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Um café com Sêneca: Um guia estoico para a arte de viver
Una guía práctica a través de las enseñanzas del filósofo estoico Séneca para una vida buena. El estoicismo, la filosofía más influyente del imperio romano, ofrece formas refrescantemente modernas de fortalecer nuestro carácter interior frente a un mundo impredecible. Ampliamente reconocido como el escritor más talentoso y humanista de la tradición estoica, Séneca nos enseña a vivir con libertad y propósito. Sus más de cien «Cartas de un estoico» escritas a un amigo cercano explican cómo manejar la adversidad; superar el dolor, la ansiedad y la ira; transformar los retrocesos en oportunidades de crecimiento; y reconocer la verdadera naturaleza de la amistad. En El arte de vivir como un estoico , el filósofo David Fideler extrae las obras clásicas de Séneca en una serie de capítulos y explica claramente las ideas de Séneca sin simplificarlas demasiado. Disfrutado mejor como un ritual diario, como una taza de café energizante, la sabiduría de Séneca nos proporciona un flujo constante de consejos probados en el tiempo sobre la condición humana, que no ha cambiado mucho en los últimos dos mil años.
240 pages, Paperback
First published December 14, 2021
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January 11, 2022
This (audio)book took me by surprise in many ways. I knew nothing of Stoicism before this book, including the fact that the way we use the word ‘stoic’ is very different from what ‘Stoicism’ stands for. This book provides an extremely insightful view into Stoic philosophy.
The primary reason for my surprise is that the parallels to Eastern philosophy – Vedanta, Yoga & Buddhism are striking. All these traditions pre-date Stoicism, but it seems Stoic philosophy developed independently. The rise of organized religion led to its decline, as Stoic philosophy did not advocate belief in a personal God. A wide variety of topics are covered: Self-awareness, balance, authenticity (very similar to the concept Brene Brown discusses in her books), anger management, alignment with nature, interconnectedness of the cosmos etc. There is also wisdom around the need to be careful while part of a crowd, as mob dynamics are different and dangerous. The content is largely based on the letters Seneca wrote. A lot of these concepts today are also part of mindfulness literature (which draw extensively from Eastern philosophy).
I found it very intellectually stimulating to compare and contrast these teachings with other philosophical traditions I am aware of. Stoic philosophy is well worth exploring further, and hopefully I will find more interesting books to read covering it.
If philosophy interests you, this is an excellent book. The only area the book could have improved on is that the matter is pretty dense, and including more of Seneca's life could have made it easier to read/listen. I suppose though that since this dates to ~2000 years back, quite possibly this is all the detail that is available now.
My rating: 4.5 / 5.
Thanks to Netgalley, Ascent Audio and the author for a free audiobook in order to provide a review. The audio narration by Paul Heitsch was very good.
The primary reason for my surprise is that the parallels to Eastern philosophy – Vedanta, Yoga & Buddhism are striking. All these traditions pre-date Stoicism, but it seems Stoic philosophy developed independently. The rise of organized religion led to its decline, as Stoic philosophy did not advocate belief in a personal God. A wide variety of topics are covered: Self-awareness, balance, authenticity (very similar to the concept Brene Brown discusses in her books), anger management, alignment with nature, interconnectedness of the cosmos etc. There is also wisdom around the need to be careful while part of a crowd, as mob dynamics are different and dangerous. The content is largely based on the letters Seneca wrote. A lot of these concepts today are also part of mindfulness literature (which draw extensively from Eastern philosophy).
I found it very intellectually stimulating to compare and contrast these teachings with other philosophical traditions I am aware of. Stoic philosophy is well worth exploring further, and hopefully I will find more interesting books to read covering it.
If philosophy interests you, this is an excellent book. The only area the book could have improved on is that the matter is pretty dense, and including more of Seneca's life could have made it easier to read/listen. I suppose though that since this dates to ~2000 years back, quite possibly this is all the detail that is available now.
My rating: 4.5 / 5.
Thanks to Netgalley, Ascent Audio and the author for a free audiobook in order to provide a review. The audio narration by Paul Heitsch was very good.
January 6, 2025
سنکا، با نام کامل لوکیوس آنائیوس سنکا، یکی از چهره‌های شاخص فلسفه رواقی در دوران امپراتوری روم بود. او هم یک فیلسوف برجسته و هم مشاور و مربی هیولایی به نام نرون بود . گرچه پیش از سنکا ، زنون و کرایسیپوس فیلسوفان رواقی یونانی بوده اند اما چون از آنان نوشته های چندانی به جا نمانده ، سنکا را باید اولین فیلسوف رواقی دانست که آموزه هایی درباره رواقی ، رواقی گری و رواقی بودن دارد . فلسفه ای که سنکا به جا گذاشت بعدها به دست دیگر فیلسوفان رومی مانند اپیکتتوس و مارکوس اورلیوس بسط داده شد و با وجود آنکه بیش از بیست قرن از آن می گذرد هم چنان طراوت ، تازگی و جذابیت خود را حفظ کرده .
اصول فلسفه رواقی
رواقیون به دنبال رسیدن به زندگی سعادتمند و آرام هستند . آنها معتقدند که خوشبختی به عوامل بیرونی مانند ثروت، قدرت یا لذت وابسته نیست، بلکه به درون فرد و نحوه برخورد او با رویدادهای زندگی بستگی دارد. آنها با تاکید بر خردورزی، منطق، پذیرش سرنوشت ، کنترل بر احساسات، سادگی، فضیلت و زندگی در هماهنگی با طبیعت، به ما می‌آموزند که چگونه با چالش‌های زندگی روبرو شویم و به آرامش درونی دست پیدا کنیم. از دیدگاه رواقیون، هدف اصلی زندگی پرورش فضیلت‌هایی مانند خرد، عدالت، شجاعت و میانه‌روی است. با تمرین این فضیلت‌ها، می‌توانیم به زندگی معنا‌دار و رضایت‌بخش دست پیدا کرد .
گرچه رواقیون به این باور بودند که برخی از رویدادها خارج از کنترل هستند و باید آنها را با پذیرفت ، اما این به معنای آن نیست که آنها به جبر مطلق اعتقاد داشتند. در واقع، رواقیون بین رویدادهایی که در کنترل ما هستند و رویدادهایی که در کنترل ما نیستند، تفاوت قائل می‌شدند .
فضیلت در فلسفه رواقی به معنای کمال اخلاقی انسان است. رواقیون معتقد بودند که تنها چیزی که واقعاً به انسان تعلق دارد و تحت کنترل اوست، فضایل اخلاقی ایست. به عبارت دیگر، خوشبختی و سعادت انسان به داشتن فضیلت گره خورده است رواقیون فضیلت را به چهار گروه اصلی ، خرد به معنای توانایی تفکر منطقی و قضاوت درست و تصمیم‌گیری عاقلانه ، عدالت یعنی رفتار منصفانه و عادلانه با دیگران ، شجاعت به معنای توانایی مقابله با ترس و دشواری‌ها و میانه‌روی یا اعتدال به معنای پرهیز از افراط و تفریط را که به عنوان ستون‌های زندگی خوب و سعادتمند مطرح می‌شدند تقسیم می کردند .
صبحانه با سنکا نوشته دیوید فیدلر تلاش کرده تا با استفاده از فلسفه رواقی، چگونگی رسیدن به زندگی آرام و هدفمندتررا شرح دهد . اما فیدلر تنها به معرفی مفاهیم کلی رواقی‌گری بسنده نکرده. او با زبانی ساده و روان، این مفاهیم را به زندگی روزمره پیوند زده و تمرین‌های عملی برای پیاده‌سازی آنها ارائه داده. فیدلر با استفاده از مثال‌ها و داستان‌های تاریخی تلاش کرده تا مفاهیم فلسفی را قابل فهم‌تر کند و نشان دهد که چگونه می‌توان این آموزه‌ها را در زندگی روزمره به کار گرفت.
بسیاری از مفاهیمی که دیوید فیدلر در صبحانه با سنکا آن ها را شرح داده ، ویلیام اروین ، دیگر فیلسوف سرشناس رواقی معاصر هم ، در کتاب های خود به آنها پرداخته ، مفاهیمی مانند زندگی در زمان حال یا تکنیک هایی برای مواجه شدن با مرگ . کلام فیدلر هم همانند اروین ، ساده و روان است و او کوشیده هر مفهوم رواقی را با مثال های امروزی شرح دهد . نویسنده از نامه های سنکا به دوست نزدیک خود استفاده کرده و با استفاده از مفاهیم رواقی کوشیده تا دوست خود را با آرامش و سعادت آشنا کند .
یکی دیگر از مفاهیم سنکا آپاتیاست . آپاتیا در فلسفه رواقی را باید به عنوان ابزاری برای رسیدن به آرامش و مدیریت احساسات دانست . آپاتیا به معنای عدم احساسات یا حسی از رنج و منفی‌نگری نیست، بلکه به معنای پاسخ منطقی، متعادل و معقول به چالش‌های زندگی ایست . سنکا بر این باور بوده که افراد باید با هوشمندی و بر اساس عقل با مشکلات و احساسات منفی مواجه شوند. از نگاه سنکا انسان باید بتواند در شرایط دشوار و سخت واکنشی منطقی و آرامش‌بخش از خود نشان دهد تا به قضاوت نادرست و افراطی در مواجهه با مشکلات دچار نشود .
با وجود گذر قرن‌ها از دوران شکوفایی فلسفه رواقی، اندیشه‌های سنکا در کتاب صبحانه با سنکا همچنان تازگی و نوآوری خود را حفظ کرده است. در دنیای پراسترس امروز، که بسیاری با چالش‌هایی مانند اضطراب و بی ثباتی روبرو هستند، آموزه‌های رواقی همچنان مفید به نظر می‌رسند. تمرکز بر پذیرش واقعیت‌ها، کنترل افکار و تمرکز بر آنچه در اختیار انسان است ، از جمله اصول کلیدی این فلسفه است که می‌تواند کمک کند تا با آرامش بیشتری با مشکلات زندگی روبرو شد. در این میان کتاب صبحانه با سنکا با شرح گذشته و تلاش برای انطباق کتاب با امروز ، کوشیده تصویر جدید و به روزی از فلسفه رواقی نشان دهد . کتاب فیدلر را می توان کتابی مفید برای آشنایی مقدماتی با فلسفه رواقی دانست .
اصول فلسفه رواقی
رواقیون به دنبال رسیدن به زندگی سعادتمند و آرام هستند . آنها معتقدند که خوشبختی به عوامل بیرونی مانند ثروت، قدرت یا لذت وابسته نیست، بلکه به درون فرد و نحوه برخورد او با رویدادهای زندگی بستگی دارد. آنها با تاکید بر خردورزی، منطق، پذیرش سرنوشت ، کنترل بر احساسات، سادگی، فضیلت و زندگی در هماهنگی با طبیعت، به ما می‌آموزند که چگونه با چالش‌های زندگی روبرو شویم و به آرامش درونی دست پیدا کنیم. از دیدگاه رواقیون، هدف اصلی زندگی پرورش فضیلت‌هایی مانند خرد، عدالت، شجاعت و میانه‌روی است. با تمرین این فضیلت‌ها، می‌توانیم به زندگی معنا‌دار و رضایت‌بخش دست پیدا کرد .
گرچه رواقیون به این باور بودند که برخی از رویدادها خارج از کنترل هستند و باید آنها را با پذیرفت ، اما این به معنای آن نیست که آنها به جبر مطلق اعتقاد داشتند. در واقع، رواقیون بین رویدادهایی که در کنترل ما هستند و رویدادهایی که در کنترل ما نیستند، تفاوت قائل می‌شدند .
فضیلت در فلسفه رواقی به معنای کمال اخلاقی انسان است. رواقیون معتقد بودند که تنها چیزی که واقعاً به انسان تعلق دارد و تحت کنترل اوست، فضایل اخلاقی ایست. به عبارت دیگر، خوشبختی و سعادت انسان به داشتن فضیلت گره خورده است رواقیون فضیلت را به چهار گروه اصلی ، خرد به معنای توانایی تفکر منطقی و قضاوت درست و تصمیم‌گیری عاقلانه ، عدالت یعنی رفتار منصفانه و عادلانه با دیگران ، شجاعت به معنای توانایی مقابله با ترس و دشواری‌ها و میانه‌روی یا اعتدال به معنای پرهیز از افراط و تفریط را که به عنوان ستون‌های زندگی خوب و سعادتمند مطرح می‌شدند تقسیم می کردند .
صبحانه با سنکا نوشته دیوید فیدلر تلاش کرده تا با استفاده از فلسفه رواقی، چگونگی رسیدن به زندگی آرام و هدفمندتررا شرح دهد . اما فیدلر تنها به معرفی مفاهیم کلی رواقی‌گری بسنده نکرده. او با زبانی ساده و روان، این مفاهیم را به زندگی روزمره پیوند زده و تمرین‌های عملی برای پیاده‌سازی آنها ارائه داده. فیدلر با استفاده از مثال‌ها و داستان‌های تاریخی تلاش کرده تا مفاهیم فلسفی را قابل فهم‌تر کند و نشان دهد که چگونه می‌توان این آموزه‌ها را در زندگی روزمره به کار گرفت.
بسیاری از مفاهیمی که دیوید فیدلر در صبحانه با سنکا آن ها را شرح داده ، ویلیام اروین ، دیگر فیلسوف سرشناس رواقی معاصر هم ، در کتاب های خود به آنها پرداخته ، مفاهیمی مانند زندگی در زمان حال یا تکنیک هایی برای مواجه شدن با مرگ . کلام فیدلر هم همانند اروین ، ساده و روان است و او کوشیده هر مفهوم رواقی را با مثال های امروزی شرح دهد . نویسنده از نامه های سنکا به دوست نزدیک خود استفاده کرده و با استفاده از مفاهیم رواقی کوشیده تا دوست خود را با آرامش و سعادت آشنا کند .
یکی دیگر از مفاهیم سنکا آپاتیاست . آپاتیا در فلسفه رواقی را باید به عنوان ابزاری برای رسیدن به آرامش و مدیریت احساسات دانست . آپاتیا به معنای عدم احساسات یا حسی از رنج و منفی‌نگری نیست، بلکه به معنای پاسخ منطقی، متعادل و معقول به چالش‌های زندگی ایست . سنکا بر این باور بوده که افراد باید با هوشمندی و بر اساس عقل با مشکلات و احساسات منفی مواجه شوند. از نگاه سنکا انسان باید بتواند در شرایط دشوار و سخت واکنشی منطقی و آرامش‌بخش از خود نشان دهد تا به قضاوت نادرست و افراطی در مواجهه با مشکلات دچار نشود .
با وجود گذر قرن‌ها از دوران شکوفایی فلسفه رواقی، اندیشه‌های سنکا در کتاب صبحانه با سنکا همچنان تازگی و نوآوری خود را حفظ کرده است. در دنیای پراسترس امروز، که بسیاری با چالش‌هایی مانند اضطراب و بی ثباتی روبرو هستند، آموزه‌های رواقی همچنان مفید به نظر می‌رسند. تمرکز بر پذیرش واقعیت‌ها، کنترل افکار و تمرکز بر آنچه در اختیار انسان است ، از جمله اصول کلیدی این فلسفه است که می‌تواند کمک کند تا با آرامش بیشتری با مشکلات زندگی روبرو شد. در این میان کتاب صبحانه با سنکا با شرح گذشته و تلاش برای انطباق کتاب با امروز ، کوشیده تصویر جدید و به روزی از فلسفه رواقی نشان دهد . کتاب فیدلر را می توان کتابی مفید برای آشنایی مقدماتی با فلسفه رواقی دانست .
January 21, 2022
A useful and sometimes inspiring overview of major topics and ideas in Seneca's work - very helpful as someone who had previously thought he sounded forbidding, and which made me want to explore his writings directly ... when I can fit it in. Seneca's relevance to contemporary issues is clear, esp for middle class people with busy lives preoccupied with consumerism, status, the pressure of time, irritation and other people's opinions.
I have been wondering for a while about the relationship between early Christianity & Stoicism, and had figured that there must have been some kind of cross-fertilisation in the ferment of the Axial Age. (I know the Axial Age is a controversial idea in some quarters, but what I have read to this point in life convinces me of the similarities and confluence, so I still feel that the spiritual and philosophical developments across Asia and Europe deserve to be grouped together somehow. I have not read anything really convincing against the concept.) Anyway, Fideler states that Christianity got its ideas of equality from the Stoics. The audio is unreferenced, but I'd be keen to read a bit more on this point and check whether there's any scholarly consensus on it.
Downsides: I did not like this audio reader's voice - however, the speed was fine (not too fast) which is very important to me, and the reason I listened to the whole thing. Examples from the author's own life could seem too middle-class & privileged - though not IMO as toe-curlingly so as in Massimo Pigliucci's How to Be a Stoic. (Both authors have lived in more than one country.) I don't think he discouraged relationship drama enough, as his examples two or three times showed his ex-partners or wife being rewarded for it in one way or another - when they could have benefited from being more stoic. (I think media showing this stuff being rewarded was a bad influence on me when I was younger.) That, these days, could grate on some female readers, so perhaps a male author might steer clear of it for that reason.
But Fideler does not seem to be concerned about drawing the ire of online social justice advocates, as he unfortunately uses a clumsy and one-sided characterisation of identity politics. He portrays it as divisive and adversarial, rather than seeing that, whilst that is an unfortunately big part of how it plays out on social media, its underlying and ultimate aims of increasing equality and fairness *are* in tune with the Classical Stoics' principles. The author says that Seneca would have been opposed to it; I think that Seneca was a nuanced and intelligent commentator who would have quickly spotted its upsides and downsides, and perhaps even thought of ways to apply it that bypass the Twitter mob culture whilst doing real good.
Instinctively, I feel that praemediatatio malorum needs to be balanced with positive thinking, and that there may be an ideal ratio of one to the other, perhaps depending to an extent on a person's (or their society's) circumstances and temperament. It is a very good idea to have rehearsed in advance how to behave if something that particularly worries you actually happens. However, positive thinking towards outcomes you want, especially those which are fairly sensible and realistic, can have benefits in subconsciously prompting a person to behave in ways more likely to lead to those outcomes. (Though confidence you can act decently in a difficult situation is also a sort of positive thinking.) I haven't yet found material that discusses this, just articles that pit Stoicism against positive thinking. Too much specialisation there, I suspect, or the pendulum swinging back too far against positive thinking due to collective realisations about the financial crisis, pandemic and climate change (a tendency which has been building among Millenials and Gen Z online for some years, and, as it becomes more widespread, is now being picked up by corporates like Accenture here) and not many yet seem to be unpicking the difference between limitless abundance thinking and a more realistic optimism that still makes sense, at least for some.
These days I don't have time to write reviews as long as I used to, or as long as I'd really like to. I may or may not add to some of these shorter ones in future. A drawback of short reviews written off the cuff is that I often give disproportionate space to what I disagreed with or disliked in a book. In at least some cases I hope star ratings will offset this.
I have been wondering for a while about the relationship between early Christianity & Stoicism, and had figured that there must have been some kind of cross-fertilisation in the ferment of the Axial Age. (I know the Axial Age is a controversial idea in some quarters, but what I have read to this point in life convinces me of the similarities and confluence, so I still feel that the spiritual and philosophical developments across Asia and Europe deserve to be grouped together somehow. I have not read anything really convincing against the concept.) Anyway, Fideler states that Christianity got its ideas of equality from the Stoics. The audio is unreferenced, but I'd be keen to read a bit more on this point and check whether there's any scholarly consensus on it.
Downsides: I did not like this audio reader's voice - however, the speed was fine (not too fast) which is very important to me, and the reason I listened to the whole thing. Examples from the author's own life could seem too middle-class & privileged - though not IMO as toe-curlingly so as in Massimo Pigliucci's How to Be a Stoic. (Both authors have lived in more than one country.) I don't think he discouraged relationship drama enough, as his examples two or three times showed his ex-partners or wife being rewarded for it in one way or another - when they could have benefited from being more stoic. (I think media showing this stuff being rewarded was a bad influence on me when I was younger.) That, these days, could grate on some female readers, so perhaps a male author might steer clear of it for that reason.
But Fideler does not seem to be concerned about drawing the ire of online social justice advocates, as he unfortunately uses a clumsy and one-sided characterisation of identity politics. He portrays it as divisive and adversarial, rather than seeing that, whilst that is an unfortunately big part of how it plays out on social media, its underlying and ultimate aims of increasing equality and fairness *are* in tune with the Classical Stoics' principles. The author says that Seneca would have been opposed to it; I think that Seneca was a nuanced and intelligent commentator who would have quickly spotted its upsides and downsides, and perhaps even thought of ways to apply it that bypass the Twitter mob culture whilst doing real good.
Instinctively, I feel that praemediatatio malorum needs to be balanced with positive thinking, and that there may be an ideal ratio of one to the other, perhaps depending to an extent on a person's (or their society's) circumstances and temperament. It is a very good idea to have rehearsed in advance how to behave if something that particularly worries you actually happens. However, positive thinking towards outcomes you want, especially those which are fairly sensible and realistic, can have benefits in subconsciously prompting a person to behave in ways more likely to lead to those outcomes. (Though confidence you can act decently in a difficult situation is also a sort of positive thinking.) I haven't yet found material that discusses this, just articles that pit Stoicism against positive thinking. Too much specialisation there, I suspect, or the pendulum swinging back too far against positive thinking due to collective realisations about the financial crisis, pandemic and climate change (a tendency which has been building among Millenials and Gen Z online for some years, and, as it becomes more widespread, is now being picked up by corporates like Accenture here) and not many yet seem to be unpicking the difference between limitless abundance thinking and a more realistic optimism that still makes sense, at least for some.
These days I don't have time to write reviews as long as I used to, or as long as I'd really like to. I may or may not add to some of these shorter ones in future. A drawback of short reviews written off the cuff is that I often give disproportionate space to what I disagreed with or disliked in a book. In at least some cases I hope star ratings will offset this.
January 21, 2022
I was looking for a new audiobook when I read (er, skimmed) an article in the NYT about the stoics, and this book was mentioned as a recommendation. The snippets of stoic philosophy I read seemed like the perfect way to start 2022, so I nabbed this audiobook and Seneca's Letters (on Kindle, bc it was $1.99!). I was expecting this to be a memoir that incorporated bits of Seneca's text, but no. This was more like some queasy mix of textbook and self-help book. Spare yourself the read by jumping to the last chapter, where he summarizes the entire book in a numbered list. Note -- I did really enjoy, at least conceptually, the stoic teachings. This was just a boring package for them. Looking forward reading the first-hand version when I get around to the Letters.
November 3, 2024
Knyga suteikusi daug šilumos širdyje.
Autorius puikiai interpretuoja Senekos ir stoikų filosofiją, pateikia esmines laimingo gyvenimo taisykle. Perskaičius knyga užklumpa dėkingumo ir pilnumo jausmas.
Autorius puikiai interpretuoja Senekos ir stoikų filosofiją, pateikia esmines laimingo gyvenimo taisykle. Perskaičius knyga užklumpa dėkingumo ir pilnumo jausmas.
April 18, 2022
I’ve often attempted to read the Letters unabridged only for it to become yet another incomplete project, and not because I wasn’t enjoying them. They contain so much practical wisdom that they are a philosophical treat but, oh dear, so many words.
Breakfast with Seneca is a short book of under 250 pages and goes down as easily as marmalade on toast. Writer and philosopher David Fideler has done an excellent job in introducing Seneca to a wider audience, and he has done it by making it personal. Breakfast with Seneca is a good title for a book that is a conversation between two minds in pursuit of freedom and happiness. Seneca might have called it Breakfast with Fideler.
I appreciated the personal approach for we have enough academic texts, most of them dealing with the Letters. In this form, it is unique and I was recommending it to friends before I had reached page 10.
The organisation of the text makes for easy reference as it is arranged thematically:
Friendship
Don’t waste time
Worry and anxiety
Anger
Why you should never complain
etc.
The style of the narrative invites you in and, with some immediacy, you start applying Seneca’s advice to your own life. I was profoundly moved by the chapter on complaining. That's an area requiring more attention!
In the introduction, Fideler gives a succinct overview of Stoicism, claiming it to be a philosophy for today, as it is. It doesn’t require faith or belief: anyone of any creed or none can practice it. ‘In this book I explain Seneca’s key ideas and wise teachings in the clearest way possible.’
All quotations from Seneca are cited by number, which would allow us to have a standard copy of the Letters to hand so as to follow up anything that appeals. This might, in fact, be an easier way to read the Letters than cover to cover. The Stoics, he tells us, ‘developed a “therapy of the passions” to help prevent extreme, violent, and negative emotions that can overwhelm the personality, like anger, fear and anxiety. Rather than repress these negative emotions, their goal was to transform them through understanding.’
Stoicism is enjoying a revival in these troubled times. Breakfast with Seneca provides a practical manual for safeguarding and improving mental health.
Breakfast with Seneca is a short book of under 250 pages and goes down as easily as marmalade on toast. Writer and philosopher David Fideler has done an excellent job in introducing Seneca to a wider audience, and he has done it by making it personal. Breakfast with Seneca is a good title for a book that is a conversation between two minds in pursuit of freedom and happiness. Seneca might have called it Breakfast with Fideler.
I appreciated the personal approach for we have enough academic texts, most of them dealing with the Letters. In this form, it is unique and I was recommending it to friends before I had reached page 10.
The organisation of the text makes for easy reference as it is arranged thematically:
Friendship
Don’t waste time
Worry and anxiety
Anger
Why you should never complain
etc.
The style of the narrative invites you in and, with some immediacy, you start applying Seneca’s advice to your own life. I was profoundly moved by the chapter on complaining. That's an area requiring more attention!
In the introduction, Fideler gives a succinct overview of Stoicism, claiming it to be a philosophy for today, as it is. It doesn’t require faith or belief: anyone of any creed or none can practice it. ‘In this book I explain Seneca’s key ideas and wise teachings in the clearest way possible.’
All quotations from Seneca are cited by number, which would allow us to have a standard copy of the Letters to hand so as to follow up anything that appeals. This might, in fact, be an easier way to read the Letters than cover to cover. The Stoics, he tells us, ‘developed a “therapy of the passions” to help prevent extreme, violent, and negative emotions that can overwhelm the personality, like anger, fear and anxiety. Rather than repress these negative emotions, their goal was to transform them through understanding.’
Stoicism is enjoying a revival in these troubled times. Breakfast with Seneca provides a practical manual for safeguarding and improving mental health.
March 19, 2024
This book is now one of my all-time favorite books on Stoicism.
I got this book immediately after seeing Tom Morris’s strong recommendation of it in his new book Stoicism For Dummies. It’s FANTASTIC.
Now... I’ve always loved Seneca.
I can still *vividly* remember reading his Letters from a Stoic nearly 25 years ago (on a boat in the Mediterranean!) not too far from where Seneca wrote the letters 2,000 years ago while on a philosophical quest that included studying Socrates in Athens, Jesus in Jerusalem, Rumi in Turkey, and Aurelius near the Danube in Hungary.
But... Other than that high-level overview and some references to Seneca in all the other books we’ve featured, there’s never been a book ALL about him and his wisdom until this one. I HIGHLY recommend it.
This book is now one of my all-time favorite books on Stoicism. It made me fall in love with Seneca. In fact, I’ve often said that Epictetus is my favorite teacher and Aurelius is my favorite leader but... Seneca is a fascinating blend of BOTH of their BEST qualities. I think he’s now my favorite Stoic.
I just got all his other letters so I can study him more deeply.
It’s arguably THE most thorough overview of Stoicism you’ll find. I highly recommend it if you want a deeper dive.
The book is PACKED (!) with Big Ideas. Some of my favorites are:
1. The Stoic = The Progressor.
2. A Guiding Purpose - What’s YOURS?
3. Vicious Crowds Vs. Virtuous Friends. (Choose Wisely.)
4. Stoic Persistence - How to Become Invincible.
5. Stoic Joy - How to Create Lasting Happiness.
Lastly… I’ve added Breakfast with Seneca by David Fideler to my collection of Philosopher’s Notes--distilling the Big Ideas into 6-page PDF and 20-minute MP3s on 600+ of the BEST self-development books ever. You can get access to all of those plus a TON more over at https://heroic.us.
“What I also discovered in Seneca’s writings is that nothing significant has changed in human nature over the last two thousand years, which made everything he had to say contemporary. Vanity, greed, ambition, pursuit of luxury, and runaway consumerism—aspects of Rome’s elite, decadent society that Seneca described in detail—are all still very much with us.
But countering these negative aspects of human behavior, Seneca teaches his readers how to overcome worry and anxiety; how to live a good life under any conditions; how to live with purpose and cultivate excellence; how to contribute to society; and how to overcome grief and all kinds of obstacles that might (and certainly will) cross our paths. …
Despite the very high level of interest in Stoicism today, no one has written a book explaining Seneca’s teachings for the general reader, even though he’s been called ‘the most compelling and elegant of the Stoic writers.’ I hope this book will fill that void, and provide a bird’s-eye view of his thinking. …
This book might satisfy the entire curiosity of some readers about Seneca’s philosophy. But for those who wish to continue on to Seneca’s actual writings, or to host their own breakfasts with Seneca, may this guide serve as a helpful companion in that quest.”
~ David Fideler from Breakfast with Seneca
I got this book immediately after seeing Tom Morris’s strong recommendation of it in his new book Stoicism For Dummies. It’s FANTASTIC.
Now... I’ve always loved Seneca.
I can still *vividly* remember reading his Letters from a Stoic nearly 25 years ago (on a boat in the Mediterranean!) not too far from where Seneca wrote the letters 2,000 years ago while on a philosophical quest that included studying Socrates in Athens, Jesus in Jerusalem, Rumi in Turkey, and Aurelius near the Danube in Hungary.
But... Other than that high-level overview and some references to Seneca in all the other books we’ve featured, there’s never been a book ALL about him and his wisdom until this one. I HIGHLY recommend it.
This book is now one of my all-time favorite books on Stoicism. It made me fall in love with Seneca. In fact, I’ve often said that Epictetus is my favorite teacher and Aurelius is my favorite leader but... Seneca is a fascinating blend of BOTH of their BEST qualities. I think he’s now my favorite Stoic.
I just got all his other letters so I can study him more deeply.
It’s arguably THE most thorough overview of Stoicism you’ll find. I highly recommend it if you want a deeper dive.
The book is PACKED (!) with Big Ideas. Some of my favorites are:
1. The Stoic = The Progressor.
2. A Guiding Purpose - What’s YOURS?
3. Vicious Crowds Vs. Virtuous Friends. (Choose Wisely.)
4. Stoic Persistence - How to Become Invincible.
5. Stoic Joy - How to Create Lasting Happiness.
Lastly… I’ve added Breakfast with Seneca by David Fideler to my collection of Philosopher’s Notes--distilling the Big Ideas into 6-page PDF and 20-minute MP3s on 600+ of the BEST self-development books ever. You can get access to all of those plus a TON more over at https://heroic.us.
January 15, 2022
I saw this book presented so positively in a recent review somewhere that I immediately wanted to read it. I am familiar with the philosophical school of Stoicism. William Irvin, professor of philosophy at Wright State University, has written several books that present the ideas in an accessible and friendly fashion and I have enjoyed them all. However, it's been a while since I read his books so I was eager for a refresher course. Author and philosopher` David Fideler did not disappoint.
Much of Fedeler's book is exactly what he suggests: plans for living a good life. I enjoyed how he was able to take the words of Seneca and other Stoic philosophers and make them relevant to today's culture. I was impressed with how he reframed Seneca's ideas in the language of the cognitive behavioral psychologists. He included practical strategies for reducing anxiety, for staying authentic, and for managing anger and other emotions. One of the most interesting chapters to me was the one entitled "Why You Should Never Complain". The Stoics believed that we should follow nature and, the way I understood it anyway, is to let life unfold as it will. To whine and complain abut things that don't go the way you want them to go is worthless. Instead be grateful for the gifts you have and be open to possibility. They thought that if we could see and understand how the universe operates as a whole, then we could see the unfolding of our lives as perfect. Good advice, if you can do it. Fideler suggests that it is a matter of habit. Watch your words, watch your messages to yourself. You can change the habit of complaining. You will be happier and so will the people with whom you associate.
I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in learning more about an ancient philosophy that is still valuable today. If you need a nudge towards acceptance and openness, give this book a try.
Much of Fedeler's book is exactly what he suggests: plans for living a good life. I enjoyed how he was able to take the words of Seneca and other Stoic philosophers and make them relevant to today's culture. I was impressed with how he reframed Seneca's ideas in the language of the cognitive behavioral psychologists. He included practical strategies for reducing anxiety, for staying authentic, and for managing anger and other emotions. One of the most interesting chapters to me was the one entitled "Why You Should Never Complain". The Stoics believed that we should follow nature and, the way I understood it anyway, is to let life unfold as it will. To whine and complain abut things that don't go the way you want them to go is worthless. Instead be grateful for the gifts you have and be open to possibility. They thought that if we could see and understand how the universe operates as a whole, then we could see the unfolding of our lives as perfect. Good advice, if you can do it. Fideler suggests that it is a matter of habit. Watch your words, watch your messages to yourself. You can change the habit of complaining. You will be happier and so will the people with whom you associate.
I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in learning more about an ancient philosophy that is still valuable today. If you need a nudge towards acceptance and openness, give this book a try.
January 22, 2022
O carte decentă de intro în stoicism. Cu tot buzz-ul pe subiect, pare la timp. Mi s-a părut însă un pic prea subțire, chiar dacă rostul ei era de pus un pic în context istoric și filosofic învățăturile lui Seneca. Dacă vă doriți însă o lectură repejoară și plăcută, nu e de ignorat.
April 19, 2023
Don’t resist nature, stay virtuous, and nobody can harm you. It is the quality of our lives that allow us to live fully, not the length. Love everyday and feel every moment of gratitude, I fully admire the ideals of stoicism and think it is relevant for everyone
February 18, 2024
Much common sense. Taken from Seneca's writings on Stoicism, mostly from letters to a friend, easy to read and to understand. I thought an interesting fact, Jefferson, one of the founding fathers of the U.S. used the phrase "pursuit of happiness" by which the author of this book opines that he meant "the pursuit of virtue."
June 24, 2023
“Life, if you know how to use it, is long,” Seneca writes. “It’s not that we have a short time to live, but that we waste much of it. Life is long enough, and it’s been given to us in sufficient measure to accomplishing even the greatest things, if our life is well invested.”
November 5, 2023
A kötet Seneca írasaiból szemezgetve klassz kis összegzést nyújt a sztoikusok filozófiájáról és az életről, amit érdemes élni. Ez az élet egyszerre érzelmes, filantróp, ugyanakkor jéghidegen racionális - ettől olyan furcsa és szinte lehetetlennek tűnő.
Különösen értékelem az író gördülékeny, rendkívül olvasmányos stílusát. Remek iromány a mai kor embere számára- egyszerre tartalmas és könnyed.
Pluszpont azért, hogy végre megtaláltam a szót benne a saját hitemre (panteista). És hát nyilván nagyon szeretnék sztoikus lenni - gyakorlatok is vannak benne ehhez!
Különösen értékelem az író gördülékeny, rendkívül olvasmányos stílusát. Remek iromány a mai kor embere számára- egyszerre tartalmas és könnyed.
Pluszpont azért, hogy végre megtaláltam a szót benne a saját hitemre (panteista). És hát nyilván nagyon szeretnék sztoikus lenni - gyakorlatok is vannak benne ehhez!
December 14, 2021
The ancient Roman Stoic philosopher, Seneca, is recognised as the most talented and humane writer of the Stoic tradition. He shaped the understanding of Stoic thought that later generations were to have and his writings are stunningly diverse in range and as relevant today as they were almost two thousand years ago. An author who speaks very directly to modern concerns of shaping ourselves and our lives, Seneca advises how to live a good life whatever the circumstances. Some of this entails: living in agreement with nature; accepting virtue as the only true good; handling adversity; dealing with grief, anxiety and anger; living in the present moment; transforming setbacks into opportunities for growth, and recognising the true nature of friendship.
David Fideler’s “Breakfast with Seneca” is a superb introduction to Stoicism, Stoic practice and Seneca. With his fine writing and deep understanding, Fideler makes Seneca accessible to contemporary readers. I’m delighted to have discovered this audiobook and I shall be purchasing a hardcover edition of the book to read and reread. It’s a work of excellence and one of my favourite nonfiction books of 2021. This book deserves a space in every thinking person’s bookcase.
About the author
David Fideler is a writer, philosopher, and the editor of the Stoic Insights website. Born in the United States, he currently lives in Sarajevo with his wife and son, where he still enjoys his breakfasts with Seneca.
About the narrator
Paul Heitsch is a fine narrator. His performances are consistently cited for his authentic storytelling, realistic characters, and commitment to the text.
A huge thank you to @NetGalley and @ascentaudio for this advanced audiobook of “Breakfast with Seneca” by David Fideler.
David Fideler’s “Breakfast with Seneca” is a superb introduction to Stoicism, Stoic practice and Seneca. With his fine writing and deep understanding, Fideler makes Seneca accessible to contemporary readers. I’m delighted to have discovered this audiobook and I shall be purchasing a hardcover edition of the book to read and reread. It’s a work of excellence and one of my favourite nonfiction books of 2021. This book deserves a space in every thinking person’s bookcase.
About the author
David Fideler is a writer, philosopher, and the editor of the Stoic Insights website. Born in the United States, he currently lives in Sarajevo with his wife and son, where he still enjoys his breakfasts with Seneca.
About the narrator
Paul Heitsch is a fine narrator. His performances are consistently cited for his authentic storytelling, realistic characters, and commitment to the text.
A huge thank you to @NetGalley and @ascentaudio for this advanced audiobook of “Breakfast with Seneca” by David Fideler.
August 14, 2022
A wonderful breakfast with Seneca
Seneca is the most prolific of the Roman stoics with his writings covering 12 letters and 7 books. It is therefore harder for the Stoic reader to start reading Seneca than the other Stoics. David Fideler has created the missing Seneca handbook for us to carry with us. He's organised Seneca's writings into 12 chapters cover major themes important to human life.
This book is a must have for any practising Stoic. I'd also recommend all three volumes as the Tao of Seneca (Seneca's letters - audible) to compliment this book because after reading this you'll want to goto the source material.
Seneca is the most prolific of the Roman stoics with his writings covering 12 letters and 7 books. It is therefore harder for the Stoic reader to start reading Seneca than the other Stoics. David Fideler has created the missing Seneca handbook for us to carry with us. He's organised Seneca's writings into 12 chapters cover major themes important to human life.
This book is a must have for any practising Stoic. I'd also recommend all three volumes as the Tao of Seneca (Seneca's letters - audible) to compliment this book because after reading this you'll want to goto the source material.
August 23, 2022
Hoping to find something along the lines of Sarah Bakewell's treatment of Montaigne in her "How to Live," I was disappointed in Fideler's introduction of Seneca. Perhaps if I hadn't had such high expectations, I would be less critical of Fideler's effort.
This is a case where style overwhelms the story. First irritation is it is noticeably repetitive. In some cases, he repeated himself within a few paragraphs, using nearly the same words. Then, his personal anecdotes seemed forced at least and artificial at most. I wish I didn't find his style so jarring and instead could distill the story out of it, but I was unable to do so.
This is a case where style overwhelms the story. First irritation is it is noticeably repetitive. In some cases, he repeated himself within a few paragraphs, using nearly the same words. Then, his personal anecdotes seemed forced at least and artificial at most. I wish I didn't find his style so jarring and instead could distill the story out of it, but I was unable to do so.
April 9, 2022
I wanted to rate this higher, but the author made some weird comments that i didn't agree with as healthy to put in a book.
(side note: I prefered Marcus Aurelius's "Meditations" over Seneca's "Letters" for a solid stoic read.)
The beginning of the book started strong, but began to fizzle structure-and-content-wise around the midway mark.
(side note: I prefered Marcus Aurelius's "Meditations" over Seneca's "Letters" for a solid stoic read.)
The beginning of the book started strong, but began to fizzle structure-and-content-wise around the midway mark.
May 16, 2023
Seneca fəlsəfəsini dərindən araşdırmış və hətta öz həyatına tətbiq etmiş bir yazıçının qələmini oxumaq çox zövqlü idi. David Fideler Seneca-nın və Stoacıların fikirlərini, düşüncələrini, bizlərə olan həyatla bağlı yolgöstərici tövsiyələrini izahlı şəkildə əsərləşdirib. Kitab Seneca-nı anlamaqda mənim üçün köməkçi oldu.
May 31, 2022
accessible and accomplishes what it set out to do ig but vs hearing it straight from the horse's mouth?
sentence structures and just general word usage rather monotonous and repetitive (think every paragraph TEERd)
sentence structures and just general word usage rather monotonous and repetitive (think every paragraph TEERd)
January 26, 2025
Cansativo e mais do mesmo
January 23, 2022
Don’t waste your life on nonsense. Stay present, examine your thinking, and be grateful. Virtue should be our life’s goal. Be persistent on spending your precious time on what is important. All negative emotions are based on faulty thinking. Reduce worry by simply monitoring your inner judgments and opinions. Time is more valuable than money. Place your focus on what’s within your control. Connect with the wisdom of past sages, make their adages your own, and set daily reminders. Transform adversity into opportunity to build virtue. Mentally rehearse future possible challenges to be prepared, robbing events of their power to surprise and frighten. Recognize that change is a constant. Reflect on desire and be grateful for the time you have with loved ones. Act for the common good. Busyness is a distraction and leads to mental preoccupations with trivial concerns. An addiction to wealth leads to a mindset where more is always needed. The person who has enough, even if it is a little, is already rich, while those who always seek more are poor. If you instantly want to become rich, stop thinking about adding to your money but instead subtract from your desires. When you have “enough,” you also have time.
And so much more. Many of these adages you’ve likely heard before. Then again, you have to appreciate the wisdom of a man who almost 2000 years ago managed to survive Caligula and met his fate at the hands of Nero with grace. Overall, a very readable, engaging and motivational overview of the basic principles of Stoicism. Great reminders on how to handle upheaval and adversity with purpose in times like these.
And so much more. Many of these adages you’ve likely heard before. Then again, you have to appreciate the wisdom of a man who almost 2000 years ago managed to survive Caligula and met his fate at the hands of Nero with grace. Overall, a very readable, engaging and motivational overview of the basic principles of Stoicism. Great reminders on how to handle upheaval and adversity with purpose in times like these.
February 18, 2023
I have read the Ryan Holiday books. listen to the Daily Stoic and even tried to read original Stoic texts (translated) but I still struggle to understand Stoicism and to practice it in my life.
I thoroughly enjoyed David Fideler's take on Stoicism and how to apply it in everyday situations. I have made a ton of notes, and it's a book I will continue to study. While I did read this from cover to cover, I feel this is a book that works best when you are trying to tackle a specific challenge in your life, and you read the relevant chapter.
I am not an academic, and I appreciated the author writing this in a language that all of us can comprehend.
I thoroughly enjoyed David Fideler's take on Stoicism and how to apply it in everyday situations. I have made a ton of notes, and it's a book I will continue to study. While I did read this from cover to cover, I feel this is a book that works best when you are trying to tackle a specific challenge in your life, and you read the relevant chapter.
I am not an academic, and I appreciated the author writing this in a language that all of us can comprehend.
January 4, 2022
This was a very informative and well-researched book.
I have previously read writings by other famous Stoics such as Epictetus and Marcus Aurelius, but never Seneca.
This book was enlightening and underscored why I respect the Stoics (both Roman and modern) and follow their philosophy in my everyday life.
What I found wonderful about this book is its practical application.
Must-read if you are interested in Philosophy and psychology.
I have previously read writings by other famous Stoics such as Epictetus and Marcus Aurelius, but never Seneca.
This book was enlightening and underscored why I respect the Stoics (both Roman and modern) and follow their philosophy in my everyday life.
What I found wonderful about this book is its practical application.
Must-read if you are interested in Philosophy and psychology.
April 18, 2023
'Ținta este libertatea. Pentru Seneca, libertatea înseamnă a nu te lăsa înrobit de judecăți false, emoții negative extreme, furie, nevoi nestăvilite, nefericire, griji față de viitor, materialism, sentimente nocive și opiniile sau acțiunile altora [...] Din perspectivă stoică, a fi liber înseamnă a nu te lăsa tulburat de lucrurile care nu depind de tine, de tot ce aparține tărâmului întâmplării sau al Sorții.'
January 21, 2022
A great and accessible intro to Seneca and stoicism that got me interested in reading Seneca’s letters.
March 12, 2025
Overall I greatly enjoyed David Fideler's guide to Stoic practice and meditation, parsing through Seneca's letters and relating their principles to modern life. His own experiences utilizing Stoic practice were often touching and charming and assist the reader in tying this ancient philosophy to his/her own life today.
Sadly, Fideler could not stick the landing as the penultimate chapter on gratitude decided to wade a little too heavily into religion. By trying to make a point pleasing to Christians, atheists, and everyone in between, he pleases no one. Rather than keeping it simple to a line or two, for some reason Fideler goes to some length trying to explain how Christian gratitude is to a person, God, while non-Christian/believing gratitude is to the universe, or something. His attempt at theology is sophomoric and really detracts from everything else he had built up to that point. His understanding of God seems to be a cartoon version of an old man with a flowing white beard sitting on a throne in the clouds. As a Christian, I find this silly and completely out of place in a guide to Stoic philosophy. God is not some guy. God is. He then follows with his own new-agey belief system on pantheism and spiritual connection to the universe. Groovy, man. In short, it was a bizarre and unnecessary veer away from the point he was trying to make that could have been summed up with a single line, "Stoic practice does not necessitate belief in God, but recognition of and gratitude for forces beyond yourself."
That was a long criticism for an otherwise very enjoyable book, which I would recommend. Aside from that one chapter, the insights and explanations of Stoicism provided will surely help provide greater happiness and fulfillment to those who take them to heart.
Sadly, Fideler could not stick the landing as the penultimate chapter on gratitude decided to wade a little too heavily into religion. By trying to make a point pleasing to Christians, atheists, and everyone in between, he pleases no one. Rather than keeping it simple to a line or two, for some reason Fideler goes to some length trying to explain how Christian gratitude is to a person, God, while non-Christian/believing gratitude is to the universe, or something. His attempt at theology is sophomoric and really detracts from everything else he had built up to that point. His understanding of God seems to be a cartoon version of an old man with a flowing white beard sitting on a throne in the clouds. As a Christian, I find this silly and completely out of place in a guide to Stoic philosophy. God is not some guy. God is. He then follows with his own new-agey belief system on pantheism and spiritual connection to the universe. Groovy, man. In short, it was a bizarre and unnecessary veer away from the point he was trying to make that could have been summed up with a single line, "Stoic practice does not necessitate belief in God, but recognition of and gratitude for forces beyond yourself."
That was a long criticism for an otherwise very enjoyable book, which I would recommend. Aside from that one chapter, the insights and explanations of Stoicism provided will surely help provide greater happiness and fulfillment to those who take them to heart.
May 21, 2023
4 ⭐️. Me ha gustado mucho mucho, cosa que ya me veía venir.
Se trata de un ensayo ligero, ameno y muy gustoso de leer sobre, principalmente, Séneca, el estoicismo y las ideas principales de los mismos. Lectura recomendadisima si te interesan esos temas; quizá no te aporte nada nuevo, pero nunca está de más el refrescar y recordar cositas tan importantes como las que nos narra el autor a lo largo de las páginas.
Personalmente, se trata de una corriente que me apasiona y que intento llevar a cabo y practicar en mi día a día, por lo que como comento, me ha gustado mucho.
Sí que es verdad que ha habido capítulos que me han llegado más que otros, pero considero que ahí simplemente entran en juego los gustos personales de cada uno. He podido echar en falta más ejemplos y extrapolaciones al día a día, porque aunque las había, para mi gusto pegaban y facilitaban todo más cuando salían, por lo que no me hubiera importado encontrarme con más.
Plus enorme el acabar el libro con una brevísima guía de ejercicios estoicos a recordar y poner en práctica en nuestros días y vida, muy acertado.
Sin duda, muy buena obra cargada de enseñanzas, reflexiones y aprendizajes para, tal y como su título reza, desayunar junto a ella o junto a las enseñanzas de Séneca, viniendo genial no obstante para cualquier momento del día.
Será una relectura asegurada, muy recomendable ❤️🩹
Se trata de un ensayo ligero, ameno y muy gustoso de leer sobre, principalmente, Séneca, el estoicismo y las ideas principales de los mismos. Lectura recomendadisima si te interesan esos temas; quizá no te aporte nada nuevo, pero nunca está de más el refrescar y recordar cositas tan importantes como las que nos narra el autor a lo largo de las páginas.
Personalmente, se trata de una corriente que me apasiona y que intento llevar a cabo y practicar en mi día a día, por lo que como comento, me ha gustado mucho.
Sí que es verdad que ha habido capítulos que me han llegado más que otros, pero considero que ahí simplemente entran en juego los gustos personales de cada uno. He podido echar en falta más ejemplos y extrapolaciones al día a día, porque aunque las había, para mi gusto pegaban y facilitaban todo más cuando salían, por lo que no me hubiera importado encontrarme con más.
Plus enorme el acabar el libro con una brevísima guía de ejercicios estoicos a recordar y poner en práctica en nuestros días y vida, muy acertado.
Sin duda, muy buena obra cargada de enseñanzas, reflexiones y aprendizajes para, tal y como su título reza, desayunar junto a ella o junto a las enseñanzas de Séneca, viniendo genial no obstante para cualquier momento del día.
Será una relectura asegurada, muy recomendable ❤️🩹
January 16, 2025
He estado buscando buenos libros estoicos disponibles en español, y Desayuno con Séneca es exactamente lo que necesitaba. Lo que hace que este libro se destaque es su enfoque en el panteísmo y su defensa del logos cósmico como algo alineado con la ciencia. Esto lo convierte en un excelente recurso para contrastar con el popular libro Cómo ser un estoico de Massimo Pigliucci, que retrata al dios estoico como anticientífico.
Séneca, como señala David Fideler, es el estoico más "humano", lo que hace que el estoicismo sea más accesible y cercano. A pesar de tener solo 200 páginas y centrarse principalmente en la ética, el libro conecta efectivamente la ética con la física estoica, brindando una perspectiva integral.
Mi única crítica es que el autor era demasiado amigable con otros escritores estoicos modernos, como Ryan Holiday, Bill Irvine y Tim Ferriss, cuyos enfoques encuentro menos fieles a la esencia del estoicismo clásico.
Encontré las experiencias compartidas por el autor profundamente relacionadas con mi propio viaje con el estoicismo 🙂. En resumen, este libro es una lectura obligada para aquellos que buscan una introducción al estoicismo que sea científica y profunda.
Séneca, como señala David Fideler, es el estoico más "humano", lo que hace que el estoicismo sea más accesible y cercano. A pesar de tener solo 200 páginas y centrarse principalmente en la ética, el libro conecta efectivamente la ética con la física estoica, brindando una perspectiva integral.
Mi única crítica es que el autor era demasiado amigable con otros escritores estoicos modernos, como Ryan Holiday, Bill Irvine y Tim Ferriss, cuyos enfoques encuentro menos fieles a la esencia del estoicismo clásico.
Encontré las experiencias compartidas por el autor profundamente relacionadas con mi propio viaje con el estoicismo 🙂. En resumen, este libro es una lectura obligada para aquellos que buscan una introducción al estoicismo que sea científica y profunda.
May 25, 2022
Who needs therapy when you have the letters of Seneca and an author to help you apply his lessons to the modern day? 🤓
Though I doubt Stoicism will be the solution to all the problems in the world, this book has proven to have more solutions than anything I have ever come across. 👏 Even in a world filled with uncertainty, evil and disenchantment, there is always hope, and this book provides tangible exercises and ways of thinking to help balance frustrations to not be consumed with negative thoughts. 💭
Though I doubt Stoicism will be the solution to all the problems in the world, this book has proven to have more solutions than anything I have ever come across. 👏 Even in a world filled with uncertainty, evil and disenchantment, there is always hope, and this book provides tangible exercises and ways of thinking to help balance frustrations to not be consumed with negative thoughts. 💭
April 12, 2025
Lovely book. I was listening tot this while I was also reading/listening to Philosophy and Life, and they go very well togheter. I am no expert in philosophy, but Seneca's letters to Lucillius cand be very well written today, some sort of therapy that everybody needs to be in from time to time. The book covers some of the most important themes of daily life: friendship, gratitude, love, death and grief etc. So it could be a guide, or an explanation to how you should lead your life acording to the Stoics of ancient Rome, and to Seneca. Loved it.
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