An inviting new translation of essential selections from Marcus Aurelius's Meditations, distilling the timeless wisdom of one of Stoicism's most influential works
How do you keep calm when the world seems to be falling apart around you? When Marcus Aurelius was emperor, the Roman Empire was at the height of its power and prosperity, but it also suffered flood, famine, plague, and endless wars. He was frequently away from the capitol leading his legions in battle, and he died in an army camp. To cope with the enormous pressures he faced, Marcus Aurelius turned to the philosophy of Stoicism, writing brief passages to reflect on its ideas and strategies for putting challenges in perspective. The result was the Meditations, a profound and moving work about the human condition. Elegant, spiritual, and by turns serious and humorous, this masterpiece of Stoicism still resonates powerfully today. How to Be Stoic offers a fresh, fluid, and engaging translation of its most stirring and important passages.
Gretchen Reydams-Schils, a leading authority on Roman Stoicism, has carefully chosen and skillfully translated passages that exemplify the key themes of the Meditations, from everyday irritations such as encountering difficult people to existential worries such as the fear of death. How to Be Stoic also features a substantial and authoritative introduction and the original Greek text on facing pages. The result is perhaps the most accessible edition of the Meditations available.
| ISBN: | 9780691244655 |
| Publication date: | 5th May 2026 |
| Author: | Marcus Aurelius |
| Publisher: | Princeton University Press |
| Format: | Hardback |
| Pagination: | 216 pages |
| Series: | Ancient Wisdom for Modern Readers |
| Genres: |
Ancient Greek and Roman philosophy Ethics and moral philosophy Philosophical traditions and schools of thought |
An inviting new translation of essential selections from Marcus Aurelius's Meditations, distilling the timeless wisdom of one of Stoicism's most influential works
How do you keep calm when the world seems to be falling apart around you? When Marcus Aurelius was emperor, the Roman Empire was at the height of its power and prosperity, but it also suffered flood, famine, plague, and endless wars. He was frequently away from the capitol leading his legions in battle, and he died in an army camp. To cope with the enormous pressures he faced, Marcus Aurelius turned to the philosophy of Stoicism, writing brief passages to reflect on its ideas and strategies for putting challenges in perspective. The result was the Meditations, a profound and moving work about the human condition. Elegant, spiritual, and by turns serious and humorous, this masterpiece of Stoicism still resonates powerfully today. How to Be Stoic offers a fresh, fluid, and engaging translation of its most stirring and important passages.
Gretchen Reydams-Schils, a leading authority on Roman Stoicism, has carefully chosen and skillfully translated passages that exemplify the key themes of the Meditations, from everyday irritations such as encountering difficult people to existential worries such as the fear of death. How to Be Stoic also features a substantial and authoritative introduction and the original Greek text on facing pages. The result is perhaps the most accessible edition of the Meditations available.
How to Be Stoic features in the following genres: Ancient Greek and Roman philosophy, Ethics and moral philosophy, Philosophical traditions and schools of thought
How to Be Stoic is available in Hardback
How to Be Stoic was written by Marcus Aurelius and published by Princeton University Press
How to Be Stoic has 216 pages
Yes it is part of Ancient Wisdom for Modern Readers series
£13.49