How to Be a Stoic: Using Ancient Philosophy to Live a Modern Life

Massimo Pigliucci

May 2017 · Hachette Audio

About this audiobook

A philosopher asks how ancient Stoicism can help us flourish today Whenever we worry about what to eat, how to love, or simply how to be happy, we are worrying about how to lead a good life. No goal is more elusive. In How to Be a Stoic, philosopher Massimo Pigliucci offers Stoicism, the ancient philosophy that inspired the great emperor Marcus Aurelius, as the best way to attain it. Stoicism is a pragmatic philosophy that focuses our attention on what is possible and gives us perspective on what is unimportant. By understanding Stoicism, we can learn to answer crucial questions: Should we get married or divorced? How should we handle our money in a world nearly destroyed by a financial crisis? How can we survive great personal tragedy? Whoever we are, Stoicism has something for us—and How to Be a Stoic is the essential guide. 

Ratings and reviews

Massimo gets straight to the point and covers allot of material. He also tells you where he gets his material from so that you can read the sources for yourself. The only thing to mention is that Massimo goes pretty fast so it may not be the best book to get you started in your journey of understanding. However, I personally don't want to waste my time going slow or going off topic and Massimo definitely didn't waste my time. If you would like a more gentle introduction to Stoicism I recommend A Guide to the Good Life by William B. Irvine. Stoicism is very helpful and so this book.

About the author

Massimo Pigliucci is the K. D. Irani Professor of Philosophy at the City College of New York. The author or editor of sixteen books, he has been published in the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, the Washintgon Post, and Salon, among others. He lives in Brooklyn, New York.