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A review by biofaust
Discourses, Fragments, Handbook by Epictetus, Robin Hard, Christopher Gill
5.0
It took me 6 months to read this book in its entirety, mostly because I am a slow reader who has been tackling other texts in the meantime, but I would actually recommend to read this and other Stoic texts in this way, making them a presence in one's life.
Actually the most famous portion of these texts is the Enchiridion, which translates as "ready at hand" and it is, in my opinion what one should read first, not only in this book, but of all ancient Stoic texts and possibly as second only to Massimo Pigliucci's "How to be a Stoic" which serves as a proper introduction for beginners in Stoicism and practical philosophy.
And practical philosophy is really the main theme of the book and something that apparently Epictetus focused a lot on in his teachings (and not surprisingly, given what we can still read of his own teacher Musonius Rufus). In his words, one is not to be considered a philosopher only for talking about philosophy or for being able to argument and discuss paradoxes and other logical tricks, but first and foremost for applying even just the simplest rules of philosophy in one's own life.
The translation is very good and fluid even for a non-native speaker of English like me and the edition contains an Index of Themes at the end which, after this first reading, will surely prove itself useful in turning this book into a reference.
A must read indeed and, for those coming into Stoicism, a much better first one than the much more "hyped" Marcus Aurelius.
Actually the most famous portion of these texts is the Enchiridion, which translates as "ready at hand" and it is, in my opinion what one should read first, not only in this book, but of all ancient Stoic texts and possibly as second only to Massimo Pigliucci's "How to be a Stoic" which serves as a proper introduction for beginners in Stoicism and practical philosophy.
And practical philosophy is really the main theme of the book and something that apparently Epictetus focused a lot on in his teachings (and not surprisingly, given what we can still read of his own teacher Musonius Rufus). In his words, one is not to be considered a philosopher only for talking about philosophy or for being able to argument and discuss paradoxes and other logical tricks, but first and foremost for applying even just the simplest rules of philosophy in one's own life.
The translation is very good and fluid even for a non-native speaker of English like me and the edition contains an Index of Themes at the end which, after this first reading, will surely prove itself useful in turning this book into a reference.
A must read indeed and, for those coming into Stoicism, a much better first one than the much more "hyped" Marcus Aurelius.