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ekaari's review against another edition
5.0
A book best designed to be read a page or even a paragraph at a time, in the morning, to be contemplated throughout the day
An insightful journal that makes it clear how little humanity has changed, we still fear the same things
An insightful journal that makes it clear how little humanity has changed, we still fear the same things
craigt1990's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed reading the private thoughts of an Emperor of Rome at its height. Educated to the highest rigours by the greatest Greek scholars and fluent in Ancient Greek literature he would have had an astonishing mind and thankfully we get to meet that mind here in this text.
Collected towards the end of his life when he was campaigning in Germany with his legions where he died on the battlefield are a collection of his memories and thoughts revolving around philosophy and how to live a meaningful life.
As the New Testament was widely circulating at the time and was written in Ancient Greek and judging by some of his thoughts I wouldn’t hesitate to say he had read the writings of Paul the apostle and maybe even early copies of the Gospels. Although there is no religiosity to the texts and he recalls the lesson of one of his Greek tutors who said to avoid all nonsense claims to do with possession and exorcisms so he probably would have seen Christians as deranged and possibly dangerous too, and he persecuted his fair share.
That being said it’s a very important work of literature and history everyone should read and reread.
Collected towards the end of his life when he was campaigning in Germany with his legions where he died on the battlefield are a collection of his memories and thoughts revolving around philosophy and how to live a meaningful life.
As the New Testament was widely circulating at the time and was written in Ancient Greek and judging by some of his thoughts I wouldn’t hesitate to say he had read the writings of Paul the apostle and maybe even early copies of the Gospels. Although there is no religiosity to the texts and he recalls the lesson of one of his Greek tutors who said to avoid all nonsense claims to do with possession and exorcisms so he probably would have seen Christians as deranged and possibly dangerous too, and he persecuted his fair share.
That being said it’s a very important work of literature and history everyone should read and reread.
lynnannwalsh's review against another edition
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
5.0