How To Be a Stoic

Welcome events in whichever way they happen, and don't hope that events will turn out the way you want, according to Stoic philosophers. These words of consolation and inspiration offer ancient wisdom on how to face life's adversities and live well.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 128 pages
Publication date: 24 September 2020
Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd

Don't hope that events will turn out the way you want, welcome events in whichever way they happen.

How can we cope when life's events seem beyond our control? These words of consolation and inspiration from the three great Stoic philosophers - Epictetus, Seneca, and Marcus Aurelius - offer ancient wisdom on how to face life's adversities and live well in the world.

One of twenty new books in the bestselling Penguin Great Ideas series. This new selection showcases a diverse list of thinkers who have helped shape our world today, from anarchists to stoics, feminists to prophets, satirists to Zen Buddhists.

Epictetus was a Greek philosopher who lived in the Roman Empire around the first century CE. He was a slave who was taught by the Stoic philosopher Zeno of Citium. Epictetus believed that we should not worry about things that are beyond our control, such as other people's opinions or the events of the world. Instead, we should focus on the things that we can control, such as our own thoughts and actions.

Seneca was a Roman philosopher who lived in the first century CE. He was a Stoic philosopher who believed that we should not seek pleasure or avoid pain, but rather that we should find a balance between the two. Seneca also believed that we should not be afraid of death, but rather that we should embrace it as a natural part of life.

Marcus Aurelius was a Roman emperor who lived in the second century CE. He was a Stoic philosopher who believed that we should focus on the present moment and not worry about the past or the future. Marcus Aurelius also believed that we should be kind to others and not seek revenge or retaliation.

These words of consolation and inspiration from the three great Stoic philosophers offer us a valuable lesson on how to cope with the challenges of life. We should not hope that events will turn out the way we want, but rather that we should welcome them in whichever way they happen. We should also focus on the things that we can control, such as our own thoughts and actions, and not worry about things that are beyond our control. Finally, we should embrace death as a natural part of life and not be afraid of it.

In conclusion, these words of consolation and inspiration from the three great Stoic philosophers offer us a valuable lesson on how to cope with the challenges of life. We should not hope that events will turn out the way we want, but rather that we should welcome them in whichever way they happen. We should also focus on the things that we can control, such as our own thoughts and actions, and not worry about things that are beyond our control. Finally, we should embrace death as a natural part of life and not be afraid of it.

Weight: 84g
Dimension: 111 x 179 x 11 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780241475263