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Breakfast with Seneca: A Stoic Guide to the Art of Living

Breakfast with Seneca: A Stoic Guide to the Art of Living

Current price: $26.95
Publication Date: December 14th, 2021
Publisher:
W. W. Norton & Company
ISBN:
9780393531664
Pages:
288
Usually Ships in 1 to 5 Days

Description

The first clear and faithful guide to the timeless, practical teachings of the Stoic philosopher Seneca.

Stoicism, the most influential philosophy of the Roman Empire, offers refreshingly modern ways to strengthen our inner character in the face of an unpredictable world. Widely recognized as the most talented and humane writer of the Stoic tradition, Seneca teaches us to live with freedom and purpose. His most enduring work, over a hundred “Letters from a Stoic” written to a close friend, explains how to handle adversity; overcome grief, anxiety, and anger; transform setbacks into opportunities for growth; and recognize the true nature of friendship.

In Breakfast with Seneca, philosopher David Fideler mines Seneca’s classic works in a series of focused chapters, clearly explaining Seneca’s ideas without oversimplifying them. Best enjoyed as a daily ritual, like an energizing cup of coffee, Seneca’s wisdom provides us with a steady stream of time-tested advice about the human condition—which, as it turns out, hasn’t changed much over the past two thousand years.

About the Author

David Fideler is a writer, philosopher, and the editor of the Stoic Insights website. Born in the United States, he currently lives in Sarajevo with his wife and son.

Praise for Breakfast with Seneca: A Stoic Guide to the Art of Living

The most companionable of the new Stoic books.
— Molly Young - New York Times

[A] comprehensive guide to [Seneca's] ideas... Fideler keeps things accessible and offers plenty of real-world examples for applying philosophy to one’s life, making for a great crash course. Philosophy newbies will find this a fine introduction.
— Publishers Weekly

This is a rare gem of a book: simultaneously comforting and challenging, edifying and entertaining.
— Eric Weiner, author of The Socrates Express

This book is the perfect antidote to the commercialism and superficial values of modern times. Although Seneca was living two thousand years ago, he speaks directly to us today.
— Robin Waterfield, translator of Marcus Aurelius and Epictetus

When I find myself in a tight spot, I take a philosophical shortcut and simply ask, ‘What would Seneca do?’ David Fideler’s wonderful Breakfast with Seneca will come in handy in such situations. An accessible introduction to Stoic practice and to the Stoic philosophy in general.

— William B. Irvine, author of A Guide to the Good LIfe and The Stoic Challenge

A feast for the soul and spirit. Those who absorb the lessons in Breakfast with Seneca will embark on a life more worth living.

— Christopher Phillips PhD, author of Socrates Cafe

A fine guide to Seneca, Stoicism, and what it means to live a Stoic life. Highly readable.
— John Sellars, author of Lessons in Stoicism

A great introduction to both Seneca and Stoicism. It will even help those already familiar with Seneca’s writings to gain more benefit from them.
— Donald Robertson, author of How to Think Like a Roman Emperor