Meditations

By Marcus Aurelius

Categories: Politics & Social Sciences, Religion & Spirituality, Self-Help

Marcus Aurelius ruled Rome from 161 to 180 CE and spent much of that time on military campaigns. Along the way he wrote private notes to himself, in Greek, working out how to live by Stoic philosophy. He likely never meant them to be published. The twelve short books range from one-line reminders to longer reflections, and they read like one of history's most powerful men coaching himself toward a better life.

Recommended by 15 people

• Stewart Brand
• Shane Parrish: “3. Meditations and Montaigne’s Essays — Reading these guys, along with Seneca, has really helped foster my interest in philosophy. So much of what they say speaks to me that I’m often left with entire pages underlined and margins filled with thoughts.”
• Sam Altman
• Naval Ravikant
• Lex Fridman
• John Piper
• Joe Rogan
• Jack Dorsey: “Finished reading”
• Chip Conley
• Austen Allred
• Anna Kendrick
• Adam Robinson
• Ryan Holiday
• David Heinemeier Hansson: “In that sense, it's equally powerful, and perhaps even more inspiring, than The Manual.”
• Fareed Zakaria: “Let’s start with Wen Jiabao’s real favorite, the “Meditations” of Marcus Aurelius, the Roman emperor in the second century A.D.”