A review by jachso
Meditations, by Marcus Aurelius
2.0
I read the Barnes and Noble edition of this book, translated by George Long. The collection contains all of M. Aurelius' Meditations and Reflections.
Several repetitions of Stoic philosophy — you will retread over "why bother caring about fame when you, your admirers, and soon after your admirers' children will die," and "why bother letting problems worry you if you have no control" several times in the course of the book.
From the translator's historical notes, the book was likely more just a set of journalistic scribblings that the emperor wished to keep in mind or pass on to his son, Commodus. This is clear to see.
If you wish for Stoic philosophy straight from their early Greek and Roman practitioners, I'd recommend "Letters from a Stoic," by Seneca. Aurelius' journals reflect much of the same info but in a more garbled and freeform tone, where Seneca clearly paints our the principles and gives plenty of examples to boot.
Several repetitions of Stoic philosophy — you will retread over "why bother caring about fame when you, your admirers, and soon after your admirers' children will die," and "why bother letting problems worry you if you have no control" several times in the course of the book.
From the translator's historical notes, the book was likely more just a set of journalistic scribblings that the emperor wished to keep in mind or pass on to his son, Commodus. This is clear to see.
If you wish for Stoic philosophy straight from their early Greek and Roman practitioners, I'd recommend "Letters from a Stoic," by Seneca. Aurelius' journals reflect much of the same info but in a more garbled and freeform tone, where Seneca clearly paints our the principles and gives plenty of examples to boot.