Meditations (Penguin Classics)
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A transparent and eloquent main translation of the Roman emperor’s reflections of human life and demise, timeless Stoic philosophy that conjures up numerous others together with The Every day Stoic creator Ryan Vacation to make use of philosophy as a software for self-improvement and resilience to stay a greater life
Written in Greek by an mental Roman emperor with none intention of publication, the Meditations of Marcus Aurelius provide a variety of fascinating religious reflections and workout routines developed because the chief struggled to know himself and make sense of the universe. Spanning from doubt and despair to conviction and exaltation, they cowl such various subjects because the query of advantage, human rationality, the character of the gods and the values of management. However whereas the Meditations have been composed to supply private comfort, in creating his beliefs Marcus additionally created one of many biggest of all works of philosophy: a collection of sensible and sensible aphorisms which were consulted and admired by statesmen, thinkers and unusual readers for nearly two thousand years.
To supply a full understanding of Aurelius’s seminal work, this version contains explanatory notes, a common index, an index of quotations, an index of names, and an introduction by Diskin Clay placing the work in its biographical, historic, and literary context, a chronology of Marcus Aurelius’s life and profession.
Penguin Classics is the main writer of traditional literature within the English-speaking world, representing a worldwide bookshelf of the perfect works all through historical past and throughout genres and disciplines. Readers belief the collection to supply authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished students and up to date authors, in addition to up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.
From the Writer
Writer : Penguin Classics (October 31, 2006)
Language : English
Paperback : 304 pages
ISBN-10 : 0140449337
ISBN-13 : 978-0140449334
Lexile measure : 1040L
Merchandise Weight : 7.4 ounces
Dimensions : 7.7 x 5.1 x 0.72 inches
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Original price was: $12.00.$7.26Current price is: $7.26.
Creative Reviews –
Almost 2000 Years Old and Eerily Accurate to Todays World
Synopsis:
This is a book that everyone needs to read. This is the personal diary of the most important man in the Roman empire at the time it was written. This is the equivalent of being able to read the personal diary of todays world leaders, or top CEO’s and understand their motivations and philosophies. This book does not take long to read, and you can plow through it in about a week with roughly 30 minutes of reading each day. Due to Marcus’ philosophy, he does not use pretentious language, so the book is consumable by a wide audience. Overall, this book is certainly worth the read and it will change how you look at the world, yourself and your actions.
The Book:
Marcus was born in 121 AD and died in 180 AD, making his writings ~1,800 years old at the time of this review. Mediate on that for a bit…you’re reading the personal diary from a Roman emperor who died almost 2000 years ago. We are incredibly privileged to be able to read such a historical masterpiece. The introduction from the translator is quite long, to the degree that I skipped it as he was consistently making references to the text, of which, I had not read yet. Mediations makes up the minority of the pages, with the majority being the introduction, then the rest being explanations of each verse. The explanations can be helpful in explaining the historical context.
Here’s a few heavily summarized topics discussed in the book as a preview:
On Perception:
Marcus made it his mission to look at the world objectively and for what it truly is, free of personal opinion or emotion. As long as what you were experiencing was within the bounds of what could be expected within the life of a human, it was your perception that made it pleasurable or painful. You could then change your perception on the issue and improve your life.
On Religion:
Despite being polytheistic, his philosophy on nature centers heavily on a type of worship of Gaia, coming very close to exalting her above Zeus. This is a very fine line he dances, always placing his trust in the Gods who had his best interest at heart, but also blending his knowledge of the natural world. Another peculiarity is that he frequently uses God in the singular form.
On Nature:
Nature has everyone and everything performing a specific task which contributes to the whole. To determine if something is good or bad, Marcus asks himself if it would harm the wider society. To illustrate, here is a quote from Marcus, “That which is not good for the beehive cannot be good for bees”.
On Time:
Close to the end of the book, and to Marcus’ death, he begins to reflect on his time spent on the earth. Marcus discusses how events repeat themselves and that 40 years of studying the natural world is enough. This is an extremely profound realization, since the reader can draw many parallels from his life, to our modern lives. He makes the bold claim that things never change, and time has proved him right. Marcus eventually died at 58 years of age.
Greg Taylor –
Some thoughts on translations and on Marcus Aurelius.
What makes Meditations an important book is that it provides the opportunity to discuss what it is to be human, to have a soul, to live a good life with one of the most remarkable men in history.
Before I get to that I want to second a suggestion made by several reviewers. Use two or more translations when you read the Meditations. I like this Penguin Classics edition. The introduction by Diskin Clay is useful, the translation by Martin Hammond is mostly accurate and his explanatory notes are very useful. There are some solid suggestions for further reading and several useful indices (of Names, of Quotations, and a General Index).
My one qualm about the translation is that Hammond sometimes makes the book sound a little Christian. Hammond will use “sin” where other translators (like Farquharson or Frances Hutchinson) would use “impiety” or “harm”. This is decidedly not a Christian text. There is nothing in Marcus Aurelius (MA) of final judgment. There is no reward or punishment for our actions in this life. MA suspends judgments on all sorts of issues. It is clear that he believes in gods and occasionally talks about God (see 12.2). But he also mentions many times the alternative belief that all is chance and that death will be followed by oblivion. It is essential to his ethics however that death is not followed by any sort of hell.
Also worth thinking about is whether MA is a man whose philosophy is to be rejected (or, at least, radically modified) because it ultimately makes one less human. With MA, everything is to be thought through with the corrosive that is reason. We must not let our attachments cause us to lose sight of the truth.
We may kiss our children good night but we must remind ourselves as we are doing so that they could be dead tomorrow (11.34 in Meditations- this bit of choice advice came from Epictetus)!
One point about this is that there is a real conflict in MA with his idea that we should accept everything that the gods see fit to visit upon us (an idea expressed too many times to quote a single source) and his desire to not be effected by any of it. I would argue that true acceptance does not seek invulnerability. True confront embraces vulnerability and fully accepts the whole of our humanity. We have a choice about how we respond to our suffering. MA, at his best, is saying that and pointing out that we can not let our suffering control our actions. At his worst, he sometimes seems to be saying that we can chose not to feel our suffering. He is such a compelling writer that I think it is all too easy to read MA in a way that avoids how radical are some of his ideas.
The desire of MA for some sort of emotional invulnerability is part and parcel of his rejection of quotidian experience. He does not seem to have liked or admired many of his contemporaries and he does not seem fond of the simple pleasures of life. His descriptions of sexuality are always mingled with tones of disgust.
Where the Meditations may be most useful is when we are dealing with some sort of very extreme situation. There are two Naval Academy essays by John Stockdale about how he survived his imprisonment during the Vietnam War using the philosophy of Epictetus that delve into the full complexity of that philosophy. (These essays are referenced in the intro to the Penguin edition
of Epictetus’ writings. You can use the Amazon preview of that book to see the reference.)
Does all this mean that I think you should not immediately run out and buy a copy of this book? NO, NO, a thousand times, NO. The Meditations is one of those few books that everyone should read for help in working out their own philosophy. We all have to come to grips with how we want to live our own lives, what values we want to honor and MA is one of the writers who will help you work that out. He belongs in the company of St. Augustine, of Montaigne, of Machiavelli, of Plato, and of the Buddha (among many others- this list is mine own).
So, yes, read MA in the Hammond translation by all means. Remember that he wrote this book so that he would have constant and personal reminders to live up to his own philosophy. By reading this book, you may come to some understanding of what it would be like to live up to your own philosophy.
Lirp –
Good book
Nice
Comrade Mike –
Just buy it.
This book is almost 2000 years old and still relevant. It is full of wisdom that can change your perspective in a powerful way.
The introduction and the footnotes are also excellent. You need this book.
Amazon Customer –
Full of wisdom
I am just starting the book,but Iâm learning something new on every page.
brianpowell –
Meditation Marcus Aurelius
The content in the book is priceless, the book condition gets the minus. Seller needs to clarify the book is New but damaged. Once again the information in the book priceless the packaging and description of the book is not great.
matt –
A must read
A must read for those that wise to dilate the kings eye
Twilight’s Pool –
Mind of strong man
No women thoughts here, masculinity is order. A must read for men.
alex_de_brasil –
Um dos melhores livros que eu já li. Um livro que nunca era pra ter sido um livro. Meditações foi um “diário” pessoal de Marco Aurélio que continha conselhos que ele escrevia para si próprio a fim de encontrar alguma paz e direção em meio ao caos.
A tradução da Penguin é boa, mas eu achei a de Hays melhor.
Phil M –
Great to read, partially bold truths, it’s showing us humans have always been as they are.
Certain passages leave a gloomy feeling at first but reaffirm what being human boiled down to.
TheErgoProxy –
“Meditations” by Marcus Aurelius is a profound and timeless work of philosophy that offers readers profound insights into Stoic philosophy and practical guidance for living a virtuous life. Composed as a series of personal reflections and meditations, this classic text provides a window into the mind of one of history’s most revered leaders and philosophers.
One of the most compelling aspects of “Meditations” is its intimate and introspective tone. Written by Marcus Aurelius as a form of self-examination and moral reflection, the text offers readers a glimpse into the inner thoughts and struggles of a Stoic philosopher-emperor. Through his meditations, Marcus Aurelius grapples with timeless questions of ethics, mortality, and the nature of the universe, offering readers profound insights into the human condition.
Central to Marcus Aurelius’s philosophy is the idea of living in accordance with nature and embracing the virtues of wisdom, courage, justice, and temperance. Throughout “Meditations,” he emphasizes the importance of self-discipline, resilience, and moral integrity in the face of life’s challenges. His reflections on the transience of life, the importance of humility, and the power of reason offer readers timeless wisdom that is as relevant today as it was in ancient Rome.
Moreover, “Meditations” is filled with practical advice and actionable insights that readers can apply to their own lives. From strategies for overcoming adversity to techniques for cultivating inner peace and tranquility, Marcus Aurelius’s meditations offer a valuable roadmap for navigating life’s ups and downs with grace and dignity.
In conclusion, “Meditations” is a profound and enduring work that continues to inspire readers with its timeless wisdom and practical guidance. Marcus Aurelius’s reflections on Stoic philosophy offer readers a blueprint for living a life of virtue, resilience, and inner peace, making it essential reading for anyone seeking wisdom and guidance in their journey through life.
Andrei –
Direi che per quanto possa piacere o non piacere il genere, la copertina è di ottima qualitÃ
Eylül Ãzbek –
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