Courage Under Fire: Testing Epictetus's Doctrines in a Laboratory of Human Behavior (Hoover Essays, No. 6)

Rating:
Summary: This is not a story...
Review: as the previous reviewer states, but rather an essay. I mention that just to let you the would be buyer know, that you are getting a 21 page essay in a pamphlet format. It would have made a great book, and a great story. That is what I thougt I was buying. As for the essay itself; having read the sample pages, I was hoping for insights into how he used the philosphies of Epictetus to handle the events of his imprisonment. He does this only in a general sense.

Rating:
Summary: Pretty good
Review: For those of us who are in school, especially us philosophy geeks, a challenge will be laid to us a thousand times over: "that's great in theory, but it won't work in practice." While I can't think of any substitute for personal experience, this little (21 pp) transcribed speech does a pretty good job of defending Epictetus against that charge. It's about a guy who took our Stoic's theory and put it into practice - against the harshest of conditions. Despite what that other reviewer said, I can't imagine a much better use of five bucks; a promise, from one human to another, that, though you may stumble, the Stoic ideal will not fail you.

Rating:
Summary: Putting stoic theory to the test
Review: I understand that the reviews are all over the place, you need to know what you are getting. If you are looking for an essay of surviving in the world of Epictetus this is IT, as I was looking for more reading by Stockdale, I was really moved by the "Thoughts of a philosophical fighter pilot" (in which you will find this essay as a chapter). If the essay is all you need to study, go for it, for a little more money go for the "Thoughts..."

Rating:
Summary: Great story
Review: This is a must read, a fascinating and inspirational story.