Selected Letters from a Stoic

by Seneca

HarperCollins is proud to present its incredible range of best-loved, essential classics. No man can live a happy life, or even a supportable life, without the study of wisdomLucius Annaeus Seneca (4 BC-AD 65) is one of the most famous Roman philosophers. Instrumental in guiding the Roman Empire under emperor Nero, Seneca influenced him from a young age with his Stoic principles. Later in life, he wrote Epistulae Morales ad Lucilium, or Letters from a Stoic, detailing these principles in full.Seneca’s letters read like a diary, or a handbook of philosophical meditations. Often beginning with observations on daily life, the letters focus on many traditional themes of Stoic philosophy, such as the contempt of death, the value of friendship and virtue as the supreme good.Using Gummere’s translation from the early twentieth century, this selection of Seneca’s letters shows his belief in the austere, ethical ideals of Stoicism – teachings we can still learn from today.

282 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2021

About the author

Lucius Annaeus Seneca (often known simply as Seneca or Seneca the Younger); ca. 4 BC – 65 AD) was a Roman Stoic philosopher, statesman, and dramatist of the Silver Age of Latin literature. He was tutor and later advisor to emperor Nero, who later forced him to commit suicide for alleged complicity in the Pisonian conspiracy to have him assassinated.

Reviews

[andreicareads ✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

the philosophic part really is timeless and almost impeccable. however, Seneca’s judgment of psychiatric traits and disorders such as reversed circadian rhythm and Delayed sleep phase disorder, which are characteristic for conditions like autism, ADHD, anxiety, depression, ASPD and others, I find problematic. Seneca labeled these even as moral decay, laziness, and generally shamed the affected people. I do understand he lived in the 1st century when the said conditions were unknown, but was that judging necessary? there were many other examples.