Tag Archives: Stoicism

On Desire

Posted on March 13, 2014 by smellincoffee

On Desire: Why We Want What We Want© 2007 William Irvine337 pages Why do we want what we want? William Irvine’s On Desire examines the nature of desire, exploring first how profoundly it affects our lives, then surveying psychological inquiries … Continue reading →

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Disrupting the Rabblement

Posted on June 20, 2013 by smellincoffee

Disrupting the Rabblement: Think  For Yourself, Face Your Fears, Live Your Dreams, and Piss off some Zombies© 2012 Niall Doherty~138 pages There are those who live, and those who simply exist. The majority of people, the rabblement, simply exist, and it’s … Continue reading →

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Dialogues and Essays

Posted on September 1, 2012 by smellincoffee

Seneca: Dialogues and Essays© 2007 Oxford World’s Classics translated by John Davie263 pages Care to read the thoughts of a man chosen to tutor an emperor? Seneca the Younger lived in the opening century of the Roman Empire, and was such … Continue reading →

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This Week at the Library (7 March)

Posted on March 7, 2012 by smellincoffee

I recently finished Superfreakonomics and A Brief History of Thought, neither of which generated enough mental chatter to merit a full review. Suffice it to say, Superfreakonomics is simply an addition in the same vein as Freakonomics: the authors use … Continue reading →

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Discourses and Enchiridon

Posted on September 27, 2011 by smellincoffee

Discourses and Enchiridon, Epictetus© 1967, translated W.A. Oldfather Stoicism might be introduced to the lay reader as Buddhism for the west. Students of Stoicism often take inspiration from Buddhist philosophy, given the common emphasis on mindfulness and freedom from desire. … Continue reading →

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Marcus Aurelius

Posted on September 27, 2011 by smellincoffee

Marcus Aurelius: A Life© 2009 Frank McLynn684 pages Few figures in history can compare to Marcus Aurelius, and fewer still favorably.  Adopted into the royal family, this last of the Five Good Emperors has sat in silent judgment of politicians … Continue reading →

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A Man in Full

Posted on March 13, 2011 by smellincoffee

A Man in Full© 1998 Tom Wolfe727 pages Zeus! Send me what trial thou wilt! A Man in Full is an epic story of individuals grappling with life, facing trials that force them to reconsider their worth and threaten to … Continue reading →

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The Roman Way

Posted on October 17, 2010 by smellincoffee

The Roman Way© 1932 Edith Hamilton281 pages                                         Slave: He saw the girl.                    … Continue reading →

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The Emperor’s Handbook

Posted on February 17, 2010 by smellincoffee

The Emperor’s Handbook: A New Translation of the Meditations© 2002, translated by David and Scot Hicks.160 pages I first read Marcus Aurelius’ Meditations in 2007 and have returned to selected passages from the book time and again. The good emperor … Continue reading →

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A Guide to the Good Life

Posted on February 14, 2010 by smellincoffee

A Guide to the Good Life: the Ancient Art of Stoic Joy© 2009 William Irvine314 pages Last year when I began to examine Stoicism in depth, having found strength in the works of Marcus Aurelius and Epictetus, I read or … Continue reading →

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