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A long while back there was a recommendation of one of Seneca's books on how to live your life. I was thinking it was a somewhat short read. I seem to remember 'Letters From A Stoic' or 'On The Shortness Of Life' but I was also thinking it may have been something else.

Anyone remember? Nafod? Bux? Trying to enlighten my oldest daughter as well as the other two when they get older.

Thanks!

It's not Seneca, but I like this as a similar option. It's a rough translation of Epictetus' writings and would be a very easy read for a young adult.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/006128605 ... ot_redir=1

All I know is the bunch of "On.." essays. Here's the list then you have to go search for them. I wish i knew of a compilation, but don't

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seneca_the_Younger#Works

Not exactly what you want but short & pithy sections filled with applied stoic wisdom

Saw your link on FB today. As that article you posted points out, "life is short" is such a common theme so thoroughly covered that there's really nothing to add. But I don't mind the repetition, because part of it is also, "and young people are programmed to not think about it until they're so old it slaps them in the face every day, so it bears repeating once in a while."

Mickey O'neil wrote:A long while back there was a recommendation of one of Seneca's books on how to live your life. I was thinking it was a somewhat short read. I seem to remember 'Letters From A Stoic' or 'On The Shortness Of Life' but I was also thinking it may have been something else.

Usually people talk about Letters from a Stoic, but that's the one Ferriss likes and he has a big microphone. Don't just get the "best book." Try to find the most accessible translation, especially for younger people. That being said...

Trying to enlighten my oldest daughter as well as the other two when they get older.

Young people are horrible at getting this. You have thousands of years of old people pointing out how young people don't get it. By the end of high school a teenager can grasp the concept of time speeding up, even be freaked out by it, but that's not really understanding.

When I went to Buenos Aires, the thing that stuck out to me the most was the Recoleta cemetery. It's all above-ground mausoleums, and the little "houses" are on streets and get pretty ornate, given they house a lot of Argentina's dead big wigs.

A very common theme was rooftop statues like this one, an old man looking at an hour glass:
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4069/440 ... fcda_m.jpg

But only for the guys who died old. The guys who lived the longest were the ones aware of how little time they had. The people guys didn't know how short their run was going to be. The hourglass metaphor only works if you black it out the glass.

Meditations of the shortness of life....

http://www.penguin.co.uk/static/cs/uk/0 ... dex_1.html

i recall i saved off a recommendation from here for "Meditations by Marcus Aurelius" that fits the description you mention Mick.

it is available for free online if you search for it.

JamesonBushmill wrote:i recall i saved off a recommendation from here for "Meditations by Marcus Aurelius" that fits the description you mention Mick.

it is available for free online if you search for it.

Free and even legal.

http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/2680

http://www.amazon.com/Meditations-Marcu ... B0082XJGRK

On the Shortness of Life
translated by John W. Basore, Loeb Classical Library
London: William Heinemann, 1932

http://www.forumromanum.org/literature/ ... rev_e.html

Thank y'all very much for those links. I do have 'On The Shortness Of Life" and 'Letters From A Stoic' already. I just wasn't sure which one was the one I was thinking of originally. I also have Marcus Arelius' 'Meditations'. I actually keep that in my backpack.

Come to think of it, I believe the book I was thinking of is the one ButterCup posted; Epictetus' 'The Art Of Living'.

Regardless, I will introduce all of them to her and see if she is interested.

The book BD posted looks pretty good too. I believe I will have to pick that up for myself...and for her.

Thanks, guys! Sorry it took so long to respond. Been crazy busy.

EDIT: Just remembered what I was thinking of; it was Epictetus' 'Enchiridion'.

Also, Mickey, on Spell's point, I'm not sure the shortness of life is the best stoic lesson for young'ns. IMO, the most fruitful takeaways I've received from stoic learning is very similar to CBT psychology. What makes a prison a prison is wishing you weren't there. Stoic passages conveying that type of message can remove anxiety, etc... immediately. Those type of real-world methodological uses may resonate better with a young person.

BTW, I really enjoyed Admiral Stockdale's papers for a modern day no-shit application of stoicism.

buckethead wrote:Also, Mickey, on Spell's point, I'm not sure the shortness of life is the best stoic lesson for young'ns. IMO, the most fruitful takeaways I've received from stoic learning is very similar to CBT psychology. What makes a prison a prison is wishing you weren't there. Stoic passages conveying that type of message can remove anxiety, etc... immediately. Those type of real-world methodological uses may resonate better with a young person.

BTW, I really enjoyed Admiral Stockdale's papers for a modern day no-shit application of stoicism.

The two Stockdale talk transcripts, or something else? Those are terrific.

I didn't know Stockdale was involved in the Gulf of Tomkin shit. His comments on moral wars are fascinating.

I'm talking about "Stockdale on Stoicism I & II". I think the first was a talk to Marines and the second was a manuscript. Wonderful shit.

Stockdale I has been though-provoking. Thanks for the recommendation.

I have the Stockdale stuff stuff and it is very good. Thanks, Bux!

This is not what Mickey was asking about as it wouldn't be ideal for his daughters but a heads up for anyone interested. I was fed up of not having my stoicism books on my kindle so I was looking for cheap versions. I found this http://www.amazon.com/Complete-Works-Se ... a+complete Seneca's complete works. It's insane and costs $2. The letters in the popular book are just a selection, in this one there are tons more. There are all of his essays and things that have never been printed before.
Also 'Meditations' by MA is free and Epitectus' discourses and Encheiridion in one book is free.