Reading the stoic epictetus a manual for leading

Do not be disturbed by things that are not within your power. An event becomes how you interpret it, not what it actually is. View all 3 comments. Nicely organized but redundant which is especially frustrating considering its size. Jan 07, Aycan Doganlar rated it it was amazing Shelves: non-fiction , favorites. Jul 02, Terese rated it it was amazing.

If you like vibrations, LOA, and manifestation you will also find a lot to approve of in here. Especially in the fragments, which not all are by Epictetus. It is short and invites you to think about your reactions and being in the world. One of my favorite fragments happens to also remind me of one of my favorite lines from st. Read it. Aug 01, Tg rated it it was amazing. At first I was drained from listening to Epictetus drone on and on; Like Admiral Stockdale I too thought: "Here I am a fighter pilot and martini drinker, and all I hear is this ancient rag droning on and on about not worrying about things outside the control of the will ; charitably put I thought him to be irrelevant".

It would have been a mistake to stop there; like Epictetus he wants you to stop and wait to evaluate your impressions. My delayed impression is that Epictetus is an Incredible Tea At first I was drained from listening to Epictetus drone on and on; Like Admiral Stockdale I too thought: "Here I am a fighter pilot and martini drinker, and all I hear is this ancient rag droning on and on about not worrying about things outside the control of the will ; charitably put I thought him to be irrelevant".

My delayed impression is that Epictetus is an Incredible Teacher. Like the beloved wounded Teacher Kheiron he has the heart of a Healer. Kheiron too was a Great Teacher part Human and part Horse. Sep 11, Asra rated it it was amazing Shelves: le-logos. Stoicism and Buddhism, in terms of practical philosophy, are basically two sides of the same coin. Truly both are the only acceptable forms of 'self-help. It is not a very popular prescription but very purposeful. True freedo Stoicism and Buddhism, in terms of practical philosophy, are basically two sides of the same coin.

True freedom and lasting peace are the fruits of inner work and not the harvest of superior life circumstances. As Marcus Aurelius instructs, nurture the spark of divinity within and commit yourself to the projects of your higher nature during your time in the world.

Well, I guess we can try. Nov 09, Sasha Francesca Rose rated it really liked it. I finally understand the guy who calls everyone normies Honestly it wasn't bad although there was actually a lot I did not agree with.

This took me a while to read despite being short. It was a bit judgy. Mar 08, Ann rated it really liked it Shelves: nonfiction. Agreed with some parts, disagreed with others.

Not everything is fully applicable to modern-day life or should be taken literally. Jan 09, Bee Ostrowsky rated it really liked it Shelves: advice , philosophy , essays-and-short-stories , psychology-and-the-mind.

Short and to the point. Truly one of the wisest Vulcans ever born on Earth. Jan 15, Miha Rekar rated it it was amazing. You can read it in 30 mins. And then read it again. And again. Can not recommend it enough. Jan 21, Yannick Schutz rated it really liked it. Condensed dose of philosophy. Quick read but great bullet list of small chapters. Concise, but full of meaningful thoughts and advices. May 11, Sheila Jungco rated it it was amazing. I can read this everyday. I'm thinking of getting an audible for this.

It's a good book to listen while I commute to work or after work. Or washing my dishes or doing the laundry. Dec 27, Bonnie rated it it was amazing. I read this because DHH recommends this book in the twitter. It is not the person who insults or attacks you who torments your mind, but the view you take of these things.

Dec 27, Prasanth K. Rajan rated it it was amazing. Loved this! Nuggets of wisdom you would want to keep reading again and again.

Dec 28, Nick rated it it was amazing. Jun 29, Tom Walsh rated it really liked it. Good Handbook for Daily Reference. Feb 18, Stephen rated it liked it. This little book is a translation of a purported compilation of discourses of Epictetus, a Greek philosopher who lived from 50 AD to AD, by Arrian, a 2nd-century disciple.

The Enchiridion, as it was known as well as the Handbook of Epictetus reads like a modern day 'self-help' book, which I generally abhor ok, they just give me the heebie jeebies, with very very few exceptions , but I found this one interesting. First, it was written so long ago, and second, it is very short!!

It provides practical guidance on applied Stoicism so that followers can be happy and free! It resonated with me I guess I'm a Stoic - who knew? It reminds me of my counsel many years ago to my then wife when she was needing to take a flight, of which she was severely afraid.

Upon her sharing her fear with me, I wisely said "It always helps me to imagine the worst that can happen and accept it," to which she replied "Well, I could die. I did find it to take the idea a weeeeee bit too far, e. We're all mortal. Not quite as brutal. Sep 12, Gary alpis rated it it was amazing. Jul 28, Jonathan H. LATER rated it it was amazing. This book on Kindle with run 33 pages. The pages are full of wise content for people looking for a simple guide on how to conduct themselves day in and out.

I love the words from classic philosophers, and Epictetus is one of the best when it comes to taking life as simply as possible. If you are looking for something to read on the go, bits here and there, this is the book I recommend.

For it is no easy feat to hold onto your inner harmony while collecting accolades. If you make peace with all things that are beyond your power, refusing to fight them, you will be invincible. Follow your principles as though they were laws. Do not worry if others criticize or laugh at you, for their opinions are not your concern.

Do not adopt any air of superiority. Mind your own business, keep busy with the work you are best suited for, and play well the part the Author has given you.

If you find yourself acting to impress others, or avoiding action out of fear of what they might think, you have left the path. Do not make a spectacle of self-deprivation. When you fast, tell no one. Do not expect to equal anyone in effect without putting forth a similar effort. If you are unwilling to pay a dollar for lettuce, yet you envy the man who has a bagful of lettuce because he paid five dollars, you are a fool.

Do not imagine he has gained an advantage over you—he has his lettuce, you have your coins. Whenever misfortune befalls you, ask yourself how you would react if it were someone else in the same situation.

When you hear predictions of the future, do not become fearful or excited—remember that future events are beyond your control. Trust fate, and trust yourself. Seek advice from the laws of nature, not prognosticators. Evil is not a thing in itself but a missing of the mark, an arrow gone astray. Black and white thinking may seem powerful in speeches and debates, but real life is mostly gray areas.

It is rarely a question of good versus bad, but of weighing greater and lesser goods on a scale of values. If you truly wish to become a philosopher, you must gain self-control, give up friends who are bad influences, be prepared to face ridicule and scorn, and be willing to give up honors, offices, riches, and fame.

Once you let your appetite exceed what is necessary and useful, desire knows no bounds. When thinking, watch for obstacles and errors in your line of thought. Care for your body as needed, but put your main energies and efforts into cultivating your mind. Where our attention and affection lie, there too is our worship. It was Arrian who, after Epictetus' death in AD, collected his master's teachings into eight books of "Discourses", the first four of which survive.

Additionally, a brief compendium of these thoughts was compiled and widely distributed under the title of "Enchiridion", or "Manual for Living". In Epictetus' "Manual" he emphasized the keynote tenets of his stoicism. This article presents a concise depiction of ten key points drawn from Epictetus' "Manual for Living".