One of the great fears many of us face is that despite all our effort and striving, we will discover at the end that we have wasted our life.

In A Guide to the Good Life, William B. Irvine plumbs the wisdom of Stoic philosophy, one of the most popular and successful schools of thought in ancient Rome, and shows how its insight and advice are still remarkably applicable to modern lives. In A Guide to the Good Life, Irvine offers a refreshing presentation of Stoicism, showing how this ancient philosophy can still direct us toward a better life.

Using the psychological insights and the practical techniques of the Stoics, Irvine offers a roadmap for anyone seeking to avoid the feelings of chronic dissatisfaction that plague so many of us. Irvine looks at various Stoic techniques for attaining tranquility and shows how to put these techniques to work in our own life. As he does so, he describes his own experiences practicing Stoicism and offers valuable first-hand advice for anyone wishing to live better by following in the footsteps of these ancient philosophers. Readers learn how to minimize worry, how to let go of the past and focus our efforts on the things we can control, and how to deal with insults, grief, old age, and the distracting temptations of fame and fortune. We learn from Marcus Aurelius the importance of prizing only things of true value, and from Epictetus we learn how to be more content with what we have.

Finally, A Guide to the Good Life shows readers how to become thoughtful observers of their own life. If we watch ourselves as we go about our daily business and later reflect on what we saw, we can better identify the sources of distress and eventually avoid that pain in our life. By doing this, the Stoics thought, we can hope to attain a truly joyful life.

Introduction

 

Part One: The Rise of Stoicism

The Birth of Philosophy

The First Stoics

The Roman Stoics

 

Part Two: Stoic Psychological Techniques

Negative Visualization: What's the Worst That Can Happen?

The Dichotomy of Control: On Becoming Invincible

Fatalism: Letting Go of the Past . . . and the Present

Self-Denial: On Dealing with the Dark Side of Pleasure

Meditation: Watching Ourselves Practice Stoicism

 

Part Three: Stoic Advice

Duty: On Loving Mankind

Social Relations: On Dealing with Other People

Insults: On Putting Up with Put-Downs

Grief: On Conquering Tears with Reason

Anger: On Overcoming Anti-Joy

Personal Values: On Seeking Fame

Personal Values: On Luxurious Living

Exile: On Surviving a Change of Place

Old Age: On Being Banished to a Nursing Home

Dying: On a Good End to a Good Life

On Becoming a Stoic: Start Now and Prepare to Be Mocked

 

Part Four: Stoicism for Modern Living

The Anti-Stoics

Stoicism Reconsidered

Practicing Stoicism

A Stoic Reading Program

Notes

Works Cited

"Irvine's intended audience is nonphilosophers, but everyone can profit from his clear presentation on the benefits of using philosophical doctrines to live a meaningful life."--Library Journal |k No