How to Be a Stoic: Using Ancient Philosophy to Live a Modern Life

Excelente introdução ao estoicismo. Ler os três grandes estóicos sem um livro-guia como esse pode fazer com que o leitor se confunda entre as opiniões de um deles e temas centrais da filosofia. Isso é especialmente válido para o Epiteto que é o filósofo mais citado em How to Be a Stoic.Além disso, é uma excelente introdução aos textos do Massimo, que é um dos autores mais lúcidos que já li.Sugiro que o leitor que tenha gostado do estilo do autor procure a página no Patreon dele e leia as centenas de ensaios que ele produz sobre como aplicar filosofia no dia-dia. E até polêmicas como “Jeff Bezos é um estóico?”.Gostei tanto do livro que comprei o físico, a versão eletrônica e o audiobook.

Pensé que este libro sería mejor, su modo de aplicar el estoicismo en la vida cotidiana es muy básico, incluso se me hizo de sentido común, lo rescatable es el análisis histórico y como aún en ciertas ideologías el estoicismo sigue presente.

Je recommande ce livre aux débutants dans l'apprentissage de cette philosophie. Les chapitres sont clairs, bien détaillés et motivants. Mr Pigliucci est un bon pédagogue et je pense continuer avec d'autres de ses livres.

I can still recall the first time I was introduced to Stoicism. I majored in philosophy and was fortunate to take most of my courses from an aging professor who is undoubtedly the most analytical person I've ever met. We read only primary texts. And this professor would methodically reconstruct each author's argument on a (real) blackboard, leading the discussion through Socratic questioning. In a course covering ancient philosophy, he introduced us to Epictetus. After leading us through the argument of the first section of the Enchiridion, he commented: "In my view, this is the only argument in the history of philosophy that actually proves its conclusion." Coming from him, this was a striking statement. In every other instance, he steadfastly refused to say if he thought an argument was (or was not) successful.Epictetus is the central character in How to Be a Stoic. Dr. Pigliucci claims Epictetus as his favorite Stoic, and he engages in a kind of ongoing dialogue with the philosopher using the ancient texts. The book is organized (following two introductory chapters) into three parts: 1) The Discipline of Desire; 2) The Discipline of Action; and 3) The Discipline of Assent. He covers such topics as character, mental illness, disability, loneliness, and death.In the chapter covering disability, Dr. Pigliucci discuses the life of another Stoic academic, Dr. Lawrence Becker. Dr. Becker turned to Stoicism early in life to help meet the challenges of a physical disability. The first thing that Dr. Becker did as a Stoic novice was to reclaim his "agency". To cope with a hardship, we should begin by telling ourselves we can and will take responsibility for meeting our challenges. Though simple, this resonated deeply with me. I am something of a fatalist by nature. But whatever the ultimate truth is regarding free will, Dr. Becker's practical approach is helpful: Reclaim your agency! And then see what you can do--today--to improve your sense of well-being.This an excellent introduction to Stoicism and overall a very good book. The writing is clear and engaging. The topics feel relevant. Most importantly, the book is eminently practical. If you're interested in Stoicism, this is a great place to start. It's also a great place to finish, especially if you're only looking for the basics. You can read this book, begin doing the "spiritual" exercises--maybe find a copy of Epictetus's Manual--and "be" a Stoic. It will also serve as a fantastic introduction for a much deeper dive into Stoic philosophy. And finally, if you've already studied and practiced Stoicism, you may still benefit from Dr. Pigliucci's application of Stoic principles to modern problems.It's been nearly a decade and a half since I was introduced to Stoicism. As I made my way through young adulthood, I often returned to Stoicism through the works of Seneca and Epictetus, as well as more contemporary authors. I can hardly call myself a Stoic. Somehow I feel compelled to avoid the label altogether. How to Be a Stoic opened a new pathway: Label or no label, there are many things I can do that just might lead to a lasting change.

The book is written in an unconventional fashion, with long passages being a portrayed conversation between the author and the ancient Stoic Epictetus. Though it is somewhat unusual, I found the format to be surprisingly effective. The information was eminently practical and I thoroughly enjoyed my time with the book.I strongly recommend it for anyone interested in Stoicism or related Hellenistic philosophies, or just philosophies of life in general.