Which are the best books on Stoicism? - Quora
15 Answers
Ryan Holiday, Wrote a book about Stoicism
Answered Apr 16
When we started the Daily Stoic community, which has now grown to a community of over 100,000 active members, one of the first things we wanted to address is where to begin with Stoicism. After all, the starting point of any new pursuit is critical. Stoicism is no difference. Picking up the wrong book can derail even the most interested student. So where should someone start with Stoicism? We decided to put together a short list with three books that will help you both understand Stoicism but also teach you valuable lessons for life. I am sharing the list with you below, and if you want to learn more about Stoicism, head over to the Daily Stoic’s website and sign up for our 7-day introduction to Stoicism, which is packed with Stoic exercises you can implement today in your life to make you happier and more resilient.
If this is the first time you are coming across this philosophy, you might be worried this would be dry and academic and you’d need to spend countless hours to untangle sentences. This is nothing like that—in fact, it’s the furthest from it. These are some of the most readable, relatable and powerful works from human history. No other philosophic writing is more accessible. They feel as if they were written two weeks ago, not two millennia ago. We promise, they’ll change you for the better.
Let’s get started!
Meditations by Marcus Aurelius — Meditations is perhaps the only document of its kind ever made. It is the private thoughts of the world’s most powerful man giving advice to himself on how to make good on the responsibilities and obligations of his positions. Trained in stoic philosophy, Marcus stopped almost every night to practice a series of spiritual exercises—reminders designed to make him humble, patient, empathetic, generous, and strong in the face of whatever he was dealing with. Well, now we have this book. It is imminently readable and perfectly accessible. You cannot read this book and not come away with a phrase or a line that will be helpful to you next time you are in trouble. Read it, it is practical philosophy embodied. Make sure you pick up the Gregory Hays translation from Modern Library. It is the most accessible edition—completely devoid of any “thou’s” and “shalls”.
Discourses and Selected Writings by Epictetus — Of the big three (Seneca, Marcus Aurelius, Epictetus), Epictetus is the most preachy and for many, the least fun to read. That doesn’t mean he isn’t brilliant. On many occasions he expresses something so clearly and profoundly that it will shake you to your core. Personally, I prefer the Penguin translations, but I’ve tried a handful of others and found the differences to be relatively negligible.
Letters from a Stoic by Seneca — Seneca, like Marcus, was also a powerful man in Rome. He was also a great writer and from the looks of it, a trusted friend who gave great advice to his friends. Much of that advice survives in the form of letters. Now we can read those letters and they can guide us through problems with grief, wealth, poverty, success, failure, education and so many other things. Seneca was a stoic as well, but like Marcus, he was practical and borrowed liberally from other schools. As he quipped to a friend, “I don’t care about the author if the line is good.” That is the ethos of practical philosophy—it doesn’t matter from whom or when it came from, what matters if it helps you in your life, if only for a second. Reading Seneca will do that. The Penguin translation is fantastic, both for this collection of letters (which are more like essays than true correspondence) and for his collection of essays, On the Shortness of Life.
Those are the most important ones to get started with, but here are several more:
Fragments by Heraclitus — This is as ephemeral as the Stoics get. While most of the other recommendations are bent towards hard, practical advice, Heraclitus might seem a bit poetic. But those beautiful lines are really the same direct advice and timeless, perspective-changing observations as the others.
“Try in vain with empty talk / to separate the essences of things / and say how each thing truly is.”
“Applicants for wisdom / do what I have done: / inquire within.”
“Character is fate.”
“What eyes witness / ears believe on hearsay.”
“The crops are sold / for money spent on food.”
Heraclitus is considered as a key influence in Stoic thought and this is evident in the numerous references to Heraclitus that are seen in Meditations. As one scholar put it in explaining Heraclitus’s influence on Stoicism, Marcus considered Heraclitus “as one of the great sages.”
COURAGE UNDER FIRE: Testing Epictetus’s Doctrines in a Laboratory of Human Behavior by James Stockdale — United States Navy fighter pilot James Stockdale was captured by the North Vietnamese in 1965 where he remained a POW for the next seven years; two of which were spent wearing leg irons in solitary confinement.
Years later, Stockdale would write and lecture extensively on Epictetus’s Enchiridion which he credits for providing the mindset and strength necessary to endure years of torture. Stockdale’s exemplary behavior during imprisonment is an embodiment how Stoicism can provide us with a framework for dealing with extreme adversity and the obstacles that come in our way.
The Inner Citadel and Philosophy as a Way of Life by Pierre Hadot — Both of these are academic, yet fascinating books. The Inner Citadel is a biography of Marcus Aurelius, which should be next on your list if you loved Meditations. Philosophy as a Way of Life explores different ‘spiritual exercises’—ideas and thought exercises from philosophy to help you make better decisions and live a better life. Don’t let the academic aspect scare you—Hadot’s books are incredibly readable and the ideas will stay with you.
Marcus Aurelius by Matthew Arnold (essay) — Matthew Arnold was a Victorian scholar who fell in the category of ‘sage writers’—the type of writer who instructs and chastises the reader. This is a fantastic essay on Marcus, who as he remarked in 1863, was a man who held the highest power and most powerful station in the world—and the universal verdict of the people around him was that he proved worthy of it.
Dying Every Day: Seneca at the Court of Nero by James Romm — James Romm’s book on Seneca is both a great biography on the man that can help those students of Stoicism who feel conflicted about Seneca—the complexities of being a wealthy philosopher who was a tutor to one of the worst tyrants in ancient history—to better understand him as well as to dive deeper into the political and social context of the time. It is also a case study of a despot gone mad and the paranoid regime that he gave rise to.
A Man in Full by Tom Wolfe — For those looking for a work of fiction that includes the Stoics, this should be your first stop. Tom Wolfe’s famous novel features Epictetus who gets discovered by mistake by Conrad Hensley, a young man who at that point in time has nobody—his wife had given up on him, his car was towed, was out of work and was in jail, where he gets sent by mistake a copy of Epictetus’s book. The book was heralded as a ‘masterpiece’ and back in 1999
The Inner Citadel and Philosophy as a Way of Life by Pierre Hadot — Both of these are academic, yet fascinating books. The Inner Citadel is a biography of Marcus Aurelius, which should be next on your list if you loved Meditations. Philosophy as a Way of Life explores different ‘spiritual exercises’—ideas and thought exercises from philosophy to help you make better decisions and live a better life. Don’t let the academic aspect scare you—Hadot’s books are incredibly readable and the ideas will stay with you.
Marcus Aurelius by Matthew Arnold (essay) — Matthew Arnold was a Victorian scholar who fell in the category of ‘sage writers’—the type of writer who instructs and chastises the reader. This is a fantastic essay on Marcus, who as he remarked in 1863, was a man who held the highest power and most powerful station in the world—and the universal verdict of the people around him was that he proved worthy of it.
Dying Every Day: Seneca at the Court of Nero by James Romm — James Romm’s book on Seneca is both a great biography on the man that can help those students of Stoicism who feel conflicted about Seneca—the complexities of being a wealthy philosopher who was a tutor to one of the worst tyrants in ancient history—to better understand him as well as to dive deeper into the political and social context of the time. It is also a case study of a despot gone mad and the paranoid regime that he gave rise to.
A Man in Full by Tom Wolfe — For those looking for a work of fiction that includes the Stoics, this should be your first stop. Tom Wolfe’s famous novel features Epictetus who gets discovered by mistake by Conrad Hensley, a young man who at that point in time has nobody—his wife had given up on him, his car was towed, was out of work and was in jail, where he gets sent by mistake a copy of Epictetus’s book. The book was heralded as a ‘masterpiece’ and back in 1999
The New York Times wrote on the revival of Stoicism due to the book’s influence.
The Greatest Empire: A Life of Seneca by Emily Wilson — Of all the Stoic philosophers Seneca is prone to generate the most controversy. As the book description asks: “How can we reconcile the bloody tragedies with the prose works advocating a life of Stoic tranquility? How are we to balance Seneca the man of principle, who counseled a life of calm and simplicity, with Seneca the man of the moment, who amassed a vast personal fortune in the service of an emperor seen by many, at the time and afterwards, as an insane tyrant?” If you are a fan of Seneca and want to study the man, make sure to read this biography as well as James Romm’s above in this list.
And of course, don’t forget to check out
The Greatest Empire: A Life of Seneca by Emily Wilson — Of all the Stoic philosophers Seneca is prone to generate the most controversy. As the book description asks: “How can we reconcile the bloody tragedies with the prose works advocating a life of Stoic tranquility? How are we to balance Seneca the man of principle, who counseled a life of calm and simplicity, with Seneca the man of the moment, who amassed a vast personal fortune in the service of an emperor seen by many, at the time and afterwards, as an insane tyrant?” If you are a fan of Seneca and want to study the man, make sure to read this biography as well as James Romm’s above in this list.
And of course, don’t forget to check out
The Daily Stoic: 366 Meditations on Wisdom, Perseverance, and the Art of Living, which features 366 days of Stoic insights and exercises, featuring all-new translations from the Emperor Marcus Aurelius, the playwright Seneca, or slave-turned-philosopher Epictetus, as well as lesser-known luminaries like Zeno, Cleanthes, and Musonius Rufus. Every day of the year you'll find one of their pithy, powerful quotations, as well as historical anecdotes and provocative commentary.
You are also welcome to check out some of the most popular interviews, articles and lists on DailyStoic.com:
6 Stoic Rituals That Will Make You Happy
Stoicism at TED — Defining and Overcoming Your Fears
Doing the Work Is Enough: Stop Letting Others Dictate Your Worth
10 Insanely Useful Stoic Exercises
Stoicism Reveals 4 Rituals That Will Make You Happy
100 Things I Learned in 10 Years and 100 Reads of Marcus Aurelius’s Meditations
The Philosophy Of Stoicism: 4 Lessons From Antiquity On Self-Discipline
3 Stoic Exercises That Will Help Create Your Best Month Yet
A Stoic Response to Anger
A Stoic Response to Fear
A Stoic Response to Rejection
A Stoic Response to Bad News
P.S. For more recommendations (books, blogs, articles), sign up for the Daily Stoic free 7-day series. It is packed with resources on Stoicism—from more book recommendations to Stoic exercises. And you might also enjoy this list: 28 Books On Stoicism: The (Hopefully) Ultimate Reading List
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Daniel Philippus, Serious but amateur student of philosophy, mostly ethics
Answered Jul 16, 2017
Originally Answered: What are the best books about stoicism?
I would always recommend the original Stoic philosophers, first and foremost. You can learn everything we know about the philosophy by reading them (because that’s where everyone else originally learned it, too).
So I would recommend starting with all three of the key Roman Stoics, in any order (but don’t start with Enchiridion, it can be a bit short on important clarifications): Seneca’s letters and essays, Marcus Aurelius’ Meditations, and Epictetus’ Enchiridion and Discourses.
Seneca writes very well and it’s a relatively engaging read. He also formulates it as practical advice, rather than general philosophy, in the letters (the essays are more philosophical). However, the material is relatively spread out; you won’t necessarily get one concept per paragraph as you would with Aurelius.
Epictetus’ lectures are more blunt and to the point. It’s all very directly about philosophy, and Discourses is probably the most complete and detailed source of those I’ve mentioned. However, it can be harsh advice.
Aurelius’ Meditations are an excellent source on personal practice and somewhat gentler than Epictetus, but they do occasionally refer to something you might not know about. They were written by him for himself, not for you.
After reading the key Roman Stoics, there are other sources to look to (note that I haven’t read any of these myself, so I have limited knowledge): Musonius Rufus, another Roman Stoic; I believe there are surviving fragments of Chrysippus; and I would also recommend the modern Stoics Massimo Pigliucci and Donald Robertson, both of whom have both blogs and books about Stoicism (I’ve read some of both of their blogs and can recommend those more strongly, but I haven’t read either’s book).
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Lat Nayar, Lifelong Reader, www.loser2champion.com
Answered Oct 15, 2015
Here is a list of 10 books to explore on Stoicism :-
1. Meditations by Marcus Aurelius - a classic. Written by an Emperor. Filled with aphorisms, meditations etc.
2. Letters from a Stoic by Seneca - also a classic. One of the books admired by Tim Ferriss. Seneca's writing made Stoicism seem more accessible and less cold
3. The Antidote (Happiness for People who can't stand Positive Thinking) by Oliver Burkeman - argues in an interesting way that the constant focus on positive thinking and happiness makes people even more miserable
4. Thoughts of a Philosophical Fighter Pilot by Jim Stockdale - writings of a man who lived through torture in Vietnam. The unfolding of his character as he struggles through and overcomes adversity.
5. Dialogues and Letters by Seneca - another classic by Seneca. Further explorations on fortitude and resilience.
6. A Man in Full by Tom Wolfe - stoicism as explored through fiction set in Atlanta Georgia.
7. The Obstacle is The Way by Ryan Holiday - Turning trials into triumphs with case studies of how our success depends on how we treat obstacles.
8. Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett - A novel with several characters expressing the qualities of stoicism.
9. Dune by Frank Herbert - I thought I would add a science fiction work in this list. Dune is a mega-work with huge themes of overcoming adversity, hardship, forging endurance etc.
10. The Discourses by Epictetus - I conclude this list with another Roman classic. Epictetus was a slave who was exiled by en emperor and he formulates and sets out his views on pain, justice and wisdom
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Scott Maxwell, Studied Philosophy of the Mind (Artificial Intelligence) at Edinburgh University
Answered Oct 16, 2016
Originally Answered: What are some good books for reading about stoicism, if any?
Meditations by Marcus Aurelius
Meditations is one of the most quotable and readable philosophy books available to us. It was written by Marcus Aurelius, the last of the Five Good Emperors who ruled at the height of Empire in the Second Century AD. It was written like a diary, capturing his thoughts at they occured and reflecting much of his upbringing, training and education. As such Marcus isn’t the originator of Stoicism, but he has a canny knack for a good turn of phrase.
The Obstacle is the Way
The central tenant of the book is that, with the right state of mind, adversity does not block us from improvement and progress, it shows us the way to it. It’s in the framing of the problem, how you think about it, how you move from inaction to action, and how you sustain that action that you make progress when everything seems difficult and set up to make sure you fail.
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Shane Parrish, Wisdom Seeker
Answered Nov 30, 2015
From The Stoic Reading List:
1. Meditations by Marcus Aurelius.
I loved this book. I had read it before but it wasn’t the Hays translation, which made a world of difference for me.
2. Letters of a Stoic by Seneca (see also: On the Shortness of Life).
This is one of the 5 books I recommend everyone read before their 30th birthday.
3. Discourses by Epictetus.
...
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Nakul Madan
Answered Mar 14
Best books on Stoicism. First you have to know who were the greatest stoics
Marcus aurelius
Epictetus (My imaginery friend)
Cato the younger
Zeno
Cleanthes
The books would be
Meditations by Marcus aurelius
Discourses by Epictetus
Daily stoic by Ryan holiday..Sometimes the older books are a bit heavy and it takes a while to adjust to the language
Letters from a Stoic by Seneca
Courage under fire by James stockdale(very small book)
My favourite is by Epictetus. Hope it helps
Nakul Madan
Berkshirepupil
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Sushant Shrivastava, studied at Jaypee Institute of Information Technology, Sector 128 Noida
Answered Oct 6, 2017
Originally Answered: What are the best book on stoicism?
Stoicism!! The word itself persuaded me to do a bit research on google about it.Many of us (including me )will not be aware of its meaning . let's get to know about its meaning.
Stoicism is a school of Hellenistic philosophythat flourished throughout the Roman and Greek world until the 3rd century AD. Stoicism is predominantly a philosophy of personal ethics which is informed by its system of logic and its views on the natural world. According to its teachings, as social beings, the path to happiness for humans is found in accepting this moment as it presents itself, by not allowing ourselves to be controlled by our desire for pleasure or our fear of pain, by using our minds to understand the world around us and to do our part in nature's plan, and by working together and treating others in a fair and just manner .And now coming to its book-
Meditations is perhaps the only document of its kind ever made. It is the private thoughts of the world’s most powerful man giving advice to himself on how to make good on the responsibilities and obligations of his positions. Trained in stoic philosophy, Marcus stopped almost every night to practice a series of spiritual exercises—reminders designed to make him humble, patient, empathetic, generous, and strong in the face of whatever he was dealing with. Well, now we have this book. It is imminently readable and perfectly accessible. You cannot read this book and not come away with a phrase or a line that will be helpful to you next time you are in trouble. Read it, it is practical philosophy embodied. Make sure you pick up the Gregory Hays translation from Modern Library. It is the most accessible edition—completely devoid of any “thou’s” and “shalls”.
