A resposta curta
- Start with Meditations by Marcus Aurelius: short passages, written to himself, easy to read a page at a time.
- Then read the Enchiridion by Epictetus, a short handbook on what is in your power and what is not.
- Both are in the library to read and to hear.
Two Stoic voices to begin with
Stoicism is an old school of practical philosophy: how to stay steady when things go wrong. Two of its best-known writers are easy to start with, and both are short.
| Book | Author | Why start here |
|---|---|---|
| Meditations | Marcus Aurelius | Short passages that the Roman emperor wrote for himself. Read a page at a time. |
| The Enchiridion | Epictetus | A handbook of a few pages on what is in your power and what is not. Epictetus taught in Greece; his student Arrian wrote down his lessons. |
How to read them
Do not read either from start to end in one sitting. Read one passage in the morning, think about it during the day, and come back to it. Many readers also like to hear a passage while they walk.
Questions
Do I need to read them in order?
No. Both books are made of short, separate pieces. Start anywhere and stop when you like.
Which one is shorter?
The Enchiridion is the shorter of the two. Meditations is longer but made of brief passages.
