A deluxe special edition of the ancient classic written by the Roman
Emperor known as "The Philosopher"
Meditations is a series of personal journals written by Marcus
Aurelius*,* Emperor of Rome from 169 to 180 AD. The last of the "Five
Good Emperors," he was the most powerful and influential man in the
Western world at the time. Marcus was one of the leaders of Stoicism, a
philosophy of personal ethics which sought resilience and virtue through
personal action and responsibility. Stoicism, viewed as a foundation of
modern self-help, has inspired many personal development and
psychotherapy approaches through to the present day.
Meditations is perhaps the most important source of our modern
understanding of Stoic philosophy. Its twelve books chronicle different
stages of Marcus Aurelius' life and ideas. Although he ruled during the
Pax Romana, the age of relative peace and stability throughout the
empire, his reign was marked by near-constant military conflict and a
devastating plague which killed upwards of five million people.
Aurelius' writings give modern readers an unprecedented look into the
"spiritual exercises" which helped him through his tumultuous life and
strengthened his patience, empathy, generosity, self-knowledge and
emotional health. The private reflections recorded in the Meditations
were never meant to be published, rather they were a source for Marcus'
own guidance and self-improvement, and jotted down by campfires or in
military tents on the Roman front. The lessons, insights and
perspectives contained within this remarkable work are just as relevant
today as they were two millennia ago. This volume:
- Presents the timeless wisdom of Emperor Marcus Aurelius and his Stoic
philosophy, with new research on his life and times
- Contains valuable insights on topics such as resilience, moderation
and emotional control
- Discusses how to live "in agreement with nature" and abide by strong
ethical principles
Part of the bestselling Capstone Classics Series edited by Tom
Butler-Bowdon*,* this attractive, high-quality hardcover volume
includes:
- An original Introduction by Marcus Aurelius authority and Stoicism
expert Donald Robertson, author of How To Think Like A Roman
Emperor.
- A modernised, up to date version of the classic George Long
translation.
Meditations: The Philosophy Classic is a volume which will occupy a
prominent place in any library for years to come.
