Stoicism and the Art of Happiness

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1. 0xmattfFeb 2026
   Honestly, most modern books on Stoicism read like that; I tend to avoid them altogether. Although I will say that Donald Robertson has done a great job with the two books I've read of his (Stoicism and the Art of Happiness, How to Think Like a Roman Emperor).

   The best modern book, in my opinion, is Pierre Hadot's The Inner Citadel. It's primarily about Marcus Aurelius' Meditations, but does a really good deep-dive into Stoicism (and frequently mentions other Stoics).

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2. rkallosSep 2022
   Marcus Aurelius's Meditations is a wonderful guide on how to apply various principles of Stoicism, especially principles around cultivating resilience in the face of circumstances beyond one's control.

   However, to read only Meditations and go on to make claims about the philosophy as a whole is a bad idea that ignores hundreds of years worth of philosophers who also contributed to Stoicism.

   For those interested in a more broad treatment of Stoicism, a wonderful follow-up to Meditations is Donald J. Robertson's Stoicism and the Art of Happiness

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3. ppsMar 2022
   Sertraline (prescribed by psychiatrist) + Stoicism (Stoicism and the Art of Happiness by Donald Robertson is a good intro, if you're interested)
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4. tejinderssFeb 2019
   If you are interested in stoicism, 'stoicism and the art of happiness' is a good book
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5. slazaroOct 2018
   I'd go against the grain and recommend reading a modern book that's more guided and more of an overview, before reading the classics (which are great and very approachable!). A Guide to the Good Life, for instance, or Stoicism and the Art of Happiness.
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6. FrojoSDec 2017
   I do not agree with your first sentences. You can work hard without being insane. In fact you can decide to work very hard based on reason. 'Teach Yourself Stoicism and the Art of Happiness' by Donald J. Robertson is a great introduction.

   > You have to have faith that your grit will achieve those goals and pray to the gods of achievement everyday

   Having faith, that your grit will achieve your goals is also sort of insane. It's irrational for sure. Whether you achieve a goal or not is out of your control. All you can and should do is to try your best.

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