How To Be A Stoic
Massimo Pigliucci, How To Be A Stoic: Using Ancient Philosophy to Live a Modern Life (Basic Books, 2017)
Summary: A delightful introduction to the resurgent stoicism of the ancient Greeks and Romans. The first-century Hellenistic philosopher Epictetus is employed as a "guide" in explicit homage to Virgil's escorting of Dante through the Inferno. Concise and highly readable. Explores the Stoic framework of disciplines—desire, action, and assent—and virtues—courage, temperance, justice, and practical wisdom. For a primer, the book is the perfect balance of theory and practice. Complemented by a list of twelve "practical spiritual exercises" and a handy appendix summarizing ancient philosophies.
Key Quote: "Stoicism is too often misinterpreted as a passive philosophy, yet resignation goes precisely against not just what the Stoics themselves said but also, more importantly, what they practiced. The Stoics we know of were teachers, politicians, generals, and emperors—hardly the sort of people who would have fallen into a fatalistic torpor. Rather, they were wise enough to make the distinction between their internal goals, of which they had control, and the external outcome, which they could influence but not control." - pp. 38-39
Bottom Line: Read this book if you're looking for an introduction to modern Stoicism.
