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.
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.
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Find A Guide to the Good Life William B. Irvine in PDF, EPUB, ebook, audiobook, print, or library editions.
Find A Guide to the Good Life William B. Irvine in PDF, EPUB, ebook, audiobook, print, or library editions.
2 books in catalog
Practical applications of ancient Stoic philosophy offer accessible strategies for managing modern stress, emotional turbulence, and unexpected life setbacks. Works like A Guide to the Good Life have been instrumental in leading a contemporary Stoic renaissance by translating classic Hellenistic teachings into clear habits for daily tranquility.
Authored by William B. Irvine, these writings bridge historical philosophy with psychological insights to help readers build resilience, master desire, and cultivate reasoned thinking in daily life.
William B. Irvine spent his childhood moving across mining communities in Montana, Nevada, Minnesota, and Tocopilla, Chile, as his father worked as a construction engineer for the Anaconda Copper Company. He began his early schooling in a two-room schoolhouse before earning a Bachelor of Arts in mathematics and philosophy from the University of Michigan, followed by an MA and PhD in philosophy. Irvine subsequently built his academic career at Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio, where he served as a professor and later emeritus professor of philosophy.
Throughout his career, Irvine expanded his reach beyond academia by contributing articles to public outlets such as the Wall Street Journal, Time, Salon, the Huffington Post, and the BBC. He has authored several influential books that have been translated into more than twenty languages, establishing him as a prominent public philosopher.
Irvine's writing style is characterized by clear, actionable prose that synthesizes ancient Hellenistic philosophy—particularly Stoicism—with modern psychological research. His work emphasizes structured, evidence-based reasoning over emotional reactions, guiding readers on how to overcome cognitive biases, process insults, handle life setbacks, and examine the psychological roots of human desire.
2 books in catalog
Practical applications of ancient Stoic philosophy offer accessible strategies for managing modern stress, emotional turbulence, and unexpected life setbacks. Works like A Guide to the Good Life have been instrumental in leading a contemporary Stoic renaissance by translating classic Hellenistic teachings into clear habits for daily tranquility.
Authored by William B. Irvine, these writings bridge historical philosophy with psychological insights to help readers build resilience, master desire, and cultivate reasoned thinking in daily life.
William B. Irvine spent his childhood moving across mining communities in Montana, Nevada, Minnesota, and Tocopilla, Chile, as his father worked as a construction engineer for the Anaconda Copper Company. He began his early schooling in a two-room schoolhouse before earning a Bachelor of Arts in mathematics and philosophy from the University of Michigan, followed by an MA and PhD in philosophy. Irvine subsequently built his academic career at Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio, where he served as a professor and later emeritus professor of philosophy.
Throughout his career, Irvine expanded his reach beyond academia by contributing articles to public outlets such as the Wall Street Journal, Time, Salon, the Huffington Post, and the BBC. He has authored several influential books that have been translated into more than twenty languages, establishing him as a prominent public philosopher.
Irvine's writing style is characterized by clear, actionable prose that synthesizes ancient Hellenistic philosophy—particularly Stoicism—with modern psychological research. His work emphasizes structured, evidence-based reasoning over emotional reactions, guiding readers on how to overcome cognitive biases, process insults, handle life setbacks, and examine the psychological roots of human desire.
