A Guide to the Good Life

The Ancient Art of Stoic Joy

De: William B. Irvine

Narrado por: James Patrick Cronin

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. Listeners 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 listeners how to become thoughtful observers of their own lives. 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.

©2009 William B. Irvine (P)2013 Audible, Inc.

Excellent contemporary view of stoicism

Great book explaining stoicism in a contemporary way.
It reads very smoothly. Well structured and the author presents the concepts in a way relevant to our days.
I particularly liked the ending when justifies stoicism from an evolutionary point of view. This is a nice contribution of the author.
I also liked the personal experience of the author while practicing stoicism.
Finally it suggests some further reading.
Very interesting book. Accessible. The author makes the points very clear in my opinion.
I like the narrator too. Not too slow (like others I have heard).
Great book. Thanks.

A Professor's Professor

Being a Hegelian, I simply took Hegel's treatment of Stoic Philosophy, as most have, as nothing other than a withdrawal from the exhausting "Master-Slave" struggle. However, Professor Irvine takes Stoicism as a more positive response to the pressures of objectivity upon subjectivity, and rather than exchanging and equating the terms "rational and real" sets about to stress the "rational" aspect -- in which rationality is taken as the ground for that which is ultimately desired -- a state of "Tranquility";-- a higher and more active state of consciousness than simple Buddhistic withdrawal. Irvine's reformation of the common view of Stoicism is very coherent and compelling, and he manages to cast his study into an intelligently popular tone, without it being compromised. His treatment of Stoicism could well be taken as the philosophical framework for Cognitive Behaviorist Therapy Here, it might be added that his personal values, expressed in a few anecdotes, reveal him as a contemporary "Sage" of Stoic philosophy -- in short, he is more than an mere observer and recorder of Stoicism. Irvine's work is a "must read" for those who think that philosophy, and particularly classic philosophy, is a dead issue. This is hardly the case. Incidentally, Cronin's reading is perfect.

Stoicism does not mean being stoic!

He talk about it in the book but it's important to note so you can give it a chance. If nothing else this book has opened me up to other philosophies that I'll be investigating. Can't recommend enough!

I've found it helpful.

I've found it helpful. And useful to a modern life. Just what I've needed. Thanks.

A rare praise

I rarely bother to write a review of a book/audiobook, even when I really like them. I have purchased and listened repeatedly to about a dozen Stoic audiobooks, and this one (A Guide to the Good Life) has been the one of the most rewarding, and certainly the more enlightening. Specifically, I was well aware of the Stoic mind techniques, but I have never heard such a great rational for them. That insight was just an example of the several invaluable ones contained in this audiobook. Generally, Stoicism is a priceless gem of technology from 3000 years ago, more so than most people realize with the imminent arrival of radical life extension. The ability to gain mental resilience and joy will mean, not a few decade utilitarian improvement, but open the door to a several century one, and dare I say possibly enable it! Most people do not want to live longer than their "allotted" 80 years, and most look forward to the natural end. But, to use a metaphor, if it hurts to ride a bike, you are probably riding it wrong. Stoicism, I am convinced, is the "life philosophy" (I personally would describe it by a different term, that of "psychological technology") of the future, and this audiobook is one of the top gems I've found when studying it like my life depends upon it (because it likely does).

A great primer on living as a stoic.

I fully enjoyed this book and I am already applying it in my life. Excellent!

incredible layout of the philosophy!

narrator at the start sounds like he hasnt read philosophy aloud, but it gets better

Great introduction to stoic philosophy

Loved it, author does a good job at providing an introduction to how Stoicism began and developed over time. I truly liked how he describes ways that stoic principles can be applied to modern life and he is quite modest to admit that it might not be for everyone.

Excellent! I even bought a hard copy.

This book was great! I even bought the hard copy. Narrator was wonderful. Buy this book.

Best book on stoicism I have ever read

This is a hand book on how to implement stoicism into the modern life. exactly what I was looking for.