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A Guide to the Good Life
- The Ancient Art of Stoic Joy
- Narrateur(s): James Patrick Cronin
- Durée: 8 h et 3 min
- Catégories: Sciences sociales et politiques, Philosophie
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The Stoic Challenge
- A Philosopher's Guide to Becoming Tougher, Calmer, and More Resilient
- Auteur(s): William B. Irvine
- Narrateur(s): Brian Troxell
- Durée: 4 h et 6 min
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Some people bounce back in response to setbacks; others break. We often think that these responses are hardwired, but fortunately this is not the case. Stoicism offers us an alternative approach. Plumbing the wisdom of one of the most popular and successful schools of thought from ancient Rome, philosopher William B. Irvine teaches us to turn any challenge on its head. The Stoic Challenge, then, is the ultimate guide to improving your quality of life through tactics developed by ancient Stoics, from Marcus Aurelius and Seneca to Epictetus.
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Practical Philosophy
- Écrit par Matt. D le 2020-05-06
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How to Think Like a Roman Emperor
- The Stoic Philosophy of Marcus Aurelius
- Auteur(s): Donald Robertson
- Narrateur(s): Donald Robertson
- Durée: 8 h et 30 min
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Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius was the final famous Stoic philosopher of the ancient world. The Meditations, his personal journal, survives as one of the most loved self-help and spiritual classics of all time. In How to Think Like a Roman Emperor, psychotherapist Donald Robertson weaves stories of Marcus’ life from the Roman histories together with explanations of Stoicism - its philosophy and its psychology - to enlighten today’s listeners. He discusses Stoic techniques for coping with problems such as irrational fears, bad habits, anger, pain, and illness.
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outstanding! changed my life
- Écrit par marcel le 2020-06-18
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How to Be a Stoic
- Using Ancient Philosophy to Live a Modern Life
- Auteur(s): Massimo Pigliucci
- Narrateur(s): Peter Coleman
- Durée: 6 h et 35 min
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Whenever we worry about what to eat, how to love, or simply how to be happy, we are worrying about how to lead a good life. No goal is more elusive. In How to Be a Stoic, philosopher Massimo Pigliucci offers Stoicism, the ancient philosophy that inspired the great emperor Marcus Aurelius, as the best way to attain it. Stoicism is a pragmatic philosophy that teaches us to act depending on what is within our control and separate things worth getting upset about from those that are not.
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Stoicism for First World Problems
- Écrit par Jean-Paul Beauchesne le 2020-03-26
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A Handbook for New Stoics
- How to Thrive in a World out of Your Control; 52 Week-by-Week Lessons
- Auteur(s): Massimo Pigliucci, Gregory Lopez
- Narrateur(s): Rupert Farley
- Durée: 10 h et 44 min
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An ancient belief system made new, Stoicism teaches us how to accept the things we cannot change and how to live a good life. It helps us improve our outlook, increase our well-being, and thrive in the face of adversity. But how does one live like a Stoic? In A Handbook for New Stoics, renowned philosopher Massimo Pigliucci and practitioner Gregory Lopez guide listeners through 52 weekly lessons, each based on a common obstacle. Stressing out about a meeting at work? Try listing the things you can control and those you can’t. Plus much more!
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The Practicing Stoic
- Auteur(s): Ward Farnsworth
- Narrateur(s): John Lescault
- Durée: 9 h et 57 min
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The great insights of the Stoics are spread over a wide range of ancient sources. This book brings them all together for the first time. It systematically presents what the various Stoic philosophers said on every important topic, accompanied by an eloquent commentary that is clear and concise. The result is a set of philosophy lessons for everyone - the most valuable wisdom of ages past made available for our times, and for all time.
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Best Stoicism book
- Écrit par J in Victoria le 2019-10-20
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Lives of the Stoics
- The Art of Living from Zeno to Marcus Aurelius
- Auteur(s): Ryan Holiday, Stephen Hanselman
- Narrateur(s): Ryan Holiday
- Durée: 10 h et 8 min
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From the best-selling authors of The Daily Stoic comes an inspiring guide to the lives of the Stoics, and what the ancients can teach us about happiness, success, resilience, and virtue. In Lives of the Stoics, Holiday and Hanselman present the fascinating lives of the men and women who strove to live by the timeless Stoic virtues of Courage. Justice. Temperance. Wisdom. Organized in digestible, mini-biographies of all the well-known - and not so well-known - Stoics, this book vividly brings home what Stoicism was like for the people who loved it and lived it.
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Great for those who follow stoicism/philosophy
- Écrit par Stefanie le 2020-10-13
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The Stoic Challenge
- A Philosopher's Guide to Becoming Tougher, Calmer, and More Resilient
- Auteur(s): William B. Irvine
- Narrateur(s): Brian Troxell
- Durée: 4 h et 6 min
- Version intégrale
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Performance
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Histoire
Some people bounce back in response to setbacks; others break. We often think that these responses are hardwired, but fortunately this is not the case. Stoicism offers us an alternative approach. Plumbing the wisdom of one of the most popular and successful schools of thought from ancient Rome, philosopher William B. Irvine teaches us to turn any challenge on its head. The Stoic Challenge, then, is the ultimate guide to improving your quality of life through tactics developed by ancient Stoics, from Marcus Aurelius and Seneca to Epictetus.
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Practical Philosophy
- Écrit par Matt. D le 2020-05-06
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How to Think Like a Roman Emperor
- The Stoic Philosophy of Marcus Aurelius
- Auteur(s): Donald Robertson
- Narrateur(s): Donald Robertson
- Durée: 8 h et 30 min
- Version intégrale
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Au global
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Performance
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Histoire
Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius was the final famous Stoic philosopher of the ancient world. The Meditations, his personal journal, survives as one of the most loved self-help and spiritual classics of all time. In How to Think Like a Roman Emperor, psychotherapist Donald Robertson weaves stories of Marcus’ life from the Roman histories together with explanations of Stoicism - its philosophy and its psychology - to enlighten today’s listeners. He discusses Stoic techniques for coping with problems such as irrational fears, bad habits, anger, pain, and illness.
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outstanding! changed my life
- Écrit par marcel le 2020-06-18
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How to Be a Stoic
- Using Ancient Philosophy to Live a Modern Life
- Auteur(s): Massimo Pigliucci
- Narrateur(s): Peter Coleman
- Durée: 6 h et 35 min
- Version intégrale
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Au global
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Performance
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Histoire
Whenever we worry about what to eat, how to love, or simply how to be happy, we are worrying about how to lead a good life. No goal is more elusive. In How to Be a Stoic, philosopher Massimo Pigliucci offers Stoicism, the ancient philosophy that inspired the great emperor Marcus Aurelius, as the best way to attain it. Stoicism is a pragmatic philosophy that teaches us to act depending on what is within our control and separate things worth getting upset about from those that are not.
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Stoicism for First World Problems
- Écrit par Jean-Paul Beauchesne le 2020-03-26
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A Handbook for New Stoics
- How to Thrive in a World out of Your Control; 52 Week-by-Week Lessons
- Auteur(s): Massimo Pigliucci, Gregory Lopez
- Narrateur(s): Rupert Farley
- Durée: 10 h et 44 min
- Version intégrale
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Au global
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Performance
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Histoire
An ancient belief system made new, Stoicism teaches us how to accept the things we cannot change and how to live a good life. It helps us improve our outlook, increase our well-being, and thrive in the face of adversity. But how does one live like a Stoic? In A Handbook for New Stoics, renowned philosopher Massimo Pigliucci and practitioner Gregory Lopez guide listeners through 52 weekly lessons, each based on a common obstacle. Stressing out about a meeting at work? Try listing the things you can control and those you can’t. Plus much more!
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The Practicing Stoic
- Auteur(s): Ward Farnsworth
- Narrateur(s): John Lescault
- Durée: 9 h et 57 min
- Version intégrale
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Au global
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Performance
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Histoire
The great insights of the Stoics are spread over a wide range of ancient sources. This book brings them all together for the first time. It systematically presents what the various Stoic philosophers said on every important topic, accompanied by an eloquent commentary that is clear and concise. The result is a set of philosophy lessons for everyone - the most valuable wisdom of ages past made available for our times, and for all time.
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Best Stoicism book
- Écrit par J in Victoria le 2019-10-20
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Lives of the Stoics
- The Art of Living from Zeno to Marcus Aurelius
- Auteur(s): Ryan Holiday, Stephen Hanselman
- Narrateur(s): Ryan Holiday
- Durée: 10 h et 8 min
- Version intégrale
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Au global
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Performance
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Histoire
From the best-selling authors of The Daily Stoic comes an inspiring guide to the lives of the Stoics, and what the ancients can teach us about happiness, success, resilience, and virtue. In Lives of the Stoics, Holiday and Hanselman present the fascinating lives of the men and women who strove to live by the timeless Stoic virtues of Courage. Justice. Temperance. Wisdom. Organized in digestible, mini-biographies of all the well-known - and not so well-known - Stoics, this book vividly brings home what Stoicism was like for the people who loved it and lived it.
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Great for those who follow stoicism/philosophy
- Écrit par Stefanie le 2020-10-13
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Stillness Is the Key
- Auteur(s): Ryan Holiday
- Narrateur(s): Ryan Holiday
- Durée: 6 h et 56 min
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All great leaders, thinkers, artists, athletes, and visionaries share one indelible quality. It enables them to conquer their tempers. To avoid distraction and discover great insights. To achieve happiness and do the right thing. Ryan Holiday calls it stillness - to be steady while the world spins around you. In this book, he outlines a path for achieving this ancient, but urgently necessary way of living.
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More of the same
- Écrit par Mark le 2020-04-07
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The Daily Stoic
- 366 Meditations on Wisdom, Perseverance, and the Art of Living
- Auteur(s): Ryan Holiday, Stephen Hanselman
- Narrateur(s): Brian Holsopple
- Durée: 10 h et 6 min
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Why have history's greatest minds - from George Washington to Frederick the Great to Ralph Waldo Emerson along with today's top performers, from Super Bowl-winning football coaches to CEOs and celebrities - embraced the wisdom of the ancient Stoics? Because they realize that the most valuable wisdom is timeless and that philosophy is for living a better life, not a classroom exercise. The Daily Stoic offers a daily devotional of Stoic insights and exercises, featuring all-new translations.
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A must listen
- Écrit par Alex le 2018-12-30
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The Beginner's Guide to Stoicism
- Tools for Emotional Resilience & Positivity
- Auteur(s): Matthew J. Van Natta
- Narrateur(s): Steve Rimpici
- Durée: 3 h et 7 min
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Being a stoic means embracing positivity and self-control through the ability to accept the uncertainty of outcomes. With this stoicism guide, the beginner stoic will learn how to take charge of their emotions on the path to sustained happiness and satisfaction. This easy-to-navigate stoicism guide gives you the emotional tools needed to let go of the things you can’t control and find joy in what you have.
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great book for beginners
- Écrit par Dillon M. le 2020-04-04
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Meditations
- Auteur(s): Marcus Aurelius, George Long - translator, Duncan Steen - translator
- Narrateur(s): Duncan Steen
- Durée: 5 h et 9 min
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One of the most significant books ever written by a head of state, the Meditations are a collection of philosophical thoughts by the Emperor Marcus Aurelius (121 - 180 ce). Covering issues such as duty, forgiveness, brotherhood, strength in adversity and the best way to approach life and death, the Meditations have inspired thinkers, poets and politicians since their first publication more than 500 years ago. Today, the book stands as one of the great guides and companions - a cornerstone of Western thought.
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Listed dozens of times
- Écrit par Steven le 2018-08-18
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The Enchiridion & Discourses
- Auteur(s): Epictetus
- Narrateur(s): Haward B. Morse
- Durée: 13 h et 16 min
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The Enchiridion is the famous manual of ethical advice given in the second century by the Stoic philosopher Epictetus. Born to a Greek slave, Epictetus grew up in the environment of the Roman Empire and, having been released from bonds of slavery, became a stoic in the tradition of its originators, Zeno (third Century BCE) and Seneca (first century CE).
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dry and boring but full of gems
- Écrit par Alex Schenker le 2020-06-24
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The Obstacle Is the Way
- The Timeless Art of Turning Trials into Triumph
- Auteur(s): Ryan Holiday
- Narrateur(s): Ryan Holiday
- Durée: 6 h et 7 min
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We are stuck, stymied, frustrated. But it needn't be this way. There is a formula for success that's been followed by the icons of history - from John D. Rockefeller to Amelia Earhart to Ulysses S. Grant to Steve Jobs - a formula that let them turn obstacles into opportunities. Faced with impossible situations, they found the astounding triumphs we all seek.
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Just what I needed !
- Écrit par Amazon Customer le 2018-11-30
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Waking Up
- A Guide to Spirituality Without Religion
- Auteur(s): Sam Harris
- Narrateur(s): Sam Harris
- Durée: 5 h et 53 min
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From multiple New York Times best-selling author, neuroscientist, and "new atheist" Sam Harris, Waking Up is for the 30 percent of Americans who follow no religion, but who suspect that Jesus, Buddha, Lao Tzu, Rumi, and the other saints and sages of history could not have all been epileptics, schizophrenics, or frauds.
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The best case for secular and spiritual life
- Écrit par Utilisateur anonyme le 2018-10-06
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Rome's Last Citizen
- The Life and Legacy of Cato, Mortal Enemy of Caesar
- Auteur(s): Rob Goodman, Jimmy Soni
- Narrateur(s): Derek Perkins
- Durée: 13 h et 9 min
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Marcus Porcius Cato: aristocrat who walked barefoot and slept on the ground with his troops, political heavyweight who cultivated the image of a Stoic philosopher, a hardnosed defender of tradition who presented himself as a man out of the sacred Roman past-and the last man standing when Rome's Republic fell to tyranny. His blood feud with Caesar began in the chamber of the Senate, played out on the battlefields of a world war, and ended when he took his own life rather than live under a dictator.
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How Digital Technology Shapes Us
- Auteur(s): Indre Viskontas, The Great Courses
- Narrateur(s): Professor Indre Viskontas
- Durée: 10 h et 37 min
- Production originale
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Digital technology definitely shapes us. But once we learn how it does so, we can make good decisions for our ourselves and our children.
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How to Live a Good Life
- A Guide to Choosing Your Personal Philosophy
- Auteur(s): Massimo Pigliucci - editor, Skye Cleary - editor, Daniel Kaufman - editor
- Narrateur(s): Massimo Pigliucci, Skye Cleary, Susan Denaker, Autres
- Durée: 10 h et 12 min
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This thought-provoking, wide-ranging collection brings together essays by 15 leading philosophers reflecting on what it means to live according to a philosophy of life. From Eastern philosophies (Daoism, Confucianism, and Buddhism) and classical Western philosophies (such as Aristotelianism and Stoicism), to the four major religions, as well as contemporary philosophies (such as existentialism and effective altruism), each contributor offers a lively, personal account of how they find meaning in the practice of their chosen philosophical tradition.
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Ego Is the Enemy
- Auteur(s): Ryan Holiday
- Narrateur(s): Ryan Holiday
- Durée: 6 h et 56 min
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"While the history books are filled with tales of obsessive visionary geniuses who remade the world in their images with sheer, almost irrational force, I've found that history is also made by individuals who fought their egos at every turn, who eschewed the spotlight, and who put their higher goals above their desire for recognition." (From the prologue)
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An easy listening that makes some good points
- Écrit par Enrique le 2020-02-24
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Apollo's Arrow
- The Profound and Enduring Impact of Coronavirus on the Way We Live
- Auteur(s): Nicholas A. Christakis MD PhD
- Narrateur(s): Nicholas A. Christakis MD PhD
- Durée: 12 h et 10 min
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Apollo's Arrow offers a riveting account of the impact of the coronavirus pandemic as it swept through American society in 2020 and of how the recovery will unfold in the coming years. Drawing on momentous (yet dimly remembered) historical epidemics, contemporary analyses, and cutting-edge research from a range of scientific disciplines, Nicholas A. Christakis explores what it means to live in a time of plague - an experience that is paradoxically uncommon to the vast majority of humans who are alive yet deeply fundamental to our species.
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Just what I needed to hear.
- Écrit par Mathew Vendramini le 2021-01-02
Description
One of the great fears many of us face is that despite all our effort and striving, we will discover at the end that we have wasted our life. In A Guide to the Good Life, William B. Irvine plumbs the wisdom of Stoic philosophy, one of the most popular and successful schools of thought in ancient Rome, and shows how its insight and advice are still remarkably applicable to modern lives. In A Guide to the Good Life, Irvine offers a refreshing presentation of Stoicism, showing how this ancient philosophy can still direct us toward a better life.
Using the psychological insights and the practical techniques of the Stoics, Irvine offers a roadmap for anyone seeking to avoid the feelings of chronic dissatisfaction that plague so many of us. Irvine looks at various Stoic techniques for attaining tranquility and shows how to put these techniques to work in our own life. As he does so, he describes his own experiences practicing Stoicism and offers valuable first-hand advice for anyone wishing to live better by following in the footsteps of these ancient philosophers. Listeners learn how to minimize worry, how to let go of the past and focus our efforts on the things we can control, and how to deal with insults, grief, old age, and the distracting temptations of fame and fortune. We learn from Marcus Aurelius the importance of prizing only things of true value, and from Epictetus we learn how to be more content with what we have.
Finally, A Guide to the Good Life shows listeners how to become thoughtful observers of their own lives. If we watch ourselves as we go about our daily business and later reflect on what we saw, we can better identify the sources of distress and eventually avoid that pain in our life. By doing this, the Stoics thought, we can hope to attain a truly joyful life.
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- NewMom1520
- 2017-10-19
Convinced to try stoicism
I didn’t know anything about philosophy before I read this book. I first heard the author interviewed about the book on Ideas on CBC radio and was intrigued by his proposals. I purchased the book but then never had time to read it. Then I subscribed to audible and listened to it twice. First of all the narrator’s voice and way of speaking are great. The content is very deep. The author convinced me that if I implement some of these strategies like negative visualization and the trichotomy of control I could attain tranquility more often than not and reduce the amount of negative emotions that I experience. As someone with generalized anxiety disorder, I think his proposals are worth a shot. I can’t critique his interpretation or tweaks of Roman stoicism but I think he’s into something here.
4 les gens ont trouvé cela utile
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- Dan Beaudoin
- 2018-09-19
A great overview
Irvine has given us a great overview, primarily of the Roman Stoics - a start and a jumping-off point for those interested in exploring the Stoic philosophy. #Audible1
2 les gens ont trouvé cela utile
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- Adam Drew
- 2018-02-24
decent introduction
Irvine knows a lot about philosophy and history, but almost nothing about psychology and politics. When he's writing about his areas of expertise, he is precise and wise. When he's not, he suddenly becomes quite vague and surprisingly judgmental. Still, a good introduction for a modern person to the idea of living Stoically.
2 les gens ont trouvé cela utile
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- Josh White
- 2019-12-11
A Modern Stoic
I really enjoyed the book. If you are interested in Stoicism this is a good introduction
1 personne a trouvé cela utile
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- Amazon Customer
- 2020-06-02
A must read for anyone.
for anyone wishing to understand true gratitude for our lives and our interactions with others.
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- Amazon Customer
- 2020-03-30
Some valuable lessons can be learned here
Am I the only one who got annoyed by how sideways the author can get? The core ideas are great, but they are buried in a lot of unnecessary examples that beat a little too far off path.
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- James Moyse
- 2020-01-20
A great introduction to stoicism
This book did an excellent job of explaining the history, principles and techniques used by stoicism without overdoing it and getting boring. It was just a great overall explanation on why one may want to adopt a philosophy of life, and why stoicism is a great choice. To help one achieve more tranquillity and satisfaction in daily living. A great read for young professionals like myself especially. I appreciated the way the book explained the parallels and comparisons to Zen Buddhism and other philosophical positions and practices. Also the narrator was great.
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- Pres
- 2019-10-30
Could not stay awake
Although the Stoics message is important, this felt like I was being read a text-book.
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- Matt
- 2019-03-21
Good intro to stoicism, dispelling misconceptions
A great intro to stoic philosophy, and addressing the common misconceptions around stoicism. The book is a little bit dry at times as it gets a bit academic, but overall I think it does a good job of explaining the key points and would be helpful for people looking for a more meaningful philosophy of life.
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- Diana Elaine Chow
- 2018-04-10
Very Dry
The narrator and content were dry and hard to listen to. A ton of information not organized fluidly. It felt like I was in a university history class with a monotone professor. Depends what you’re into - I’m currently consuming books for entertainment and/or personal growth, not to gain knowledge of facts, dates, historic players, and quotes. Unfortunately this was a return.
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- Utilisateur anonyme
- 2020-11-05
Really Helpful
Really helpful without trying to sell itself like the new philosophic trend to follow. Even if you don't agree with this line of thinking it's really good to hear this to broaden one's thinking spectrum. I for one responded agreed on many points and made me think differently on some things. I definitely recommend it!
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- Gerard Sanroma Guell
- 2015-01-24
Excellent contemporary view of stoicism
Great book explaining stoicism in a contemporary way.
It reads very smoothly. Well structured and the author presents the concepts in a way relevant to our days.
I particularly liked the ending when justifies stoicism from an evolutionary point of view. This is a nice contribution of the author.
I also liked the personal experience of the author while practicing stoicism.
Finally it suggests some further reading.
Very interesting book. Accessible. The author makes the points very clear in my opinion.
I like the narrator too. Not too slow (like others I have heard).
Great book. Thanks.
38 les gens ont trouvé cela utile
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- Sam A. Havens
- 2015-04-27
Fantastic
This is a great book, and the narrator fits perfectly. I would recommend this title to any thoughtful friend or family member. I started this book at a real low point, and found this profoundly helpful. Also, unlike most books that offer life advice, the author is clearly a smart, logical individual who thinks carefully about what he says and explains what it is like to put his advice into practice.
40 les gens ont trouvé cela utile
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- Arthur
- 2015-08-24
a positive shift in perception
a great guide to help appreciate all the things we have in life. this book helped alleviate stress and let go of ego.
11 les gens ont trouvé cela utile
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- Scott
- 2014-04-18
Finding your inner stoic
What did you love best about A Guide to the Good Life?
I found myself surprisingly liking this book a lot. It demystifies what is commonly and mistakenly identified as a dour philosophy and makes it accessible to everyday, modern life. Equal parts self- help book, stoicism 101 course, and "serenity now!" mantra, Irvine makes a compelling case for adopting the tenets of stoicism as a balm to our hectic, information overloaded, materialistic society. I found myself quite intrigued and taken with the advice in this book and have found myself practicing it daily. It moves along briskly and avoids the self-help book pitfalls of pandering to the reader or being too trite.
44 les gens ont trouvé cela utile
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- Alex
- 2015-09-28
Informative and blunt!
Narrator captured essence of author, very informative and clear. Informative for those who are simply curious and helpful to those actually looking to choose a lifestyle. Great book all around.
8 les gens ont trouvé cela utile
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- David
- 2016-05-20
A very readable introduction, needs more meat
This was a pretty good if brief introduction to the Stoic philosophy. What's notable about it is that the author, William Irvine, is not merely presenting historical information about the Stoics, or a primer on Stoicism for purely educational purposes, but actually advocating Stoicism as a philosophy of life with applicability to modern Westerners. He spends some time talking about the history of the Stoic schools and pointing out that Stoics really did spend time constructing "proofs" that the Stoic philosophy was the most correct one for living a virtuous and fulfilling life. He then elaborates on their beliefs and techniques, and makes a case for being a practicing Stoic in the 21st century.
Was it convincing? Well, while I didn't find this book to be particularly deep or transformational, it was interesting enough that I want to read more, and I do see a lot of appeal in Stoicism.
One of the things the author points out is that Stoicism has a lot in common with Zen Buddhism - they prescribe a lot of the same behaviors and attitudes, though they get there from different directions. Since I've also had an interest in Zen, this clicked with me, and since the author rejected Zen for the same reason I did - he's too analytical and sitting for hours trying to "empty your mind" would be painfully tedious for people like us - the Stoic approach has promise.
Of course, one problem with the Stoics is their philosophy is predicated on what man's "purpose" is, with that purpose presumably declared by our creator, Zeus. You can easily transfer this to God (Stoicism is pretty compatible with Christianity), but it requires a bit more rationalizing to achieve an evolutionary purpose applicable to Stoicism for us atheists and agnostics.
So what did the Stoics believe and what should you do as a Stoic? Irvine spends a lot of time trying to preemptively rebut misconceptions about the Stoics - e.g., that they were joyless, unemotional, believed in forsaking pleasure and suppressing grief, etc. In fact, the Stoics did believe in enjoying life, and they did not deny emotion. They taught that one should not allow one's emotions to control you, and that the seeking (or enjoyment) of pleasure should not be your primary purpose in life nor your chief objective, only a side benefit of living a virtuous life. And that you might not enjoy any such side benefits - if you lived in a virtuous life, you might wind up miserable because that's fate, and if that happens, you should suck it up and keep going.
The last part may not be particularly encouraging, but I actually liked it because as the author points out, it flies in the face of a lot of modern psychology. Irvine has some particularly harsh criticisms for "grief counseling," claiming that studies have shown that getting counseled for grief actually prolongs one's grief, whereas taking a Stoic approach helps you get over it more quickly.
That can sound kind of cold, since the Stoic message is basically "Yes, it sucks that your child died, but she's dead now and you can't change it, so move on." But really, how does it benefit someone to prolong their grief over unchangeable events? Mastery of Stoicism doesn't mean you don't grieve over a dead child - it means you grieve, accept that it happened, and move on. More importantly, the Stoic philosophy encourages people to appreciate what they have now - e.g., your living child - and take nothing for granted, because you never know when it could be taken from you.
Am I actually convinced that Stoicism is for me? Well, like I said, based on this book, I am willing to give it a try. At the same time, the book was a very cursory introduction and while it talked a little bit about Stoic techniques (such as "negative visualization" - imagining that the things you have have been taken away, or that your life sucks more than it does) it doesn't really provide much in the way of useful instruction. Back in Greco-Roman days, there were actual Stoic schools to teach these things, but Stoic schools today are kind of hard to find. So I guess I will have to look for more books on the subject. But whether you are interested in trying out Stoicism for yourself or not, this book is a decent entry point.
49 les gens ont trouvé cela utile
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- wish 4 par
- 2015-07-07
5th read in 3 months. Masterful!!!
An excellent, readable, understandable, modern story about Stoicism
A great story, understandable quotes, modern life examples and Mr Irvine contrasts old roman life with 21century life problems and how Stoicism fits into modern life
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- girorv
- 2016-05-18
Where's the editor ?
This is the history and applications of stoicism. Generally I find that I purchase self-help books when I feel the need. So it is with this one. I am, therefore, generous with the review. Others have complained of the reader. I must add my voice to theirs. Good grief man, lighten up. Just because we are talking about philosophy one doesn't have to make it dry ? A few good chops from an editor would have helped as well. Goodness I don't need that much history. These are minor irritations though I listened with interest and enjoyed and learned. Thank you for this book
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- Oliver
- 2018-07-11
Well crafted.
Irvine and Cronin give a clear, conversational but not breezy treatment of applied Stoicism. There are many personal guides to Stoicism cropping up these days (Holiday, Robertson, Pigliucci, etc.). Along with Becker's theoretical book A New Stoicism, this is the one modern practical guide I return to.
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- Gem23grn
- 2018-01-01
Horrible Narrator
Bored to tears. I don't believe the Ancient stoics were this boring. Marcus Aurelius would definitely have chosen to leave this Audible presentation
4 les gens ont trouvé cela utile