On the Shortness of Life
by Seneca · first published 2016
80% recommend20% neutral
Why HN recommends it
Short Stoic essay on spending time well and not squandering a life that is long enough if well invested. Readers reread it to refocus on what matters, and it suits newcomers to Stoicism.
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For example, "On The Shortness of Life" by Seneca (c. 4 BC – AD 65)
on “Ask HN: What are your favorite books or essays written at least 100 years ago?” ↗For some age-tested wisdom on this topic, read Seneca's On The Shortness Of Life: https://www.globalgreyebooks.com/ebooks/seneca/on-the-shortn... "But one man is possessed by an avarice that is insatiable, another by a toilsome devotion to tasks that are useless; one man is besotted…
on “Are we too busy to enjoy life?” ↗One of the best books I ever read was from a dude named Seneca (a stoic Roman philosopher). The book is called On the Shortness of Life: Life is Long if You Know How to Use it[0]. [0]: http://amzn.to/2klxZky
on “An introduction to Stoic philosophy and resilience-building [video]” ↗I strongly recommend Seneca's On the Shortness of Life. It's one of the best books I've read, and at the very top on the subject of Carpe Diem. https://www.amazon.com/Shortness-Life-Penguin-Great-Ideas/dp...
on ““Study Death Always”: Seneca’s advice for living centered on dying” ↗By far the deepest and most eloquent writing on this subject that I've ever read has been Seneca's "On the Shortness of Life".[1][2] [1] - https://www.amazon.com/Shortness-Life-Seneca/dp/1941129420/ [2] - https://tripinsurancestore.com/4/on-the-shortness-of-life.pd...
on “Life is Short (2016)” ↗I would recommend Meditations by Marcus Aurelius (Hays Translation) along with On the Shortness of Life by Seneca. These 2 books together will introduce you to the Stoic philosophy which I just found a couple of years ago and it has made my life much better.
on “Ask HN: Recommend one book I need to read this summer?” ↗Been asking myself this question for a while, and have found the following reading to be very enlightening: - Letters from a Stoic, Seneca - On the Shortness of Life, Seneca - Walden, Henry David Thoreau - Grapes of Wrath, John Steinbeck
on “What Is a Minimally Good Life?” ↗A few have stood out: - "The Defining Decade: Why Your 20's Matter and How to Make The Most of Them Now": it motivated me to find a fulfilling a career in tech (among other things). - "On the Shortness of Life" (Seneca) - Really made me take a hard look at my life, for the better. - "Eat and Run" - Interesting read about an Ultramarathoner. Inspired me to find the motivation for doing "tough things" in general.
on “Ask HN: Life Changing Books?” ↗…There's not really a choice - but there isn't really any such thing as choice, we just fool ourselves into thinking that we make decisions. In reality, shit just happens, and you roll with it. Edit: Oh, on the Shortness of Life is one of my favourite essays - but Seneca was Nero's chief advisor, and never had any particular responsibilities in life, so I take his rather epicurean for a stoic advice with a hefty lump of salt.
on “My personal burnout – Lessons learned” ↗…https://blog.abuiles.com/reading-feed/nonviolent-communicati... -- going through the book is important for the context but this can give you a quick overview of what it is about. Other books in my list are: - Punished by rewards by Alfie Kohn - On the shortness of life by Seneca
on “Ask HN: Books on specific topics that have applied to many areas of your life?” ↗These are a bit on the philosophical side, but nonetheless must-reads: 1. On the Shortness of Life, Seneca 2. The Risk Not Taken, Andy Dunn 3. How to Start a Startup, Paul Graham (read all of PG's essays) [1] https://tripinsurancestore.com/4/on-the-shortness-of-life.pd... [2] https://medium.com/@dunn/the-risk-not-taken-40cf0a8919cb [3]…
on “Ask HN: What are your must-read essays for indie entrepreneurs” ↗My favourite reminder of the importance of not wasting time is On the Shortness of Life by the Roman Stoic Seneca: http://www.forumromanum.org/literature/seneca_younger/brev_e...
on “Create” ↗…projects that bring me money, I'm talking about stuff that help other people make better sense of the world we're living in and about our surroundings. Also, by chance I've just recently read Seneca's "On the Shortness of Life" (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/De_Brevitate_Vitae_%28Seneca%29), it really helped me put things in a different (I'd say better) perspective.
on “80% of People Quietly Despise Their Lives” ↗If you liked the writing/ideas here you'll love Seneca's On the Shortness of Life. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/97412.On_the_Shortness_o...
on “Why I Quit Being So Accommodating (1922)” ↗Seneca's On the Shortness of Life is truly spectacular: "It is not that we have a short time to live, but that we waste a lot of it... Life is long if you know how to use it."
on “Life is Short (2016)” ↗