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3.96 AVERAGE
3.96 AVERAGE
challenging
informative
reflective
fast-paced
hopeful
informative
inspiring
fast-paced
informative
reflective
medium-paced
Po svemu sudeći, Seneka je bio nešto kao lajf kouč antičkog Rima.
Jedan od osnivača stoicizma, njegova filozofija je vrlo zdravorazumska i uglavnom se svodi, barem u esejima prisutnim u ovoj knjižici, na pokušaj razumevanja ljudskog odnosa prema vremenu i sopstvenim životima. Iako mu je svaka apsolutno na mestu, a glas elokventan i nekako nežan, ne mogu da kažem da sam nešto oduševljen, pošto te ideje uglavnom ne pripadaju baš naročito visoko intelektualnom spektru filozofije. Kao što rekoh, sasvim zdravorazumski. A i mišljenja sam da filozofija nije za čitanje, već za (uživu) diskusiju.
Ono što me je vuklo kroz knjigu i što mi je bilo beskrajno interesantnije od same ideologije stoicizma, jeste prikaz jednog antičkog naroda (i njegovih mana, načina života itd.) koji je IDENTIČAN našem. A ma apsolutno sve je isto. Što bi rekli, isto sranje, drugo (podjednako bušno) pakovanje. Koliko je zapravo poražavajuće shvatiti da se za dve hiljade godina nazovi evolucije ništa nije dogodilo. Mislim da smo čak i gori. Trudim se da ne budem cinik, ali svi znamo kako je stari Rim završio.
3
Jedan od osnivača stoicizma, njegova filozofija je vrlo zdravorazumska i uglavnom se svodi, barem u esejima prisutnim u ovoj knjižici, na pokušaj razumevanja ljudskog odnosa prema vremenu i sopstvenim životima. Iako mu je svaka apsolutno na mestu, a glas elokventan i nekako nežan, ne mogu da kažem da sam nešto oduševljen, pošto te ideje uglavnom ne pripadaju baš naročito visoko intelektualnom spektru filozofije. Kao što rekoh, sasvim zdravorazumski. A i mišljenja sam da filozofija nije za čitanje, već za (uživu) diskusiju.
Ono što me je vuklo kroz knjigu i što mi je bilo beskrajno interesantnije od same ideologije stoicizma, jeste prikaz jednog antičkog naroda (i njegovih mana, načina života itd.) koji je IDENTIČAN našem. A ma apsolutno sve je isto. Što bi rekli, isto sranje, drugo (podjednako bušno) pakovanje. Koliko je zapravo poražavajuće shvatiti da se za dve hiljade godina nazovi evolucije ništa nije dogodilo. Mislim da smo čak i gori. Trudim se da ne budem cinik, ali svi znamo kako je stari Rim završio.
3
Great gift from Coach and Wacky. Some great and relevant observations about life, how we spend our time, how we make our minds gentle.
I knew Seneca’s basic philosophy going into this and was still left thinking "but have you ever heard of having fun though?" every couple of pages.
On the Shortness of Life: A stoic slap in the face from Seneca that basically says, "Hey, you're wasting your life scrolling through Instagram, and you know it." Three stars for wisdom, but also for making me question every decision I’ve ever made.
This tiny book packs a punch, like a philosophical espresso shot. Seneca spends a lot of time yelling at ancient Romans (and by extension, us) about how we squander our lives on meaningless pursuits—like, I don’t know, doom-scrolling or debating which Taylor’s Version album is the best. He makes solid points, though. Life is short, and we probably shouldn’t spend it binge-watching reality TV while saying, “I’ll start that project tomorrow.”
But here’s the thing: Seneca is a little too good at pointing out all the ways we’re messing up. Reading this feels like getting a motivational speech from your grumpy grandfather who secretly knows he’s right. It’s all, “Don’t waste time on trivial stuff,” while you’re sitting there thinking, “Okay, but how does binge-reading the same book series 12 times fit into this framework, Seneca?”
There’s wisdom here, sure, but it’s also drenched in the smug tone of a guy who definitely would have had a “No One Works Harder Than Me” bumper sticker on his chariot. He’s got all these lofty ideas about dedicating your life to philosophy and virtue, but honestly, how many of us are quitting our day jobs to go full Stoic? Exactly.
Also, the dude lived in ancient Rome. If you think we waste time, imagine what Seneca would’ve said about gladiator fights or arguing about whose bust looks better in the forum.
Final verdict? This book is a quick read that will make you feel bad about your procrastination habits but not quite bad enough to change them. Worth picking up if you enjoy existential guilt trips with a side of wisdom. Just don’t expect it to transform you overnight—unless you’re Seneca-level disciplined, in which case, why are you even here?
This tiny book packs a punch, like a philosophical espresso shot. Seneca spends a lot of time yelling at ancient Romans (and by extension, us) about how we squander our lives on meaningless pursuits—like, I don’t know, doom-scrolling or debating which Taylor’s Version album is the best. He makes solid points, though. Life is short, and we probably shouldn’t spend it binge-watching reality TV while saying, “I’ll start that project tomorrow.”
But here’s the thing: Seneca is a little too good at pointing out all the ways we’re messing up. Reading this feels like getting a motivational speech from your grumpy grandfather who secretly knows he’s right. It’s all, “Don’t waste time on trivial stuff,” while you’re sitting there thinking, “Okay, but how does binge-reading the same book series 12 times fit into this framework, Seneca?”
There’s wisdom here, sure, but it’s also drenched in the smug tone of a guy who definitely would have had a “No One Works Harder Than Me” bumper sticker on his chariot. He’s got all these lofty ideas about dedicating your life to philosophy and virtue, but honestly, how many of us are quitting our day jobs to go full Stoic? Exactly.
Also, the dude lived in ancient Rome. If you think we waste time, imagine what Seneca would’ve said about gladiator fights or arguing about whose bust looks better in the forum.
Final verdict? This book is a quick read that will make you feel bad about your procrastination habits but not quite bad enough to change them. Worth picking up if you enjoy existential guilt trips with a side of wisdom. Just don’t expect it to transform you overnight—unless you’re Seneca-level disciplined, in which case, why are you even here?
Fantastic. In our time of excess and preoccupation, it is good to remember that life isn't short but it is made short by not living it to the fullest. Read this!
Most of the book is an excellent call to action, a gut wrenching diagnosis of our terminal condition and a brilliant destruction of all the perennially common ways of trying to find a way around this fact. The conclusion is bizarrely flimsy, essentially retire early and enjoy yourself. This doesn't solve the problem, and it just isn't available to the vast majority of us. It's a short book and we'll worth reading regardless.
