The Stoic Way

Suggested Reading

Ten books for going further with Stoicism: the ancient sources first, then the best modern guides.

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  1. Cover of Meditations by Marcus Aurelius

    Meditations

    Marcus Aurelius (tr. Gregory Hays)

    The emperor's private notebook, in the clearest modern translation.

  2. Cover of Letters from a Stoic by Seneca

    Letters from a Stoic

    Seneca (tr. Robin Campbell, Penguin Classics)

    Warm, practical letters on friendship, fear, time and how to live.

  3. Cover of Discourses and Selected Writings by Epictetus

    Discourses and Selected Writings

    Epictetus (tr. Robert Dobbin, Penguin Classics)

    The former slave's talks plus the Enchiridion: what's up to us and what isn't.

  4. Cover of On the Shortness of Life by Seneca

    On the Shortness of Life

    Seneca (tr. C.D.N. Costa, Penguin Great Ideas)

    A short, sharp essay on why life is long enough if you use it well.

  5. Cover of The Inner Citadel by Pierre Hadot

    The Inner Citadel

    Pierre Hadot

    A scholar's deep guide to how the Meditations worked as daily spiritual exercise.

  6. Cover of How to Be a Stoic by Massimo Pigliucci

    How to Be a Stoic

    Massimo Pigliucci

    A philosopher walks through Epictetus and applies him to modern problems.

  7. Cover of How to Think Like a Roman Emperor by Donald Robertson

    How to Think Like a Roman Emperor

    Donald Robertson

    Marcus Aurelius's life and Stoic techniques, linked to modern CBT.

  8. Cover of A Guide to the Good Life by William B. Irvine

    A Guide to the Good Life

    William B. Irvine

    A friendly, practical case for Stoicism as a modern philosophy of life.

  9. Cover of The Obstacle Is the Way by Ryan Holiday

    The Obstacle Is the Way

    Ryan Holiday

    How to turn setbacks into fuel, with stories from history.

  10. Cover of The Daily Stoic by Ryan Holiday & Stephen Hanselman

    The Daily Stoic

    Ryan Holiday & Stephen Hanselman

    366 short readings, one a day, with a plain commentary on each.