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raulmazilu's review
4.0
Perhaps more actual than ever, Epictetus' speech decries the attachment to material goods. Instead, Epictetus proposes a life of freedom and independence.
Were it a self-help book, it would probably bear the title "How to eliminate the pressure you willingly impose on yourself when you attach undue value to that which, in reality, is dependent on external factors".
The short sketches, set against a background of everyday Greek life, offer practical advice. In a manner similar to Viktor Frankl and in a more general sense, to Buddhism, they drum home, every couple pages, one particular message: the only factors you have control over are your own attitudes and conduct. It is therefore pointless, claims Epictetus, to worry about matters such as reputation, gains or losses, for they exceed one's control.
Were it a self-help book, it would probably bear the title "How to eliminate the pressure you willingly impose on yourself when you attach undue value to that which, in reality, is dependent on external factors".
The short sketches, set against a background of everyday Greek life, offer practical advice. In a manner similar to Viktor Frankl and in a more general sense, to Buddhism, they drum home, every couple pages, one particular message: the only factors you have control over are your own attitudes and conduct. It is therefore pointless, claims Epictetus, to worry about matters such as reputation, gains or losses, for they exceed one's control.
nova996's review against another edition
challenging
funny
hopeful
informative
reflective
slow-paced
3.25
s_books's review
3.0
This book contains the Discourses, Handbook, and Fragments of Epictetus (really things that Epictetus said compiled by his student Arrian) but of the three, even though it takes up most of the book, the Discourses is probably the least useful if you want to get to the heart of Epictetus's thoughts. A lot of the discourses feels repetitive, even though the exact topics aren't repeated while the Handbook covers the same main topics much more quickly and cleanly. Really you could just read the Handbook and the Fragments to get the gist of Epcitetus's philosophy which is mainly that our thoughts and opinions are the only thing we really have control over so they are the only thing we should focus on -- if we do that, nothing in life will be bothersome to us; if you have no wants or desires than you can never be disappointed and even your body is not your own. This is obviously a hard philosophy to follow at any time of history but it seems especially hard as there are more and more people in the world and the world becomes more and more connected...if I keep myself from having any wants whatsoever, am I really engaging in the world? Am I really living? And how does one even make a living and afford the basic necessities of life with no wants whatsoever? Epictetus does not really answer these questions but he does not appear to have really considered them since he was a man of some property (or at least, by how often he talks about dealing with slaves it appears that he had them and thus didn't need to work for his basic necessities) who was exiled from Rome (and thus someone separated from the main concerns of such a life that most people in his day and age would have faced). An interesting philosophy though, since it seems similar to the Buddhist belief of not wanting it might be better to read works regarding that, though that would be approaching the problem from a spiritual and not a philosophical point of view -- the two are not mutually exclusive but can be somewhat different.
fran3's review
4.0
Thé best sections i found to be:
- On Indifference: Book 2
- On Freedom: Book 3
- What is the substance of good?: Book 2
Enchiridion was so interesting and so insightful.
I think it’s interesting that when we are to think about stoicism we automatically associate it with the male strata of philosophy when in actuality the ideals surrounding stoic attitudes perfectly align themselves with the socio-symbolic identification of femininity.
- On Indifference: Book 2
- On Freedom: Book 3
- What is the substance of good?: Book 2
Enchiridion was so interesting and so insightful.
I think it’s interesting that when we are to think about stoicism we automatically associate it with the male strata of philosophy when in actuality the ideals surrounding stoic attitudes perfectly align themselves with the socio-symbolic identification of femininity.
thiago's review
3.0
Meh. Seneca discusses the same principles but in a much more straightforward style (and with fewer religious and conceptual detours).
vasil_dedov's review
4.0
"For remember this general truth, that it is we who squeeze ourselves, who put ourselves in straits; that is, our opinions squeeze us and put us in straits. For what is it to be reviled? Stand by a stone and revile it, and what will you gain? If then a man listens like a stone, what profit is there to the reviler? But if the reviler has as a stepping-stone (or ladder) the weakness of him who is reviled, then he accomplishes something. Strip him. What do you mean by him? Lay hold of his garment, strip it off."
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