How to Be a Stoic
Using Ancient Philosophy to Live a Modern Life.
by Massimo Pigliucci · first published 2017
44% recommend56% neutral
An engaging guide to how Stoicism--the ancient philosophy of Epictetus and Marcus Aurelius--can provide lessons for living in the modern world. 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 upse
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You might want to check out Stoicism, the philosophy, which has a lot to say about emotions. How to Be a Stoic: Using Ancient Philosophy to Live a Modern Life by Massimo Pigliucci is a pretty good intro. You can also try diving right into original sources like the Meditations of Marcus Aurelius, or the Enchiridion…
on “Ask HN: How to not bring emotion from work back home?” ↗"How to Be a Stoic" by Massimo Pigliucci. So far it's really good.
on “Ask HN: What books are you currently reading?” ↗He is a marketer first and foremost, his Daily stoic book / platform shows that, but there is nothing wrong with that. If you (as a stoic) want more substance I can recommend Massimo Pigliucci's "How to be a stoic" site (and book) instead. https://howtobeastoic.wordpress.com/
on “Ryan Holiday on Conspiracy, Gawker, and the Hulk Hogan Trial” ↗Not the commenter, but you can read Epictetus directly, very easy. Otherwise How to Be a Stoic by Massimo Pigliucci. Don't read any of that garbage from Ryan Holiday.
on “Emily Wilson on Epictetus” ↗…sorts of mindful practices, so I chose to do some practices based on stoicism and cognitive behavioral therapy. (Recommended reading: Why Buddhism is True, Everything is F*cked [starts good, gets bad], How to be a Stoic, A Handbook for New Stoics, Full Catastrophe Living. Choose any/all and see what you like.) 3. Not reading the news or doom scrolling. I get a covid newsletter each day (https://paulbart.substack.com)…
on “Ask HN: Anyone else burnt out due to extended lockdown and work-from-home?” ↗How to be a Stoic by Massimo Pigliucci (author of the article) A Guide to the Good Life by William Irvine I also read The Obstacle is the Way by Ryan Holiday, which read too much like a self-help/business book to me.…
on “What the Stoics did for us” ↗Have you had a chance to read Massimo Pigliucci 's How To Be A Stoic?
on ““Study Death Always”: Seneca’s advice for living centered on dying” ↗…hours of meditations, thousands of quotes, a private journal, and conversations with experts like Donald Robertson (psychotherapist, How to Live Like A Roman Emperor) and Massimo Pigliucci (philosopher, How To Be A Stoic).
on “Launch HN: Stoa – Stoic Meditation and Journal App” ↗Thematically related recent piece about how Machiavelli and Du Bois had a similar perspective: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=42127895 Also, early this year I read Pigliucci's How to Be a Stoic. In that book the author often references that he had "conversations" with his "friend" Epictetus. All this to say: there might be something to this practice of befriending the dead.
on “My Pal, the Ancient Philosopher” ↗I’m about 1/2 way through reading “How to be a stoic”, so far its a good introduction.
on “What Is Stoicism?” ↗