Letters from a Stoic: Epistulae Morales Ad Lucilium (Classics S.)

I read this back in 1995 when I finished university and enjoyed readings Seneca's practical advice even though he sometimes sounded like my. I read these letters again with some more wisdom and really appreciated what Seneca was writing. This translation is easy to read and the introduction gives many insights into who Seneca was and the Stoic thinking and influence at that time. The advice Seneca gives would certainly benefit many modern readers today. For anyone who is interested in Stoicism or Roman history, this book is a good to help you understand Stoic thinking and practices.

I find the best way to read this is as a daily reader rather than cover to cover in a few sittings. Many of the topics require some time to consider, comprehend and realize. There are countless quotable lines and thoughts throughout the book. His writing and this translation is both clear and easy to understand. I will certainly read again and refer to it when appropriate.

I actually own this in paper Back, and had been waiting for it to come into the Kindle Edition. Like Tim Ferris of The Four Hour Work Week, I read it in the morning first thing to influence my mind set for the day. As with life, sometimes it is burning with insights and reminders. Other times it just plods. But I find it very informative with ideas on how to be a better person and to live better. Even though this Philospher had controversy about if he lived as he suggested one lives. This point and a brief history on him is given at the beginning of the book. My main issue with the Kindle Edition is that whoever at the Publishers converted it for Kindle Edition, didn't bother checking it out on a Kindle. Seems for some odd reason the text will inexplicably go from normal size to 1-2 sizes bigger for a few paragraphs and then go back to regular size. I compared some of the passages to the hard copy and there is no rhyme or reason for the text size change. Do get the book, the font change is a tad annoying, but nothing major and the book is still very readable.

Really liked it, very insightful and learned a lot on how to become a better person. Most important very easy translation, best that I have found, no repeated messages in different letters. This is the version I would recommend for anyone who wants to read Seneca's letters.

First and foremost, a great, readable translation. The book itself is amazing evidence of ancient wisdom. Giving us a glamp of what human nature was liking 2000 years ago, and 'modern problems', are not at all new. We can learn a great deal of lessons, not only by Seneca's wisdom, but also by the the fact that our day to day costumes are repeating the past, and have been already reviewed... Thousands of years ago.

I'm not looking to be a scholar on Seneca, only to cherry-pick some of his wisdom and move along to someone else. Seneca has a helpful philosophy about not borrowing troubles you don't have, fearlessly acknowledging your mortality, and selection of friends. All in all not bad, but I stopped reading it after the first 60 pages. The themes became repetitive and boring for me. Seneca's own philosophy advocated "not wasting time", I think he would have approved of my decision to put this book down when I did.

This book was purchased for introspection, and it has served that purpose. Because it is written in the old style, there is a bit of separating the wheat from the chaff, and some of it has no relevance to today. But regardless, it gave me plenty to think about, and plenty to improve upon in my own life.

The book is highly relateable, and you'll find yourself wondering how Seneca's observations and experiences didn't happen yesterday on the street, in your home, and at work, but rather all the way before Christianity itself. Just goes to show you that no one has a monopoly on morality and just how much moral doctrine is re-branded and made to look exclusive. Experience is experience, and wisdom wrought from it is not only the only valid wisdom but a shared human experience. This book is (largely) wisdom, sans mythology.

There’s a letter here for everyone. Good guides to help you find more meaning and live life more openly. Recommended.

So much value in only ~200 pages! Where to start? There is (1) timeless advice, (2) spiritual exercises, (3) delightful insight into Roman life. Extremely interesting and useful in my daily life, something I love to refer to when experiencing difficult moments or temptations.

Reading this in middle age, for the first time, it is one of the most enlightening books I've ever read. I'm an on-going student of Stoicism and this will help keep me on the straight and narrow. Would I have understood or enjoyed it at 20? Most, probably not. Why? I didn't have the life experience back then.

I was able to learn a lot from this book! Must read for everybody who wants to better their mindset!

Wow. Just wow. It has precious advice. Easy to understand language. I got the kindle version and I read it every morning. Great advice from Seneca. Simply lovely bok to start reading if you are a beginner in philosophy.