Discourses and Selected Writings

By: Epictetus, Robert Dobbin

Narrated by: Richard Goulding

Length: 8 hrs and 51 mins

Publisher's Summary

Brought to you by Penguin. 

This Penguin Classic is performed by Richard Goulding, best known for Me Before You, The Iron Lady and The Windsors.

Epictetus, a Greek stoic and freed slave, ran a thriving philosophy school in Nicropolis in the early second century AD. His animated discussions were celebrated for their rhetorical wizardry and were written down by Arrian, his most famous pupil. Together with the Enchiridion, a manual of his main ideas, and the fragments collected here, The Discourses argue that happiness lies in learning to perceive exactly what is in our power to change and what is not, and in embracing our fate to live in harmony with god and nature. In this personal, practical guide to the ethics of stoicism and moral self-improvement, Epictetus tackles questions of freedom and imprisonment, illness and fear, family, friendship and love, and leaves an intriguing document of daily life in the classical world.

Public Domain (P)2021 Penguin Audio

Outstanding Audible Title and performance

First off, I was delighted when this edition finally made it to Audible but to my greater surprise, the combination of such terrific narrator with Epictetus' brilliant work makes for a remarkably immersive experience. If you are new to Epictetus, I would strongly suggest you start with The Enchiridion. To get an insight into the ultimate goal of Stoic philosophy, as a way of life vs theoretical knowledge, listen first to Discourse 4.1 On Progress.

thanks pewdiepie

this was a straightforward fascinating next step in my discovery of these truths. glad I read.

Incredible

when people say "life doesn't come with a handbook" I'll know they haven't read discourses.

Stoicism in it's time

I'm enjoying these deposits of Wisdom. I just have to remind myself that a few of the things he discusses are more about Christian morality then philosophy

hits hard

these writings are near 2000 years old. the fact that they make more sense and have a more impactful meaning to me than most modern readings on philosophy is astounding. Epictetus speaks to the common man and the scholar all at once. these are words to love by.

Excellent Translation, Excellent Narration

Nuff said in the title. Only one strike against this version- it’s the “selected” writings, not the complete. Try the Naxos recording for completeness.

Finally a stoic that makes sense

An interesting book to listen too. Was recommended Epictetus since I did not find the other Stoics coherent or just not well thought. Marcus Aurelius and some modern Silicon Valley types simply seems to shallow.

Here are the real explanations to thoughts like why a free person close to Nero is still not much more than a slave, and also the cases were you really should not be so strict to let everyone take advantage of you.

I did have some problems with a bit advanced English (it’s not my mother tongue) from time to time. There were also a few words that seemed quite new and maybe not used in Greece.
At some parts I lost my concentration while driving, and now I wonder if I missed something really interesting and need to go back ;-)

Anyway, the way these ideas has affect christianity is paramount and also discussed a little at the last comment chapter which was nice to have to be able to put everything into a bigger context.

Listen

Mental note haven. This is a listen that opens perspective and gives insight on ways of thinking that promotes free thought. Escape reality and embark on hint of self reflection, accountability, and relatability.

Amazing Narrator

Such an easy book to listen to.. I finished this audio book 3 times in the past 2 months. I play it when I drive and when I lay down for sleep. Kudos to the voice guy

Every moment was stellar

Such profound wisdom on every page. Narration is done well too. Will be coming back

Excellent starting point

My first book on philosophy. I had heard of being stoic and the usual stern, wise and quiet person came to mind. Then I watched PewDiePie do a summary on stoicism and said I'd give it a read, it looked like a way of thinking I would be interested in. It's surreal to think a man living in ancient Rome, an ancient civilisation filled with ancient gods, slaves and the setting for some of my favourite films growing up would have so much knowledge that is applicable to me, an Irish man living in 2021 and the age of social media. I would recommend it to anyone struggling with their own values, virtues, vices and path in life.

Fantastic, Epictetus on demand!

I have been studying the Stoic philosophy seriously for the last eight months and it has transformed my life. I had an older translation of the Discourses but a lot of the passages were quite obscure. This newer translation is much clearer for the modern reader.
This audiobook is fantastic, the narration is spot on and listening to the works take it to a whole new level and complements the written material incredibly well. The discourses after all are lectures compiled by one of Epictetus student, and this audio version immerses you into what of his classes may have felt back in the day.
Amazon also did a good job of listing each individual discourse so I can always get to your favourites quite easily. The Enchiridion is provided as one single chapter though but that's ok.

Excellent introduction to Stoicism

Enjoyable listen with some light hearted takes on stoicism which are excellently relayed by the narrator. Particularly enjoyed Epictetus’s simple but effective narrative which for a beginner I believe was easier to grasp than Marcus Aurelius Meditations.

Spot on

As fresh today as the time of Trajan -- just so true in his analysis of human nature

a must read,

really great book full of ideas, most of the chapters are quite short so the whole book seemed to fly by, I would really recommend