How to Keep Your Cool

An Ancient Guide to Anger Management

By: Seneca, James S. Romm - translator

Narrated by: P.J. Ochlan

Length: 2 hrs and 4 mins

Publisher's summary

In his essay On Anger (De Ira), the Roman Stoic thinker Seneca (c. 4 BC-AD 65) argues that anger is the most destructive passion: "No plague has cost the human race more dear." This was proved by his own life, which he barely preserved under one wrathful emperor, Caligula, and lost under a second, Nero. This splendid new translation of essential selections from On Anger, presented with an enlightening introduction, offers listeners a timeless guide to avoiding and managing anger.  

Drawing on his great arsenal of rhetoric, including historical examples (especially from Caligula's horrific reign), anecdotes, quips, and soaring flights of eloquence, Seneca builds his case against anger with mounting intensity. Like a fire-and-brimstone preacher, he paints a grim picture of the moral perils to which anger exposes us, tracing nearly all the world's evils to this one toxic source. But he then uplifts us with a beatific vision of the alternate path, a path of forgiveness and compassion that resonates with Christian and Buddhist ethics.

Seneca's thoughts on anger have never been more relevant than today, when uncivil discourse has increasingly infected public debate. Whether seeking personal growth or political renewal, listeners will find, in Seneca's wisdom, a valuable antidote to the ills of an angry age.

©2019 Princeton University Press (P)2019 HighBridge, a division of Recorded Books

Great title

This is a very interesting book that is a necessity in today’s fast paced world.

Lessons from philosophy.

A worthy reinforcement of stoic bearing. If you like to listen to affirmations and are looking for ways to better yourself, like me, you'll probably enjoy this book. The narrator pleasantly delivers the content with clarity from start to end. I would listen to it again.

Mastering Your Emotions

In his essay “On Anger,” Seneca describes in three books how to recognize and control anger and what happens if you don’t. This wisdom is timeless and applies to Plutarch’s time as well as today. In these essays, Seneca discusses:
• What anger is, how to recognize it, and what harm it causes
• How to stop anger and how to manage it
• How anger starts and what it can become
• How to not get angry and how to cure another’s anger
I will be referring to this book as well as the “On Anger” essay again and again.

Great introduction to self-awareness

Good stories describing how people have kept their cool in tough situations. Their perspectives about anger, self-control, and empathy are helpful examples that help nurture positivism.

Quick listen, worth it

What it lacked in depth and substance was countered by powerful quotes. Man... A+

Timeless advice on how to deal with anger. Be mindful that this is a chopped off version of the original though.

In this essay Seneca first explains why anger is a harmful passion and then next he lays out helpful strategies to reign over it. I thought this series reproduced the original essay On Anger, but rather it contains only parts of it. Still the wisdom contained here will be helpful for anyone who wants to maintain their tranquility in the face of unhealthy emotions.

Solid content, terrible narration

It's great content, I mean, it's Seneca! But it's being read by what might be an android with nasal issues. I think this robot is sick. Avoid.

It helps

Good wisdom
In a short time
A lot of gen z needs to hear this

Seneca how to keep your cool 😎

I really enjoyed all the books in this series. I want to say thank you to all the translators of these old texts. The world would be a much better place if we took the heart, the teaching the Seneca offers.

Quick Listen, with some useful seeds

This is a selected summary of Seneca's writing on anger. The text quotes from Seneca's works and then explains or expands on the quote.

So, to me it was a good introduction to Seneca's work.

You won't be transformed by this audibook overnight, but it does plant several seeds that will hopefully (with additional love and care) grow into real changes in how you react in the world.

The narration was somewhat boring and monotonous. But the audiobook is so short that it's not that bad overall.