Seneca's Letters from a Stoic (Dover Thrift Editions: Philosophy)

It almost makes me feel embarrassed to receive so much sound wisdom, such clear and useful advice, for so little as the as the meager price of this book. This truly has something for everybody. I can not think of anyone in any station or adult stage of life, who won't get something profoundly helpful, happily enlightening, even wittily humorous from this edition.I'm not going to try to go on about content details here, this is done much more forcefully in other reviews or by just reading the book, and at more than 450 pages this is not light fare. I have never taken nearly so long (and thoroughly enjoyed doing so) to read a book of this length before. You should too...don't rush this, instead savor and revisit the lucidity and truths within. It is remarkable how present this volume feels and fascinating how little some things change over the passage of 2,000 years!I can't say I agree with each and every entry here, all of Seneca's assertions, but so what? We all read to increase our knowledge and in reading any work, if one gains from certain parts and rejects others we are that much richer for the experience."Our stupidity may be clearly proved that we hold costly only those things for which we pay cash. Yet, we regard as free gifts the things on which we spend our very selves. We are eager to attain these at the cost of anxiety, of danger, and of lost honor, personal freedom and time." Seneca.At just $10, this purchase is the most obvious of values.

Seneca’s letters are illustrations of a phrase that is dying out in English, “the well-lived life.” So hankering are we for the pleasures and freedoms that modern Western society offers that we can still understand the term, “the good life” but not, unfortunately, a well lived one.For Seneca, the well lived life was one that strove for a disdain of luxury and honors, the importance of upright character and virtue, being surrounded by family and friends who love you and a resignation to all that fortune has to offer.Along with Marcus Aurelius, he is probably the best exponent of the practically minded part of the philosophy of Stoicism. It helped sustain the Roman Empire for centuries and its decay was assuredly one of the reasons for its decline.Although dissonant to modern ears it has much to recommend it; as validated by the contemporary science of psychology. If we could simply put aside the pleasure principle for the length it takes to read this book, we might find the wisdom so that our descendants can say of us, “his was a life well lived.” Such is the power and perennial relevance of Seneca.

So much wisdom. Most of it commonsensical. Very satisfied with this book of letters by Seneca.

Just in case reviews get merged with other versions of the same book this is a review for Seneca's Letters from a Stoic (Dover Thrift Editions) ISBN: 978-0486811246If you're looking to buy a copy of "Letters from a Stoic" then this is the book you should get. It contains all 124 letters from Seneca to Lucilius in one volume. I really like that each letter has a title along with the roman numeral of the letter.After buying the book I noticed in the bibliographical note that it's a republication of the Loeb Classical Library edition translated by Richard Mott Gummere. Originally titled "Ad Lucilium Epistulae Morales" or "Moral Letters/Epsitles to Lucilius", The Loeb Classical Library edition was first published by Putnam in three volumes in 1917 and reprinted in 1925. So I decided to borrow volume one from the library to compare it to this Dover Thrift Editions version. To my surprise they're actually the same! Even the introduction is the same. I compared the first two letters of both books and they're word for word the same text (except for one single word is different). I skimmed a few more letters and found the text is the same with those as well. It's nice to essentially have the Loeb Classical Library edition in one volume with this Dover edition, and at a fraction of the price too. For being 100 years old the translation is actually fresh. You wouldn't think it to be that old while reading it.

Although not all the lessons will be relatable to every reader, Seneca 's words of wisdom ring true in was that are surprisingly specific to the present moment. Language (translation) is a bit more cumbersome than 21st century plain English, but again, the message in each letter is highly relevant to today. Glad I made myself read to the end!

Most densely rewarding book I've ever read. I started highlighting quotes, but quickly gave up as literally almost every other sentence is deeply impactful.

This is referring to the paperback BN Publishing Edition copyright 2018.The content of the book is great, it contains all 124 letters, so I'm happy with that. 5 stars.However, the print of the pages is a very light grey (except the title page, and the last 2 "ad" pages for BN, which are crisp black letters). The letters are very tiny, and there is about an inch margin all the way around.For me, it's ok.. I can read the book as long as I have a bright light and strong reading glasses, so I'll keep the book. But for some it might be an issue. Taking off a couple of stars for that reason.

It is amazing to me how relevant these letters from almost 2000 years ago are to today. It is almost like we haven't really evolved as much as we think we did culturally or as individuals.

The letters are a series of letters from Seneca to a friend Lucillus. In modern language we might say Seneca was his mentor. He was a demanding mentor - full of tough love, criticising Lucillus from time to time in no uncertain terms. They are a fascinating insight into Roman life, as well as being full of good advice that is still very relevant.This has been along slow read by me - but then I think Seneca is the sort of writer who is best savoured rather than rushed through. Mostly very enjoyable, with some brilliant insights and quotes to re-use, but occasionally a little less interesting for me, as for example when Seneca explains Stoic metaphysics - hence 4 stars rather than 5. Perhaps I would have preferred edited highlights, but the advantage of reading them all is that you get to choose the ones you like. I will come back to this book again.

There is nothing you can dislike from Seneca's literature. The only thing I could complain is about the translation in english, as the original was in Latin, translating to english makes it sometimes harder to read because the way Seneca's uses the linguistic resources. After reading you'll realise that nothing has change in humanity in the last 2000 years (roughly the time passed from when it was writen). Seneca's stoic philosophy is the only philosophy that can be applied to real life individually and collectively. Not many times you have the change to read the original thoughts of a very important person in the history, as the letters he wrote to this friend Lucilius.A book that everybody should read at least once in their life. Then, go for Epictetus and Marcus Aurelius...I miss more footnotes to explain diverse aspects of the roman culture that makes the explanations be understood better, as other editions have, but well you can search on a library or Internet.

Great edition. I found it really accessible. It is set out as a series of letters about 3-4 pages each. Perfect for reading on a regular basis or dipping into.

I do not know for sure if Seneca wrote all of this by himself but honestly it doesn't matter. I recommend it for someone interested in stoicism and in the recipe of living a good life no matter the circumstances.

Maybe because I tried to read this late at night - bedtime - but just could not get into it. Stopped after the first 20 pages. Sorry