The Practicing Stoic: A Philosophical User’s Manual

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“Farnsworth beautifully integrates his own observations with scores of quotations from Epictetus, Seneca, Marcus Aurelius, Montaigne and others. This isn’t just a book to read―it’s a book to return to, a book that will provide perspective and consolation at times of heartbreak or calamity.”―The Washington Post

See more clearly, live more wisely, and bear the burdens of this life with greater ease―here are the greatest insights of the Stoics, in their own words. Presented in twelve lessons, Ward Farnsworth systematically presents the heart of Stoic philosophy accompanied by commentary that is clear and concise.

A foundational idea to Stoicism is that we appear to go through life reacting directly to events. That appearance is an illusion. We react to our judgments and opinions―to our thoughts about things, not to things themselves. Stoics seek to become conscious of those judgments, to find the irrationality in them, and to choose them more carefully.

In chapters including Emotion, Adversity, Virtue, and What Others Think, here is the most valuable wisdom about living a good life from ages past―now made available for our time.

From the Publisher

The Practicing Stoic: A Philosophical User’s Manual

From “Perspective:”

Practice saying to every harsh appearance, “You are just an appearance, and not at all what you appear.” If it has to do with something not up to us, let the thought be close at hand, “It is nothing to me.”—Epictetus, Enchiridion

From “Adversity:”

The mind turns around every hindrance to its activity and converts it to further its purpose. The impediment to action becomes part of the action; the obstacle in our way becomes the way forward.—Marcus Aurelius, Meditations

From “What Others Think:”

The paths most worn and used are also the most deceptive. So nothing needs to be emphasized more than that we should not, like sheep, follow the lead of the flock in front of us – heading not where we ought to go, but where it goes.—Seneca, On the Happy Life

Chapters include Judgment Externals Perspective Death Desire Wealth and Pleasure Valuation Emotion

Publisher ‏ : ‎ David R. Godine, Publisher (April 1, 2018)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 256 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1567926118
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1567926118
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.31 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.2 x 1.1 x 9.1 inches