3 Easy-To-Read Books About Stoicism
Even if you’re not an avid reader, you’ll breeze through these timeless life lessons.
If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by life and wondered how to stay calm and focused, maybe Stoicism might be the mindset you need.
If you’re curious about Stoicism or maybe are already a fan of it, these recommended books will help you bring a little more wisdom and peace into your everyday life!
1) Meditations by Marcus Aurelius
“Meditations” is a book that was written by the Roman Emperor, Marcus Aurelius, during the twilight of his reign.
This book is a profound and enduring work that has rightfully earned its place as a classic in philosophy.
Filled with lessons on Stoicism, personal growth, and what it means to be human, this book is a must-read for anyone who wants to live a virtuous and meaningful life.
If you’re a seasoned philosopher or maybe a newcomer to this genre, this book offers valuable insights that can inspire and guide you on your journey!
2) How to Be a Stoic: Using Ancient Philosophy to Live a Modern Life by Massimo Pigliucci
How to Be a Stoic is a book that was written by K.D. Irani Professor of Philosophy at the City College of New York, Massimo Pigliucci.
The volume is organized around Stoicism’s “three disciplines”: Desire (the idea of what is and is not proper to want; that is, distinguishing what is and is not in our power to effect); Action (how to behave in the world); and Assent (how to react to situations).
How to Be a Stoic is highly readable, written in clear and accessible prose. At the end, Pigliucci provides some practical spiritual exercises for those interested in exploring Stoicism further.
These exercises are designed to make the Stoic way of thinking and behaving in everyday life become, eventually, second nature. This is a good pick for anyone new to this genre!
Stillness Is the Key by Ryan Holiday
Stillness Is the Key is the final book in Ryan Holiday’s trilogy, after The Obstacle Is the Way and Ego Is the Enemy.
In this book, he shares a simple but powerful idea with his readers: stillness helps you get better at anything you do.
Holiday explores different beliefs like Buddhism, Stoicism, Epicureanism, Christianity, Hinduism, and countless other philosophical schools and religions.
I’ve written a little summary about this book:
He shows that almost all of them value inner peace — the stillness — as one of the most important parts of a good and meaningful life.
As he says in the book, “And when basically all the wisdom of the ancient world agrees on something,” Holiday writes, “only a fool would decline to listen.”
Watch LeadLearnLeap turns this book into more digestible animated book summary:
If you enjoyed this list, don’t stop here! We’ve got more mindset reads waiting for you.
More book recommendations:
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