Barnes & NobleThe Stoic Path- The Golden Sayings by Epictetus

Worth the purchase!

It’s no secret to those that know me that I’m a big fan of Stoicism. The Stoic philosopher’s practices and points of view helped me through the most difficult time of my life some years ago and I found peace of mind amidst the storm. Epictetus is famous for writing, “If anyone is unhappy, let him remember that he is unhappy by reason of himself alone.” In other words, how we frame and react to the incidents in life matters more to our well-being than the actual incidents themselves. So, when I came across The Stoic Path: The Golden Sayings by Epictetus from St, Martin’s Press, I knew I’d like to read it. This book is a collection of thoughts and quotes by Epictetus, translated from the original Greek. This book shouldn’t be confused with a book on Stoic practices. It’s a collection of wise quotes from one Stoic philosopher, which in my opinion, highlight the commonalities amongst “man” across time and circumstances. Epictetus has left an indelible mark on humankind. In fact, Cognitive Behavioral Theory used by many therapists today overlap with many Stoic principles. Epictetus was not a man born into fortune, as you might think. He was born into slavery. In this respect his teachings were more than theory to him; They were prescriptive. He knew hardship. He suffered from intolerance and poor reputation as a result of his early status in life. But he also knew compassion. He knew wisdom and he developed an affinity for knowledge. According to Epictetus, self-knowledge, proper logic to ensure good reasoning, and virtue lead a man to the good life – not individual circumstances. Thus, he led a life of satisfaction regardless of his circumstances. You’re not going to find a comprehensive guide and explanation of Stoic practices in this collection. What you will find are golden nuggets of wisdom as they were spoken all those years ago.