open it anywhere when you need a reset and let one idea pull you back to what matters.
The origins of these philosophies are wide, but their message is simple. The Greeks reminded us that self knowledge is the beginning of wisdom. The Stoics taught that peace comes from mastering our inner world, not controlling the outer one. Buddhism and mindfulness showed the medicine of impermanence and non attachment. Existentialists and Viktor Frankl pointed us toward purpose and meaning. Humanist and spiritual voices, from Marcus Aurelius and the Bhagavad Gita to Sadhguru and modern thinkers, underline our shared humanity and the need for compassion and authenticity.
Spiros writes from the middle of a real life, not from a podium. Born in South Africa and now living between Australia and Greece, he has spent a lifetime observing people in boardrooms, families, friendships and crises and asking what actually helps us stay sane and kind in the middle of it all. His first book, Random Curiosities (written under the name Ross Scafidas), reached number four in Amazon’s humour essays category and introduced readers to his mix of honesty, curiosity and humour.
The Subtle Art of Becoming Yourself is for anyone who wants something more than slogans.
~ Attributed to Johann Wolfgang von Goethe.
In a world full of noise, distraction and emotional overload, The Subtle Art of Becoming Yourself offers a clear, practical handbook you can return to every day. Drawing on more than forty years of reading, reflection and lived experience, Spiros Scafidas distils twelve core philosophies into a simple guide for living a happier, more grounded and value aligned life.
These twelve philosophies are drawn from the greatest minds and traditions in human history. Ancient Greek philosophy, Stoicism, Buddhism, the Tao, existentialism, Viktor Frankl, modern psychology and spiritual teachers all sit quietly behind the pages, translated into language that makes sense for a busy, modern life. Spiros has done the heavy lifting for you, choosing the ideas that actually help you live well.
Inside, you will
Know Thyself
Master the Mind
Accept Impermanence
Embrace Change
Love Your Fate (Amor Fati)
Rebel Against the Absurd
Create Purpose
Choose Discipline as Freedom
The Philosophy of Shared Humanity
Live as One with Others
The End of Attachment
Living Authentically in Chaos
Each chapter stands alone as a short, focused reflection you can read in one sitting. At the end of every chapter you will find a practical exercise, a simple question to sit with, suggested reading and films that can deepen the idea and help you turn philosophy into daily action. This book is designed to be used as a daily tool, not just read once and shelved. Open it anywhere when you need a reset and let one idea pull you back to what matters.
The origins of these philosophies are wide, but their message is simple. The Greeks reminded us that self knowledge is the beginning of wisdom. The Stoics taught that peace comes from mastering our inner world, not controlling the outer one. Buddhism and mindfulness showed the medicine of impermanence and non attachment. Existentialists and Viktor Frankl pointed us toward purpose and meaning. Humanist and spiritual voices, from Marcus Aurelius and the Bhagavad Gita to Sadhguru and modern thinkers, underline our shared humanity and the need for compassion and authenticity.
Spiros writes from the middle of a real life, not from a podium. Born in South Africa and now living between Australia and Greece, he has spent a lifetime observing people in boardrooms, families, friendships and crises and asking what actually helps us stay sane and kind in the middle of it all. His first book, Random Curiosities (written under the name Ross Scafidas), reached number four in Amazon’s humour essays category and introduced readers to his mix of honesty, curiosity and humour.
The Subtle Art of Becoming Yourself is for anyone who wants something more than slogans.
122 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 4, 2025
2 people are currently reading
462 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
December 16, 2025
Some self help books lose themselves in complex ideas and clever words. Others are so process focused and directive, they feel like a boot camp. The 'Subtle Art of Becoming Yourself: 12 Practical Philosophies for Life' is thoughtful without being self-important and helpful without being dictatorial. You get exposed to ideas that have existed for centuries in a way that allows you check how they apply to you, and then get to consider practical advice and guidance about how to move these ideas off the page/screen and into your life. Worth reading and then picking sections to reread and act upon.
December 17, 2025
Was an easy and fun read, it’s not pretentious and very relatable I highly recommend it.
Want to read
December 11, 2025Great insight!
December 17, 2025
This is a great second book by Ross Scafidas and is thoughtful without trying too hard. It skips motivational fluff and focuses on the real work of figuring out who you are , living in a way that actually matches it.
The book is honest, practical, and very down to earth. I loved his advice that growth is not flashy or easy, but slow and intentional. This is a solid read for anyone who wants something real rather than another self-help pep talk.
The book is honest, practical, and very down to earth. I loved his advice that growth is not flashy or easy, but slow and intentional. This is a solid read for anyone who wants something real rather than another self-help pep talk.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews