Meditations (Special Edition)

By Marcus Aurelius

Book Overview

Discover Marcus Aurelius's Meditations with this exquisite edition from Union Square & Co.'s Signature Gilded Editions series The stunning Meditations special edition features sprayed edges, color end pages, a built-in ribbon bookmark, and embossed foil cover. The beautiful design and attention to detail set this special edition book apart, whether you're reading for the first time or building a library of your favorite Stoic philosophy books.

Unhappy am I, because this has happened to me--Not so, but happy am I, though this has happened to me, because I continue free from pain, neither crushed by the present nor fearing the future. For such a thing as this might have happened to every man; but every man would not have continued free from pain on such an occasion. Why then is that rather a misfortune than this a good fortune?
--Book IV, 49

Meditations is a collection of personal writings, ruminations, and reflections by the second-century Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius, composed during his reign from AD 161 to 180. Though not formally published during his lifetime, these reflections on Stoic philosophy and the nature of existence have since been compiled into one of the most influential works of ancient philosophy. It is a spiritual journal of the author's philosophical exercises and a chronicle of the paradox of the philosopher-king, who must enforce the law and administer justice while looking beyond politics to the cosmic vantage point from which the tribulations of politics come to seem trivial.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1454957271
• ISBN13: 9781454957270
• Release Date: October 2024
• Publisher: Union Square & Co.
• Length: 192 Pages
• Weight: 0.35 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 5.2" x 7.2"

Customer Reviews

Best book I’ve read!

This book helped change my perspective on life. Helped me to find a more positive mindset and allows me to fight everyday struggles more easily. If the most powerful man in the world battled his inner demons and won, I can too!

Fast Shipping, Exact Condition As Described

Shipping much faster than expected, and the book came in the exact condition as expected. This is my favorite translation of Meditations so far! Easy to read and comprehend, but still elegant.

2000 year old wisdom at your fingertips

I couldn't help chuckling and nodding my head continually while reading Marcus' Meditations. His thoughts and life principles can be seen as repetitious through out Meditations (the books within it pretty much cover the same territory over and over, but actually cement his views firmly within your mind)yet they will give you great pause and reflection upon your own life. I can't think of any better primer for living in today's crazed, money-obsessed, celebrity-driven and unbelievably shallow world. He is a Stoic by definition, of course, but the man really knew the world and Man all too well and he would find no surprise in the opinionated, self-righteous nature of the 21st century. It's a short book, but is best read slowly and savored intellectually. I couldn't help but feel that all the Tony Robbins, Eckhard Tolles, Wayne Dyers, Deepok Chopras and Dr's Phils of our silly world pale next to his simple, yet solid principles and to some degree their books are derivitive of Aurelius' work. Highly recommended! I never reread books - there are too many wanting my time, but I will do so with this one. In truth it's a startling honest and insightful book of how to run your life and should be stuck in your backpack or suitcase for those times when you lose your patience with people, grow disillusioned and world-weary, or just want to travel back through time and communicate with a man that actually ran the entire Western World for a while, a man who took never took himself or the trappings of the world all that seriously.

A timeless meditation book for anyone

Here is a great book of meditations for both believers and atheists. Marcus Aurelius was emperor of Rome with an unfaithful wife, a worthless son, and the duties of leading an army for 13 years in what is now Germany. Trying to cheer and console himself in the middle of a desolate area, he wrote down what he remembered of the Stoic philosophy which he had studied. His thoughts are inspiring and provoking. This is the book you want with you when life becomes tough. As Marcus' view of god is a pantheistic one, anyone can profit from his thoughts, whether atheist or believer. A book to read ever few years. Highly recommended.