Overall pretty decent with some pragmatic and practical nuggets that the reader can walk away with and try to apply to their day to day. That when I became interested in philosophy I didn't fall into the hands of charlatans, and didn't get bogged down in writing treatises, or become absorbed by logic-chopping, or preoccupied with physics. With that in mind, the thing that prevents this from being a 5/5 is that, as a book, it is rather repetitive. Most of what he says is common sense, bar, perhaps, anything related to providence and god - although, those words have somewhat different meaning in a Stoic sense than what we may associate with them today. Because Marcus challenges our (modern) habits of rushing through life, ever busy, never truly present, often angry, and attached to external goods - we are consuming, but are we living?

Does the Stoics' emphasis on accepting all that happens to us as natural prevent them from trying to change the world in positive ways? They saw him for what he was: a man tested by life, accomplished, unswayed by flattery, qualified to govern both himself and them. At several points Marcus expresses disapproval of the Epicureans for making pleasure their highest goal. By writing the topic of that paragraph, I can now refer back to what Marcus Aurelius wrote about forging ahead. The long dead Roman emperor’s thoughts and fancies are still so relevant to your everyday ups and downs.We learn more about our bodies, souls, and minds and how to deal with emotions like anger, anxiety, grief, and so on. I started a journal, noting the pages that resonated with me so that I could refer back to them later.

Too obtuse for learning, too stilted for pleasure, too demanding for a sleep aid; the worst of all worlds. For anyone who struggles to reconcile the demands of leadership with a concern for personal integrity and spiritual well-being, the Meditations remains as relevant now as it was two thousand years ago.While I ask for nothing to be watered down, I recommend to any prospective reader the selection of a translation written in the language of the current century or, at the very least, the last one. At the same time, the work felt a little dimished by the fact it was written by an emperor, in the sense that it is easy for a person of the most privilege to talk about doing away with desires, or taking things as they come, seeing death as something to not fear, etc. He talks about various aspects of how one can improve their lives by straightforward and consistent action. One of the most interesting aspects of this philosophy was the recurring theme of the "logos" - the rational principle that governs the universe. Be kind and generous and slow to anger, and don't hate those who are unkind and ungenerous and quick to anger.

Additionally much of the advice that is espoused here is at the heart of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). I took my time reading Aurelius' Meditations as, going into it I knew the man conveys meaningful concepts in very little space. Marcus Aurelius' life philosophy —very similar to Stoicism— is wisdom for all ages and for every generation.

Yes it’s quite a superficial and contemporary translation, but this allows it to be read by a new audience. But for an internal mindset - a writing that Marcus Aurelius meant for himself, and no one else: I also agree with him. What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done and there is nothing new under the sun. However, it's the same for everything in life: one needs to start, continue to learn, train and get better. Don’t read the introduction…as a new reader I find it difficult to keep reading or to simply pick up a book when I find it boring or a waste of my time.