Stoicism: A Stoic Approach to Modern Life

by Tom Miles

Stoicism - A Stoic Approach To Modern Life It's a well-recorded phenomenon that words are liable to develop different meanings in common modern usage compared to those they had their origins and how people “in the know” would use them. This is doubly true for philosophical concepts – the word Epicurean, for example, has been transmuted from identifying the very sober and level teachings of the Greek philosopher Epicurus to being a synonym for wanton pleasure-seeking and hedonism. Stoicism hasn't suffered as severe a distortion. The modern understanding of what it means to be stoical is never showing any form of outward emotion regardless of all circumstances, good or bad, and indeed not having any emotions whatsoever. The entire species of the Vulcans in the popular science fiction franchise Star Trek exemplifies the popular definition. But it's easy to recognize an absence of outward emotion as not necessarily being a good thing – it is possible, after all, for someone to have a calm and blank exterior and yet be screaming inside. Having no internal emotion at all is also a less-than-ideal situation as well. Without emotion, how could one possibly enjoy life? Being immune to the negatives and vicissitudes of life in this way is something we can all stand to benefit from. Our modern lives are so full of worries and insecurities, and peace and fulfillment are something most people try to find outside of themselves. Stoicism teaches that these are things we can only find from inside ourselves, and gives us the tools and mindset necessary to build them up. What this book will endeavor to do is to introduce the philosophy of Stoicism to the modern person and make a case for how it can drastically improve our outlook and quality of life It will begin with a brief retelling of the early history of Stoicism, followed by an examination of the mindset that Stoics employ and the core tenet from through which we interpret everything we come across. It will then move on to two extremely powerful practical exercises – one physical and one mental – by which we can gain control over our internal state. After that it will give a rundown of some of the most powerful pieces of advice and implications of Stoicism as they have been passed down through the ages. Finally, because it is important to see the benefits of Stoicism in action, it will give some practical, more modern examples of people who have used it to overcome trials and adversity. And, because no single book could ever encompass the full breadth of Stoical wisdom, a short bibliography for the individual who wishes to explore further is given at the very end. Here's a preview of what's inside Stoicism and StoicismA Brief History of StoicismThe Stoical MindsetDifferentiating ControlPractical exercises for eliminating negative emotions and promoting inner peaceGeneral precepts and advice Download your copy today to receive all of this information. Just Scroll to the top of the page and select the Buy Button

Genres: Philosophy, Nonfiction, Audiobook, Self Help

36 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 8, 2015

Reviews

[Savir Husain Khan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Stoicism is a branch of philosophy where central idea is ---endurance of pain or hardship without the display of feelings and without complaint.
It's a short book so I believe that complete essence of philosophy is not present here, however its a good book for the basic understanding of Stoic thoughts and ideas.
The book starts with historical perspective and ended on the central ideas.

[Christian Durkin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love this short intro into stoicism. A breif history and a concise introduction to a timeless philosophy. Good place to start and a will no doubt lead to further reading on the subject.

[Evan Micheals · Rating 3 out of 5]

The best thing about this book is its brevity and it does a good job at covering the main points of Stoicism and can be read in under an hour.

It provides a brief history, underlying philosophy, examples of Stoic exercises, and examples of modern Stoics, and recommends some further reading.

I would recommend this as a first book for someone developing an interest in Stoicism. It gives one a good little taste.

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good, concise book on Stocism

This is a very short book but provides a good summary of Stoicism. I was looking for something short and now I will probably delve deeper into this philosophy.

[Ala · Rating 3 out of 5]

An accessible introduction to Stoic principles, specifically tailored for navigating the stresses of modern life. The book excels at explaining the "Fundamental Divide," helping readers focus only on what is within their direct control.

While the guide includes practical mental and physical exercises, its very short length prevents a deep dive into more complex philosophical nuances. It serves as a solid, quick-start manual for beginners, though seasoned students of Stoicism may find it lacks new insights.

Overall, it is a functional and straightforward resource for those seeking immediate, actionable advice on finding inner peace.

[Johan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short introduction to Stoicism. The book contains a short history of stoicism, the early stoics, the philosophy, exercises, some modern stoics, and some recommended reading.

This is an introduction, nothing more, and it's purpose is to help you decide whether you want to learn more about stoicism or not. For me personally, the answer is yes, I want to learn more.

[Georgi Mirchev · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short book with a nice introduction to Stoicism and how to implement it in real life. It really makes you keen to learn more about it and implement it in real life. Short and filled with some nice examples, it is a really useful introduction of the concept.

[Sylvester · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short and succinct, while covering the basics of Stoicism with some exercises. The most important take away message is that we need to understand the reality, when we can truly see the reality, we are freed from the constraints of fear, pessimism and sadness.

[Andrew · Rating 1 out of 5]

Where's the book?

This was an essay that I paid for on Audible. Where is the book? Unbelievable Amazon, you are allowing readers to be fleeced.

Having said that; what was written was good.

[Joshua Davidson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty decent intro to the topic.

[Danny Franks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable

This book is a good introduction to Stoic philosophy. The examples at the end of the book provide inspiration to take on this way of thinking.

[Helen.Styan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short, (34 pages!) too the point and even practical. Food for thought.

[Andrea Serri · Rating 4 out of 5]

very quick introduction to Stoicism

[Darcia · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars

[Pedro Veloso · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good short book on the subject that focus on some practicalities and is honest about the lack of depth on the matter.

[Tom Edwards · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a nice read for a short book. Its more of an introductory book to Stoicism.

[Dejan Gajšek · Rating 3 out of 5]

A short basic introduction to Stoicism.

[Ben Shakey · Rating 2 out of 5]

Provides some historical context but really short

[Mohammed Rider · Rating 2 out of 5]

Its not bad tho

[Anon · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a good start for a complete beginner

[Komi · Rating 5 out of 5]

It covered the topic in an easy to digest manner.

[Ben Rochon · Rating 3 out of 5]

More of a pamphlet than a book. It's brief but sums up the key points of stoicism.

[Leon Fowler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short and concise view on stoicism. Audiobook was a pleasure.

[Jose Guzman · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good start on stoicism, but too short.

[Diane · Rating 3 out of 5]

More of a primer and an article than a book.

[Federico Pistono · Rating 4 out of 5]

Miles composed a (very) short and concise introduction to modern stoicism.

It touches on the major points without embellishments, while respecting your time.

If you're looking for a precise and quick introduction to modern stoicism, this is a good start. If you want a comprehensive look at stoic philosophy and its thinkers, this is not the book.

[Deedra · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this short book to be very fun and informative.Adam Schulmerich was a fine narrator.I was given this book free by the author, narrator or publisher.

[Rob Thompson · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this short book /essay Tom presents a fantastic primer on Stoicism, the practical application of ancient wisdom. It is a philosophy to live by. It can guide your choices leading to:

a happier life,
increased resilience,
more success, and
more positivity.

Stoicism doesn’t turn you into Mr Spock.

Here's what I learned:

What is factual and true? Attempt to establish what is happening by gathering information and determining facts. Then challenge your beliefs based on evident truths. Distress to both the rational and emotional minds occur when it is difficult to determine what is true. This ambiguity may then be conveyed in anger and irritation. By approaching a situation in a non-judgemental way then you are unlikely to take the actions and beliefs of others as a personal attack.

Are my emotions well placed? If prompted by emotions to react, then challenge these by searching for proof of validity. Ask, if I act on this emotion right now then will later reflection lead me to regret it?

Have I kept this in context? Place the event or situation in context. Use the View From Above technique. Remember, everything comes and goes. Ask, how important is this in the grand scheme of things? Will people still be talking about this in 100 years’ time?

Am I using balanced judgement? All or nothing thinking leads to unsympathetic judgements. View life in shade of grey. Often there are facts that you won’t be in possession of, so defer judgement for now.

So I recommend this book as an introduction to the philosophy of Stoicism to the modern person and how it can improve our outlook and quality of life.

[Andrew “The Weirdling” Glos · Rating 3 out of 5]

Given that this is a 34 page introduction to Stoicism, little should be expected of it. That said, the author has probably done about as good a job as could be hoped. There is space only to glance at the most overarching themes. There is so depth, but it is an entry point for those with limited attention spans or who really want more (but not much more) than a Wikipedia article can offer them on the subject.

[Dave · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was exactly what I was looking for. An incredibly short introduction to Stoicism. I just wanted to know what it was, a little history and where to get further information. This book delivered exactly that.

If you're wondering if Stoicism is for you, start here. You won't get bogged down in the academia of it before you've had a chance to know what it is. Gives some great references to further reading at the end depending on your context.

Book is available on audible and this can be gotten through in a single commute.