Episode · Modern Wisdom · 2020-10-31
Books mentioned on The Stoic Guide To A Happy Life - Massimo Pigliucci - #239
Massimo Pigliucci is a Professor of Philosophy at City College and an author. The stoic teachings have helped people for thousands of years, Massimo is undertaking the not-so-small task of attempting to update and improve the body of work.
Massimo Pigliucci recommended Arrian: Anabasis Alexandri, books V-VII ; Indica and Arrian's Voyage round the Euxine Sea, and discussed A New Stoicism by Lawrence C. Becker, It's a God Thing by Larry Baker and others, The Discourses of Epictetus, Moral letters to Lucilius, The Lives of Brian by Brian Johnson, and On the Shortness of Life. Chris Williamson criticized The Secret by Rhonda Byrne. Also mentioned: How to Live a Good Life by Massimo Pigliucci and others.
Books mentioned, in the order they came up
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A New Stoicism
A New Stoicism by Lawrence C.
Discussed“the thing my friend and colleague larry baker who wrote a new stoicism uh did a similar thing with the entire stoic system”
Where to get it
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It's a God Thing
Discussed“the thing my friend and colleague larry baker who wrote a new stoicism uh did a similar thing with the entire stoic system”
Where to get it
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The Discourses of Epictetus
The Discourses of Epictetus by Epictetus is an enduring classical text of Stoic philosophy that preserves the teachings and lectures of the Greek philosopher.
Discussed“then throughout the middle ages and renaissance the encouridion was actually re-written and updated several times because it was used as a triangle as a training manual for tranwall is a new word that i just invented a training manual for christian monks right”
Where to get it
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Arrian: Anabasis Alexandri, books V-VII ; Indica
Arrian: Anabasis Alexandri, books V-VII ; Indica by Arrian preserves the historical campaigns of Alexander the Great alongside geographical and ethnographic observations of India.
Recommended“um for instance if if you pick up the first the very opening of the anchor reading uh it says some things are up to us other things are not up to us”
Where to get it
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Arrian's Voyage round the Euxine Sea
Arrian's Voyage round the Euxine Sea by Arrian is a historical geographical account detailing a maritime journey around the Black Sea by the second-century Greek historian and administrator.
Recommended“and if you actually if if you get anything other than caridion or of the field guide the new the new version that would be it if you just get that one and incorporate it into your daily life that's just just that one is going to change things for you”
Where to get it
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Moral letters to Lucilius
Moral letters to Lucilius by Seneca is a collection of philosophical epistles offering timeless Stoic wisdom on virtue, mortality, and the art of living well.
Discussed“seneca actually writes explicitly it's like look he writes a beautiful letter to his friend lucillus and he says look my friend the people that came before us are not our masters”
Where to get it
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The Lives of Brian
Discussed“this comes out of what is sometimes referred to as epictetus role ethics uh there's a wonderful book about just about that aspect of stoicism over the patriarchs philosophy by brian johnson who is a colleague of mine at fordham university and he wrote a book on the rolatex of epicurus”
Where to get it
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The Secret
The Secret by Rhonda Byrne is a bestselling self-help book and film centered on the law of attraction, asserting that positive thinking and intentional visualization can directly manifest wealth, health, and happiness.
Critiqued“can we just take a second to talk about how much bollocks is in the secret”
Where to get it
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On the Shortness of Life
On the Shortness of Life by Seneca is a foundational Stoic philosophical essay that examines the perception of time, mortality, and the importance of mindful attention to make every minute count.
Discussed“This is he actually says so explicitly in a letter of consolation that he writes to his friend marsha who had lost an adult son”
Where to get it
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How to Live a Good Life
How to Live a Good Life by Massimo Pigliucci, Skye Cleary, and Daniel Kaufman is a philosophical guide offering diverse perspectives on achieving human flourishing through various historical and modern traditions.
Recommended“150 pages pocket sized your vader may come to take with you uh anywhere else that people should go and check out massimo”
Where to get it
Other mentions in this episode (1) — ad reads, self-promotion and passing references, never counted
“we might as well just keep on talking about stoicism the stoic the stoic guide to a happy life 53 brief brief lessons for living why'd you write this”