A review by jodumagpi
Meditations by Marcus Aurelius

5.0

I try to avoid looking into other people's work/journal/diary unless I am asked to. I do not trust people who casually do this, mainly because it shows disrespect and disregard for the other party's privacy. Upon initially reading this book, I felt somewhat invasive of someone's privacy. I'm reading journal entries from one of the previous emperors of Rome, where he is vulnerable and critical of himself. Later, I heard my voice on the pages I'm reading. Even one of the most powerful man of his time had similar doubts and frustrations as me, a simple lowly life (lol). I found comfort in his self-reassuring words. I have intense anxieties when it comes to death, which is probably due to my vanity. This book just stripped me off of these vanities and humbled me. Marcus Aurelius is the epitome of a Stoic. Though not a definitive guide to Stoicism, I think this book is a good introduction to the Stoic way of life. I still have a long way to go with understanding, learning and practicing Stoicism but I'm glad the journey started with this book.