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Meditations: Adapted for the Contemporary Reader
Meditations is a series of personal writings by Marcus Aurelius, Roman Emperor from 161 to 180 AD, recording his private notes to himself and ideas on Stoic philosophy.
Marcus Aurelius wrote the 12 books of the Meditations as a source for his own guidance and self-improvement.
These books have been carefully adapted into a contemporary form to allow for easy reading.
Marcus Aurelius wrote the 12 books of the Meditations as a source for his own guidance and self-improvement.
These books have been carefully adapted into a contemporary form to allow for easy reading.
131 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 27, 2016
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497 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
September 22, 2024
Meditations feels like a self-improvement/help bible, not just because it has been around for a long time, but because I believe that elements of every self help book I've read can be found in this book. Overall just really impressed with the wisdom and depth of thought expressed in this book and likely at that time among philosophers. Put a lot of post-it notes in this book as I was reading and plan to return to it at a later time, as this first read I didn't absorb as much as I would've liked (or haven't really implemented any of it in my life). There were certain "books" within meditations that I enjoyed more than others and it was definitely a slow read, but not everything can be a page turner. Would be curious to see how the actual book lines up to this "adaptation for the contemporary reader" but not curious enough to read the original as of this moment.
January 8, 2024
I’m only slightly disappointed with this book, mostly because I feel like I didn’t learn anything groundbreaking from it. From the little I understand of Stoicism (which seems to be focused on an acceptance of the reality with which you’re presented), I would say it’s incomplete because of the fact that it doesn’t take into account the LH view of reality, which strives to better the conditions on the ground of life, and it also seeks to distance itself from the body, a ‘disembedding’ mistake which I certainly don’t seek to emulate. Our intelligence is intimately connected with our body, even if we aren’t ultimately our bodies. But anyway. What I loved was Aurelius’ focus on the ‘whole’ and on proper action in light of this understanding.
In what follows I’ll provide some of the quotes that stood out to me, perhaps offering a few words here and there where I feel like doing so.
““Don’t waste the rest of your time here worrying about other people—unless it affects the common good. It will keep you from doing anything useful.”
“Forget everything else. Keep hold of this alone and remember it: Each of us lives only now, this brief instant. The rest has been lived already, or is impossible to see. The span we live is small—small as the corner of the earth in which we live it. Small as even the greatest renown, passed from mouth to mouth by short-lived stick figures, ignorant alike of themselves and those long dead.” (He goes on a lot about the NOW and how we forget the present at our peril.)
“It was for the best. So Nature had no choice but to do it. That every event is the right one. Look closely and you’ll see. Not just the right one overall, but right. As if someone had weighed it out with scales.”
“Many lumps of incense on the same altar. One crumbles now, one later, but it makes no difference”
“Poor: (adj.) requiring others; not having the necessities of life in one’s own possession.” (Here I would have to take exception; this definition pathologizes dependency, the rock upon which we all rest. Yes, I understand the need to be independent up to a point, but not where you would describe as poor anyone who ‘requires others’. I think it’s wrong to say this.)
“Everything fades so quickly, turns into legend, and soon oblivion covers it.
And those are the ones who shone. The rest—“unknown, unasked-for” a minute after death. What is “eternal” fame? Emptiness.
Then what should we work for?
Only this: proper understanding; unselfish action; truthful speech. A resolve to accept whatever happens as necessary and familiar, flowing like water from that same source and spring.”
“The world as a living being—one nature, one soul. Keep that in mind. And how everything feeds into that single experience, moves with a single motion. And how everything helps produce everything else. Spun and woven together.”
“What follows coheres with what went before. Not like a random catalogue whose order is imposed upon it arbitrarily, but logically connected. And just as what exists is ordered and harmonious, what comes into being betrays an order too. Not a mere sequence, but an astonishing concordance.”
“If anyone can refute me—show me I’m making a mistake or looking at things from the wrong perspective—I’ll gladly change. It’s the truth I’m after, and the truth never harmed anyone. What harms us is to persist in self-deceit and ignorance.”
“The ocean: a drop of water.
Mount Athos: a molehill.
The present: a split second in eternity.
Minuscule, transitory, insignificant.”
“Keep reminding yourself of the way things are connected, of their relatedness. All things are implicated in one another and in sympathy with each other. This event is the consequence of some other one. Things push and pull on each other, and breathe together, and are one.”
“All of us are working on the same project. Some consciously, with understanding; some without knowing it. (I think this is what Heraclitus meant when he said that “those who sleep are also hard at work”—that they too collaborate in what happens.) Some of us work in one way, and some in others. And those who complain and try to obstruct and thwart things—they help as much as anyone. The world needs them as well.”
“What injures the hive injures the bee.”
“Everything is interwoven, and the web is holy; none of its parts are unconnected. They are composed harmoniously, and together they compose the world.
One world, made up of all things.
One divinity, present in them all.
One substance and one law—the logos that all rational beings share.
And one truth . . .
If this is indeed the culmination of one process, beings who share the same birth, the same logos.”
“Look at the past—empire succeeding empire—and from that, extrapolate the future: the same thing. No escape from the rhythm of events.
Which is why observing life for forty years is as good as a thousand. Would you really see anything new?”
“A better wrestler. But not a better citizen, a better person, a better resource in tight places, a better forgiver of faults.”
“When you have to deal with someone, ask yourself: What does he mean by good and bad? If he thinks x or y about pleasure and pain (and what produces them), about fame and disgrace, about death and life, then it shouldn’t shock or surprise you when he does x or y.
In fact, I’ll remind myself that he has no real choice.”
“Everything in flux. And you too will alter in the whirl and perish, and the world as well.”
“You participate in a society by your existence. Then participate in its life through your actions—all your actions. Any action not directed toward a social end (directly or indirectly) is a disturbance to your life, an obstacle to wholeness, a source of dissension. Like the man in the Assembly—a faction to himself, always out of step with the majority.”
“To follow the logos in all things is to be relaxed and energetic, joyful and serious at once.” (The logos is just the Tao by another name; they’re the same thing.)
“Continual awareness of all time and space, of the size and life span of the things around us. A grape seed in infinite space. A half twist of a corkscrew against eternity.”
In what follows I’ll provide some of the quotes that stood out to me, perhaps offering a few words here and there where I feel like doing so.
““Don’t waste the rest of your time here worrying about other people—unless it affects the common good. It will keep you from doing anything useful.”
“Forget everything else. Keep hold of this alone and remember it: Each of us lives only now, this brief instant. The rest has been lived already, or is impossible to see. The span we live is small—small as the corner of the earth in which we live it. Small as even the greatest renown, passed from mouth to mouth by short-lived stick figures, ignorant alike of themselves and those long dead.” (He goes on a lot about the NOW and how we forget the present at our peril.)
“It was for the best. So Nature had no choice but to do it. That every event is the right one. Look closely and you’ll see. Not just the right one overall, but right. As if someone had weighed it out with scales.”
“Many lumps of incense on the same altar. One crumbles now, one later, but it makes no difference”
“Poor: (adj.) requiring others; not having the necessities of life in one’s own possession.” (Here I would have to take exception; this definition pathologizes dependency, the rock upon which we all rest. Yes, I understand the need to be independent up to a point, but not where you would describe as poor anyone who ‘requires others’. I think it’s wrong to say this.)
“Everything fades so quickly, turns into legend, and soon oblivion covers it.
And those are the ones who shone. The rest—“unknown, unasked-for” a minute after death. What is “eternal” fame? Emptiness.
Then what should we work for?
Only this: proper understanding; unselfish action; truthful speech. A resolve to accept whatever happens as necessary and familiar, flowing like water from that same source and spring.”
“The world as a living being—one nature, one soul. Keep that in mind. And how everything feeds into that single experience, moves with a single motion. And how everything helps produce everything else. Spun and woven together.”
“What follows coheres with what went before. Not like a random catalogue whose order is imposed upon it arbitrarily, but logically connected. And just as what exists is ordered and harmonious, what comes into being betrays an order too. Not a mere sequence, but an astonishing concordance.”
“If anyone can refute me—show me I’m making a mistake or looking at things from the wrong perspective—I’ll gladly change. It’s the truth I’m after, and the truth never harmed anyone. What harms us is to persist in self-deceit and ignorance.”
“The ocean: a drop of water.
Mount Athos: a molehill.
The present: a split second in eternity.
Minuscule, transitory, insignificant.”
“Keep reminding yourself of the way things are connected, of their relatedness. All things are implicated in one another and in sympathy with each other. This event is the consequence of some other one. Things push and pull on each other, and breathe together, and are one.”
“All of us are working on the same project. Some consciously, with understanding; some without knowing it. (I think this is what Heraclitus meant when he said that “those who sleep are also hard at work”—that they too collaborate in what happens.) Some of us work in one way, and some in others. And those who complain and try to obstruct and thwart things—they help as much as anyone. The world needs them as well.”
“What injures the hive injures the bee.”
“Everything is interwoven, and the web is holy; none of its parts are unconnected. They are composed harmoniously, and together they compose the world.
One world, made up of all things.
One divinity, present in them all.
One substance and one law—the logos that all rational beings share.
And one truth . . .
If this is indeed the culmination of one process, beings who share the same birth, the same logos.”
“Look at the past—empire succeeding empire—and from that, extrapolate the future: the same thing. No escape from the rhythm of events.
Which is why observing life for forty years is as good as a thousand. Would you really see anything new?”
“A better wrestler. But not a better citizen, a better person, a better resource in tight places, a better forgiver of faults.”
“When you have to deal with someone, ask yourself: What does he mean by good and bad? If he thinks x or y about pleasure and pain (and what produces them), about fame and disgrace, about death and life, then it shouldn’t shock or surprise you when he does x or y.
In fact, I’ll remind myself that he has no real choice.”
“Everything in flux. And you too will alter in the whirl and perish, and the world as well.”
“You participate in a society by your existence. Then participate in its life through your actions—all your actions. Any action not directed toward a social end (directly or indirectly) is a disturbance to your life, an obstacle to wholeness, a source of dissension. Like the man in the Assembly—a faction to himself, always out of step with the majority.”
“To follow the logos in all things is to be relaxed and energetic, joyful and serious at once.” (The logos is just the Tao by another name; they’re the same thing.)
“Continual awareness of all time and space, of the size and life span of the things around us. A grape seed in infinite space. A half twist of a corkscrew against eternity.”
July 31, 2022
Great adaptation. Easy to digest the ideas
December 5, 2018
An amazing insight into the mind of Marcus Aurelius and Stoic thought. I was quite surprised by the similarities between Stoicism and Yoga/Hindu philosophies. Namely, looking towards the inner self for guidance and truth, and a certain non-attachment towards people, places, and objects as a means of truly arriving at your bliss, and not being swayed or surprised one way or the other by nature.
January 3, 2022
A collection of interesting and thought provoking ideas about how to live a "good and just" life from the Roman emperor Marcus Aurelisu. I found it to be a difficult read as the ideas are delivered in very long and drawn out lectures.
April 11, 2024
Good read overall. Some of the adapted language left me pondering a bit. For instance the use of an uppercase God threw me, but I believed it to be in reference of Zeus as opposed to the Judeo-Christian God.
Also the abundant use of the word atom even though it wouldn’t be discovered for a full millenia after Aurelius’ ruminations.
I mostly enjoyed the read even though those adaptations took me out of the more authentic mindset of a Roman ruler. I really enjoyed the points on maintaining kindness as it is man’s natural disposition to prefer to be kind even when the most astute among us are ordained favor reason over emotion.
Stoicism certainly seems like the natural derivation of a life well lived to the standards of a philosopher. It’s a great answer to Senaca’s thoughts on how to live a good life, and sits fairly square with Cicero’s thoughts on friendships. One commonality between the two is that they see virtue in friendship and vanity in the opposite. Hermetic behavior is deemed a waste of our nature given proclivities. We are made less than what we can become without the attractive virtues and wise critiques of our fellow man.
Other helpful thoughts:
* all men are destined to death and their opinions with them so why give life to something destined to decay.
* in questing to be liked by all, we often find that people are happy that we’ve died, often conjuring tales of how we actually disliked our friends when we’ve no recourse to correct such misguidings. So don’t live seeking approvals
* let the actions that would affect your soul die right away if they don’t bear valid criticism
* pay more attention to action that affect the corpus
* even in sickness, live as you did before.
* embrace death just as a passing into a new life. Don’t yearn for what you can’t in reason have (or for the matter wouldn’t truly want.
Also the abundant use of the word atom even though it wouldn’t be discovered for a full millenia after Aurelius’ ruminations.
I mostly enjoyed the read even though those adaptations took me out of the more authentic mindset of a Roman ruler. I really enjoyed the points on maintaining kindness as it is man’s natural disposition to prefer to be kind even when the most astute among us are ordained favor reason over emotion.
Stoicism certainly seems like the natural derivation of a life well lived to the standards of a philosopher. It’s a great answer to Senaca’s thoughts on how to live a good life, and sits fairly square with Cicero’s thoughts on friendships. One commonality between the two is that they see virtue in friendship and vanity in the opposite. Hermetic behavior is deemed a waste of our nature given proclivities. We are made less than what we can become without the attractive virtues and wise critiques of our fellow man.
Other helpful thoughts:
* all men are destined to death and their opinions with them so why give life to something destined to decay.
* in questing to be liked by all, we often find that people are happy that we’ve died, often conjuring tales of how we actually disliked our friends when we’ve no recourse to correct such misguidings. So don’t live seeking approvals
* let the actions that would affect your soul die right away if they don’t bear valid criticism
* pay more attention to action that affect the corpus
* even in sickness, live as you did before.
* embrace death just as a passing into a new life. Don’t yearn for what you can’t in reason have (or for the matter wouldn’t truly want.
November 29, 2024
I've been sort of skimming the ancient Greek philosophy of Stoicism for some time. Note that is "Stoicism" with a capital "S", which is only barely related to the lower case s "stoicism" that we use in modern English. Anyway, Marcus Aurelius's "Meditations" is practically one of the Bibles of Stoicism so I went looking for a translation to finally actually read it.
On a lark, probably because it had good Amazon search-engine-optimization and so showed up near the top of my search results, I picked this one by James Harris. Certainly, the underlying intelligence and sagacity of Marcus Aurelius still came through. It WAS pretty fragmented and repetitive, but you've got to remember that "Meditations" was basically this guy's private diary and was really only meant for the man himself, not for others' consumption. If you get past that, it's pretty timeless wisdom for the ages.
But the translation itself? It was only so-so. There were some glaring typos in the book. I quickly found out that this was one of those Amazon "print on demand" books that was printed when I ordered it. So basically this guy just has a digital file for this and gets it printed any time somebody orders it. I mean, I don't begrudge that business model. But in this case it just smacked of laziness.
Still three stars mostly because Marcus Aurelius is the GOAT and the translation was mostly pretty readable. Better than some of the old Victorian era translations floating around for free on the internet right now. But having done more research now, I wish I had gotten the Gregory Hays translation.
I recommend the book. But maybe try a different translation.
On a lark, probably because it had good Amazon search-engine-optimization and so showed up near the top of my search results, I picked this one by James Harris. Certainly, the underlying intelligence and sagacity of Marcus Aurelius still came through. It WAS pretty fragmented and repetitive, but you've got to remember that "Meditations" was basically this guy's private diary and was really only meant for the man himself, not for others' consumption. If you get past that, it's pretty timeless wisdom for the ages.
But the translation itself? It was only so-so. There were some glaring typos in the book. I quickly found out that this was one of those Amazon "print on demand" books that was printed when I ordered it. So basically this guy just has a digital file for this and gets it printed any time somebody orders it. I mean, I don't begrudge that business model. But in this case it just smacked of laziness.
Still three stars mostly because Marcus Aurelius is the GOAT and the translation was mostly pretty readable. Better than some of the old Victorian era translations floating around for free on the internet right now. But having done more research now, I wish I had gotten the Gregory Hays translation.
I recommend the book. But maybe try a different translation.
January 12, 2025
This book through a Christian lens is great.
Takeaways:
- Life is short, the opinions of Man, present, past and future are not to be overthought
- Pleasure can ruin you. Yielding to its call is weakness.
- “That which is bad for the hive, is bad for the bee”
- “No longer talk at all about the kind of man that a good man should be, but be such a man”
- Death is not something to be feared. It’s a natural part of life. It’s change, and change is necessary in this universe.
Realizations:
Some of my first conscious thoughts were around, who am I? Where do I come from? How did I get here? What is my purpose? Why are my parents my parents? Etc.
A lot of this book ponders the questions around purpose, the “Gods”, and if they truly have power, soul, etc. Marcus Aurelius was so close to figuring it all out but it’s very apparent he was missing the simplicity of the Gospel.
As we’re in the kingdom expansion act of the universal narrative, leading towards the kingdom renewal, we are placed by God for a specific purpose of kingdom expansion.
I am his child. My children, if I have any, will firstly be his children with a part to play.
This book, in tandem with listening to “The Great Divorce” has helped me realize that everything in this world is fleeting and the things we latch onto in this world will not matter soon.
What does matter is living out a life that is secure in faith, playing our part in the expansion process (The Great Commission), and trusting in the road laid out for us by God.
Takeaways:
- Life is short, the opinions of Man, present, past and future are not to be overthought
- Pleasure can ruin you. Yielding to its call is weakness.
- “That which is bad for the hive, is bad for the bee”
- “No longer talk at all about the kind of man that a good man should be, but be such a man”
- Death is not something to be feared. It’s a natural part of life. It’s change, and change is necessary in this universe.
Realizations:
Some of my first conscious thoughts were around, who am I? Where do I come from? How did I get here? What is my purpose? Why are my parents my parents? Etc.
A lot of this book ponders the questions around purpose, the “Gods”, and if they truly have power, soul, etc. Marcus Aurelius was so close to figuring it all out but it’s very apparent he was missing the simplicity of the Gospel.
As we’re in the kingdom expansion act of the universal narrative, leading towards the kingdom renewal, we are placed by God for a specific purpose of kingdom expansion.
I am his child. My children, if I have any, will firstly be his children with a part to play.
This book, in tandem with listening to “The Great Divorce” has helped me realize that everything in this world is fleeting and the things we latch onto in this world will not matter soon.
What does matter is living out a life that is secure in faith, playing our part in the expansion process (The Great Commission), and trusting in the road laid out for us by God.
January 24, 2026
Marcus Aurelius is considered to be one of the greatest stoic philosophers. After reading his Meditations I am not impressed. His message is that we should learn to accept bad circumstances in our lives.
Coming from a man who was Emperor of Rome from 161 to 180 AD., this seems like condescending advice. Yes, as Emperor he had heavy responsibilities. He also had impressive rewards.
I would have appreciated advice on how to make a bad situation somewhat less bad. These could include a bad school environment, a bad job when you can’t get a better job, or a bad marriage you want to preserve for the good of your children.
Marcus Aurelius sits on his throne telling me, “I’m sorry. I can’t help you with that. Stop complaining.”
During Marcus Aurelius’ reign the Roman Empire persecuted Christians It is not clear that Marcus Aurelius ordered the persecution. He did not order an end to it.
Roman persecution of Christianity requires more explanation than it is usually given. By the time of Christ most educated Romans had adopted polite skepticism about the Olympian pantheon of deities. Some had climbed Mount Olympias. They had not found the gods and goddesses Homer and Hesiod claimed lived there. The Romans tolerated other religions.
Hundreds of thousands of Christians suffered horrible deaths. Christians had to wait for the Emperor Constantine to stop that with his Edict of Toleration issued in 313 AD.
Coming from a man who was Emperor of Rome from 161 to 180 AD., this seems like condescending advice. Yes, as Emperor he had heavy responsibilities. He also had impressive rewards.
I would have appreciated advice on how to make a bad situation somewhat less bad. These could include a bad school environment, a bad job when you can’t get a better job, or a bad marriage you want to preserve for the good of your children.
Marcus Aurelius sits on his throne telling me, “I’m sorry. I can’t help you with that. Stop complaining.”
During Marcus Aurelius’ reign the Roman Empire persecuted Christians It is not clear that Marcus Aurelius ordered the persecution. He did not order an end to it.
Roman persecution of Christianity requires more explanation than it is usually given. By the time of Christ most educated Romans had adopted polite skepticism about the Olympian pantheon of deities. Some had climbed Mount Olympias. They had not found the gods and goddesses Homer and Hesiod claimed lived there. The Romans tolerated other religions.
Hundreds of thousands of Christians suffered horrible deaths. Christians had to wait for the Emperor Constantine to stop that with his Edict of Toleration issued in 313 AD.
Read
July 1, 2025This is THE book that remains at my side at all times. It is a book that can be opened to any random page and it will provide comfort and wisdom every time. Marcus Aurelius is my hero. This book was, and is the most, transformational book I have ever read. It healed me in ways I never imagined; which is one of the most important aspects of self discovery and thus, improvement. Discovering what I don't know I don't know is key to real personal growth (and healing). And this book provided, and continues to provide, in the greatest of abundance.
June 20, 2021
Very Enjoyable
Most modern day philosophy books use at least one quote from Marcus Aurelius. As such, I have been dying to read his Meditations. Many people speculate that he must have been depressed. I don't believe this work reads this way at all, it's reads from a viewpoint of total acceptance, a sort of Nirvana that most people aren't able to achieve in this lifetime. I very much appreciate his words and find them a good standard to strive for.
Most modern day philosophy books use at least one quote from Marcus Aurelius. As such, I have been dying to read his Meditations. Many people speculate that he must have been depressed. I don't believe this work reads this way at all, it's reads from a viewpoint of total acceptance, a sort of Nirvana that most people aren't able to achieve in this lifetime. I very much appreciate his words and find them a good standard to strive for.
April 10, 2023
Some interesting points, but didn’t take away anything valuable from reading it.
Sentence structure made it quite hard to follow.
The same points are repeated multiple times, particularly the point about you dying soon which pops up in every chapter.
Shame that each chapter isn’t focused on a specific point, but is instead a mix of points in each chapter.
Probably worth reading again at some point.
Sentence structure made it quite hard to follow.
The same points are repeated multiple times, particularly the point about you dying soon which pops up in every chapter.
Shame that each chapter isn’t focused on a specific point, but is instead a mix of points in each chapter.
Probably worth reading again at some point.
December 10, 2024
This was my first exposure to reading Marcus Aurelius, and I am anything but a scholar. That said, while there were a lot of good parts and lessons that I took from this book in several places there were anachronisms that made me question the overall interpretation.
Maybe that’s a good thing in the long run because it will make me look further and deeper.
Maybe that’s a good thing in the long run because it will make me look further and deeper.
January 5, 2025
I loved this, so many inspirational quotes. This was a man even do he was one of the most powerful man in his time, he sure new the things that we’re important and no matter who we are we all go through the same struggles. I’m glad to have this in my collection and I cherish this book and usually share what I learn with them.
May 20, 2021
Deep reading
Be ready to question your principles when reading this book but in a interesting way. Personally i Wonder how did Marcus Aurelius know all this but we pretend not knowing it (stoicism).
Be ready to question your principles when reading this book but in a interesting way. Personally i Wonder how did Marcus Aurelius know all this but we pretend not knowing it (stoicism).
December 12, 2024
Not a putdown of Stoicism, but this translation is very reminiscent of the painful translations of Latin that I did as a Freshman in High School. Not sure how James Harris gets a writing contract for such pathetic translation skills. Try again....
February 14, 2025
Remarkable timing to have read this while working from home and prepared to unleash rage upon even the slightest inconvenience. A good dose of stoicism to set my head right. Not the first time I’ve read and likely won’t be the last
June 8, 2021
The content is good, but the translation is intentionally obtuse.
June 7, 2023
insight full
August 17, 2023
Amazing
Absolutely brilliant book on how to think while living this life. I would recommend it to you all. Happy Reading.
Absolutely brilliant book on how to think while living this life. I would recommend it to you all. Happy Reading.
June 20, 2024
Worst translation that I’ve ever read. What a horrible waste of time that I will never get back!
December 26, 2024
Poignant and applicable today!
December 28, 2024
This is an interesting book that is bound to give you something to think on, but for me, it wasn't life changing.
February 8, 2025
A series of jaw dropping truths, simply and sublimely stated.
February 14, 2025
This is a must read for all my law, political science and philosophy majors. For any free thinkers this is one that you will read more than once.
Read
December 14, 2025Excellent book on philosophy written so long ago but still pertinent to this day.
Read
February 14, 2026A classic. I was inspired to read this book after Hannibal Lecter recommended it in Silence of the Lambs.
July 19, 2020
Meditations: Adapted for the Contemporary Reader (Harris Classics) [Kindle Unlimited] — Marcus Aurelius, James Harris (12 chapters) July 3-18, 2020
Oh wow, this book was supposed to be written for “today’s generation,” and while it was, I still found it to be a real slog-fest!
The stories were easy to read and understand, it only that it went on and on in a very overlapping wordy way. Some of the writing was a “how-to-live-your-life” variety, and others focused on living your life that way ancient philosophers lived.
Honestly, this read like the book of Proverbs from the Good Book, without the numbers and chapter breaks.
It feels like a chronology of birth to death of a human.
Still, good. I’m glad I read it; it was informative and interesting. I read through to Chapter V thru July 7 and then took a break. Finished up 7/14-18.
Three stars.
Oh wow, this book was supposed to be written for “today’s generation,” and while it was, I still found it to be a real slog-fest!
The stories were easy to read and understand, it only that it went on and on in a very overlapping wordy way. Some of the writing was a “how-to-live-your-life” variety, and others focused on living your life that way ancient philosophers lived.
Honestly, this read like the book of Proverbs from the Good Book, without the numbers and chapter breaks.
It feels like a chronology of birth to death of a human.
Still, good. I’m glad I read it; it was informative and interesting. I read through to Chapter V thru July 7 and then took a break. Finished up 7/14-18.
Three stars.
April 16, 2019
Okay
This is a text I am reading to meet the goal of reading the 100 Must Read Books: Man’s Essential Library list posted by Art of Manliness. I will post a more thorough and thoughtful review on my blog: gauntletofintellectialterror.wordpress.com.
The text is okay. It isn’t as profound as I had been lead to believe. It is ironic that we still read it even though Marcus Aurelius constantly emphasizes how we will all be forgotten and dust (yet he is not). The book is redundant though. It could have been summarized in ten pages or less. The insight it provides is very similar to other works of philosophy. In that way it feels derivative even though it is ancient.
This is a text I am reading to meet the goal of reading the 100 Must Read Books: Man’s Essential Library list posted by Art of Manliness. I will post a more thorough and thoughtful review on my blog: gauntletofintellectialterror.wordpress.com.
The text is okay. It isn’t as profound as I had been lead to believe. It is ironic that we still read it even though Marcus Aurelius constantly emphasizes how we will all be forgotten and dust (yet he is not). The book is redundant though. It could have been summarized in ten pages or less. The insight it provides is very similar to other works of philosophy. In that way it feels derivative even though it is ancient.
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