Letters from a Stoic: Seneca's Moral Letters to Lucilius

I am new to Stoicism and I feel like I’m learning at the feet of a Master. Translation is excellent—not many stumbles over stilted or “moldy” language.There is ZERO editorial content. No introduction, no explanations, not even a footnote. Best read after getting a handle on the Stoicism basics and context as to who Seneca is and how he fits into it all.

I suggest you read up on Stoicism before reading this book. Having said that, the letters are from the holy grail of Stoics!

Lucky to have audio, digital and written copies of this book.

Seneca The Younger was a Roman Stoic philosopher who advised Nero following his training. This book is a collection of letters written at the end of his life to his friend Lucilius who was the Governor of Sicily. He offers advice on how to be a more devoted Stoic,. He criticized the harsh treatment of slaves and suggested the need to follow positive ideals. The book will require your concentration and thought, but the process will be worth it.Among my long list of favorite quotes, there is this: “You must linger among a limited number of master thinkers, and digest their works, if you would derive ideas which shall win firm hold in your mind.” I am happy I was able to digest Seneca’s works.

I bought this because I wanted the complete series of letters. As a translator, I don’t believe it was his job to decide for me which of Senecas work I should have access too.I would suggest buying a complete transition.

Why have we become a world of protecting people from thought? This practice is contradictory to what Seneca’s goals were.

Seneca wrote 124 letters but this edition deleted 2 of them! (Letters 70 and 77).While those 2 letters deal with suicide, they should still be in the book. I would have sent it back but I had already put my "name stamp" on the inside cover! Very disappointed!!