Book Summary: How To Be A Stoic
How to be a Stoic by Massimo Pigliucci is a modern day philosophers guide to the ancient philosophy of stoicism. Stoicism can help us to focus our efforts on the things we can influence and strengthen our ability to deal with life’s frustrations.
Related Book Summaries:
On The Shortness Of Life Summary – Seneca
Philosophy For Life – Jules Evans – Book Summary
Zen Mind, Beginners Mind – Shunryu Suzuki – Book Summary
How To Be A Stoic Quotes:
One of the first lessons from stoicism, then, is to focus our attention and efforts where we have the most power and then let the universe run as it will.
Better to endure pain in an honourable manner than to seek joy in a shameful one.
Book Summary Notes: How To Be A Stoic
- Stoic philosophers were seeking answers to questions we still ask today. Some of these questions included; how to live a good life, how to deal best with what frustrates me and how should i think about my own death?
- The philosophy of Stoicism first arrived around 300 BC in Athens, Greece. Eventually it spread to Rome around 155 BC.
- Being stoic is usually used to describe some who is passive these days. Ancient stoics were anything but passive.
- Stoics concern themselves with 3 main disciplines; desire – what we should and should not aim for, second is action or how we behave and lastly how we should react to situations.
- One of the key stoic philosophers, Epictetus, wrote a book called the Enchiridion. He wrote about how to live a good life and also about the practical day to day considerations that entailed.
- Many of us spend our time worrying about things that may happen. Epictetus taught that it is best to control what is in our power to control and to accept what isn’t within our power to change.
- Given the choice, a stoic would prefer to be wealthy rather than not. Despite being preferred, both are indifferent to the end goal of a stoic – pursuing a moral and virtuous life.
- Stoics identified four aspects to virtue: temperance, courage, justice and wisdom.
- Temperance allows for control over instinctive desires. Courage being the strength to act well under hard circumstances. Justice was the ability to act and treat others fairly. Wisdom, the knowledge to know how to deal with any situation.
- Many modern day religions incorporate the four stoic aspects of virtue. They also commonly add a few more.
- Invest in good friends and conversations for a richer life.
- Aristotle spoke of 3 types of friends; friendships of utility – relationships based on mutual advantage, friendships of pleasure – relationships based around a recreational activity, finally friendships of the good – your closest friends and relationships not based around a mutual gain or activity.
