Status
Available
Call number
Collection
Publication
David R. Godine, Publisher (2018), Edition: Third Printing, 256 pages
Description
The great insights of the Stoics are spread over a wide range of ancient sources. This book brings them all together for the first time. It systematically presents what the various Stoic philosophers said on every important topic, accompanied by an eloquent commentary that is clear and concise. The result is a set of philosophy lessons for everyone-the most valuable wisdom of ages past made available for our times, and for all time.
User reviews
LibraryThing member tombowne
I am a happier, better person for having read this outstanding book, filled with wise, compelling quotes from classic philosophers and clear, compelling guidance by Farnsworth. Altogether it's the perfect medicine for the the vexing, tumultuous, corroding times we live in.
LibraryThing member librisissimo
Very informative about the philosophy of stoicism, and the most notable of its proponents.
Simply put, Farnsworth write the way I like to read, with clarity and ample cross-referencing, and in a linear fashion from premise to evidence to conclusions.
It is interesting to me that so much of Stoic
I would characterize it as describing the stoic Christian, rather than the Christian Stoic.
Politically, I deduce that there can be stoic conservatives and stoic progressives (and stoic liberals, no longer the same thing), but it is impossible to have stoic socialists / Leftists - the ideologies are incompatible.
p. 22: Cicero said, essentially, that allowing ourselves to be consumed with the evils done to us & others, we can never be happy or even in our right mind.
Simply put, Farnsworth write the way I like to read, with clarity and ample cross-referencing, and in a linear fashion from premise to evidence to conclusions.
It is interesting to me that so much of Stoic
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wisdom parallels Biblical advice, especially from an LDS perspective, although that is not the author's intent or viewpoint.I would characterize it as describing the stoic Christian, rather than the Christian Stoic.
Politically, I deduce that there can be stoic conservatives and stoic progressives (and stoic liberals, no longer the same thing), but it is impossible to have stoic socialists / Leftists - the ideologies are incompatible.
p. 22: Cicero said, essentially, that allowing ourselves to be consumed with the evils done to us & others, we can never be happy or even in our right mind.
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LibraryThing member datrappert
Throw out your Bible, your Koran, and any other religious or pseudo-religious text (e.g., The Secret) and just focus on this collection of about the most sensible things the best minds have said about living your life and coping with anger and other unhelpful emotions. Farnsworth is a great guide
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and his selections from Seneca and others is very well chosen. Show Less
LibraryThing member Paul_S
I am slowly beginning to appreciate what authors don't write. This book is very is respectful of the reader and is very straightforward.
Self help books bring to mind the worst literature has to offer but this book shows that self help doesn't have to be like that.
Self help books bring to mind the worst literature has to offer but this book shows that self help doesn't have to be like that.
LibraryThing member Damiella
This is an excellent introduction to stoicism (a really easy read). It mainly consists of quotes from notable stoic philosophers bracketed by short commentary. As a result it is easy to see where I next want to look to dive deeper.
The selected quotes are very well chosen (straightforward but when
The selected quotes are very well chosen (straightforward but when
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you consider the underlying message there's a lot there). This is definitely a book worth keeping to reread and meditate on. Show Less
LibraryThing member markm2315
This is an unusually nice summary of this easy-to-understand but hard-to-do philosophy recommended to me by the great stoic, Vince D. Much of the text is collected quotations from the Stoics whose work has survived, Seneca, Epictetus, and Marcus Aurelius. Some modern practitioners are also
Much of Stoicism would be classified as psychology today; it is the self-help advice philosophy. The final chapter of this book addresses some of the critics of Stoicism, but in debate, you shouldn’t let the other team summarize your own criticisms for you.
I have various problems with Stoicism; the main one being that I have never met anyone without some CNS disease who changed their personality. Stoicism offers some good advice, but you need to be especially receptive to benefit from it, and, in most instances, I don’t think you will alter your life to fit Seneca’s recommendations, rather you will appreciate the recommendations if you already act that way. I suppose I am a Cynic.
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included, especially Montaigne and Schopenhauer (another entertaining, but lightweight philosopher). I liked it enough that I plan to read Farnsworth’s book on Rhetoric.Much of Stoicism would be classified as psychology today; it is the self-help advice philosophy. The final chapter of this book addresses some of the critics of Stoicism, but in debate, you shouldn’t let the other team summarize your own criticisms for you.
I have various problems with Stoicism; the main one being that I have never met anyone without some CNS disease who changed their personality. Stoicism offers some good advice, but you need to be especially receptive to benefit from it, and, in most instances, I don’t think you will alter your life to fit Seneca’s recommendations, rather you will appreciate the recommendations if you already act that way. I suppose I am a Cynic.
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Language
Original language
English
Physical description
9.1 inches
ISBN
1567926118 / 9781567926118