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Summary: A Bottomless Fount of Wisdom
Review: I do not know of any philosopher who had more to say about the human condition than Marcus Aurelius. I re-read The Meditations during a personal crisis last year and once again found his words comfort and reassurance--not to mention inspiration.
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Summary: Fascinating
Review: I have been reading this book now off and on for over a year and have finally finnished it. Marcus' thoughts on "the whole" and nature are fascinating. One of my favorite passages was when he said that Caesar's brilliant oratory used simple words which were straight to the point "like the blast of a trumpet, not the trill of a flute."
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Summary: Timeless wisdom for a weary world
Review: "Begin each day by telling yourself: Today I shall be meeting with interference, ingratitude, insolence, disloyalty, ill will, and selfishness-all of them due to the offenders' ignorance of what is good or evil. But for my part I have long perceived the nature of good and its nobility, the nature of evil and its meanness, and also the nature of the culprit himself, who is my brother; therefore none of those things can injure me, for nobody can implicate me in what is degrading" (To Himself, II.1). This selection from "Meditations" ("To Himself" was the original Greek title)captures so much of the essence of this incredibly powerful book. Marcus Aurelius at times sounds more like the Buddha, Lao Tzu, Hesiod, or James Allen than he does his Stoic forerunners: proof once again that true wisdom resides in every man's heart and mind and transcends the boundaries of time, place, ethnicity,and doctrine. The job of the philosopher is to reintroduce his pupils to THEMSELVES, and once the self is realized, the reality of the universe becomes much clearer ("evil" derives from delusions)and the temptations of excess and the fears of deprivation become less powerful. These are true words to live by, more so now than they have ever been before. Happiness can be found in simplicity; hard work DOES pay off; the cooler head always prevails; immoderate pleasures can kill and fear is often unfounded. Marcus, like Buddha, was born in the lap of luxury, but he was destined to hold a position in society for which he was not well suited by virtue of his sensitive and studious nature: the ruler of an ancient and corrupt civilization that dominated most of the known world. "Meditations" is Marcus's attempt to cope with a life and a job that he never really wanted. Thankfully, we can apply Marcus's self conversation to the trials and tribulations of everyday life (the same can not be said for most other volumes of Greco-Roman philosophy, and this is especially the case with the over dogmatic Plato). I urge you to read this. Once you do, I guarantee you will read it over and over again and it will take its place on your list of personal, life changing favorites. One last thought: keep in mind that Marcus was a pagan and don't let the fact that Bill Clinton enjoyed the book sway you from buying it... For those interested in the life of Marcus Aurelius the man, also read his biography in Volume 1 of the Loeb edition of the Scriptores Historiae Augustae.
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Summary: President Bill Clinton's Favorite Book
Review: Should be right next to the Bible next to your bed. A great and timeless and extraordinary book. The Penguin Classics's edition is not only the best edition but the only edition you should read. I try to read parts of a couple of chapters every night. Marcus Aurelius deserves the Pulitzer Prize.
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Summary: A timeless meditation book for anyone
Review: Here is a great book of meditations for both believers and atheists. Marcus Aurelius was emperor of Rome with an unfaithful wife, a worthless son, and the duties of leading an army for 13 years in what is now Germany. Trying to cheer and console himself in the middle of a desolate area, he wrote down what he remembered of the Stoic philosophy which he had studied. His thoughts are inspiring and provoking. This is the book you want with you when life becomes tough. As Marcus' view of god is a pantheistic one, anyone can profit from his thoughts, whether atheist or believer. A book to read ever few years. Highly recommended.
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Summary: Wonderful-a friend in dark times
Review: I love Marcus. He is noble, sensitive, and trying his best to live right despite being emperor and stuck leading an army near the Danube. A great soul, a friend, someone who understands all you have suffered. Indispensable.
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Summary: Prescient+Powerful Completely Relevant 2500 yr Philosophy
Review: I found this book so powerful, I was moved to memorize large parts of it. Each paragraph, while following a theme of the section, is completely relevent in itself. The book can be picked up and read from any page and any paragraph, and the user will need no context to the previous paragraph, and will find each paragraph sufficient unto itself. The book accomplishes this by driving, in pure and unadulterated form and words, the main theme quickly and directly to the reader. Accerpt from memory: "Let it be thy earnest and Incessant Care as a Roman and Countryman to do whatever it is that thou are about with true and unfeigned gravity, natural effection, freedom and a sense of justice. As for all the other cares and imaginations, how shalt thou ease thy mind of them ? Which thou shalt do, if though shall go about every action as though it were thy last, free from all vanity and self love....."
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Summary: Most accessible edition. M.A. gives stoicism a good name.
Review: This version of M.A. Meditations is much more understandable than the one translated a century ago. I find M.A. a great comfort. Equanimity, duty, right/logical thinking.
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Summary: A book to live you life by.
Review: The Meditations of Marcus Aurelius is the most insightful book I have ever read. I think that young people would especially benefit from Marcus's wisdom. His advice about how to deal with life's trials is invaluable. He teaches that the praise or censure of others is meaningless. This is so important to teenagers trying to discover where they belong in the world. He teaches people to have courage in the face of adversity and to always live their lives by the highest standard.
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Summary: Coming to grips with humanity
Review: No book has brought me more (for lack of a better word) peace than this one: The inner thoughts (not meant to be published--he was writing for his own benefit) of a man trying to deal with human failings in himself and others.
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