Meditations

Deep thoughts by an old smart guy who sat around thinking and writing stuff down. Be stoic. Or not. You be you. I like stoicism so read this book. Or not.

Great Book. Yes, the pages are on the thin side. It’s no big deal, my Bibles have thin pages. It designed nicely and I like the photos. Thank you!

Old advice still applies today

Focusing on the ideas and reflections by Marcus Aurelius, this is easily a 5-star book; the translation, however left much to be desired. The book is not at all what I had expected: yes, it is clearly "stoicism", but much gentler and introspective than I imagined - the notion that one go out of their way to be uncomfortable or mortify the flesh is not at all what Marcus Aurelius was concerned with here. Rather, many of his thoughts are related to what we in the 21st century call "being present" or "grounded". Recognizing the temporariness of existence and making an effort to live in and enjoy the moment. To be wary of flattery and to not take oneself too seriously. To "get in the mind" of a long-dead emperor and one who had such an impact on the classical world is another reason I recommend this book beyond its value philosophically. Unfortunate, then, that the translation leaves so much to be desired. (The irony of this, particularly in a book on stoicism, is not lost on me.) I get that the translator was attempting to capture the flavor of the original Latin. But the use of anachronistic language ("thee", "thou", "dost" and "art") got in the way of the narrative flow and I found myself "translating" into modern English in any event. Better to have dispensed with that to begin with.

A lovely book on meditations. It’s a classic text on stoicism. The cover and craftsmanship are beautiful, so pretty that we can leave it out as a coffee table book. Bought this initially for myself, loved it so much that I’ve given out a few as gifts. It’s an inspiring, calming, and a great book to take a break with for a few minutes when you are having a crazy day.

This book was recommended by Ryan Holiday, author and TikTok influencer. It’s a beautiful copy containing timeless wisdom handed down through centuries. The most private thoughts of Marcus Aurelius, real, freaking history in the palm of my hand!

Phenomenal quality great read everyone should have it

Absolutely beautiful book! I love the musings of Marcus Aurelius and this book has a nice lay out with space to make notes. The content is pretty well known but truly cannot say enough about the aesthetic- looks good in your commuter bag, looks good on a shelf, or coffee table. Exceptional for the price.