Book Highlights
This page will be updated with highlights from books I’ve read. They may be directly related to Stoicism or they may simply be compatible with cultivating a Stoic mindset.
I’ll share a very brief summary of each book, my top highlights, and an Amazon (affiliate) link if you’d like to check it out for yourself. I don’t intend to rate the books – simply having it on this list means I’ve found value in it and would recommend it.
For a full Stoic reading list, you can check out this page for a comprehensive collection.
How to Think Like a Roman Emperor – Donald Robertson
Donald Robertson weaves the life and philosophy of Marcus Aurelius together seamlessly to provide a compelling modern-day guide to Stoic wisdom. A fantastic combination of Stoic theory and practical techniques.
Read my highlights, or check out the Amazon page.
Lessons in Stoicism – John Sellars
John Sellars explains the key ideas of the three great Roman Stoics, with snapshots of their fascinating lives, to show us how their ideas can help us today. A great introductory book for beginners.
Read my highlights, or check out the Amazon page.
A Guide to the Good Life – William B Irvine
Irvine offers a refreshing presentation of Stoicism, showing how this ancient philosophy can still direct us toward a better life. The first book I read on Stoicism.
Read my highlights, or check out the Amazon page.
The Obstacle Is The Way – Ryan Holiday
Inspired by Marcus Aurelius’s line, “The impediment to action advances action. What stands in the way becomes the way”, this book looks at how to turn every new obstacle into an opportunity to get better.
Read my highlights, or check out the Amazon page.
Ego Is The Enemy – Ryan Holiday
This book looks at how and why ego is such a powerful internal opponent to be guarded against at all stages of our careers and lives.
Read my highlights, or check out the Amazon page.
The Stoic Challenge – William B Irvine
‘The Stoic Challenge is a beautifully engaging account of how to approach life with a particular gem of Stoic wisdom as your guide.’ – Donald Robertson
Read my highlights, or check out the Amazon page.
Courage Under Fire – James B Stockdale
Jim Stockdale’s writings have been many and varied, but all converge on the central theme of how man can rise with dignity to prevail in the face of adversity.
Read my highlights, or check out the Amazon page.
The Practicing Stoic – Ward Farnsworth
See more clearly, live more wisely, and bear the burdens of this life with greater ease―here are the greatest insights of the Stoics, in their own words, presented in twelve lessons.
Read my highlights, or check out the Amazon page.
Stoic Warriors – Nancy Sherman
Stoic Warriors explores what the Stoic philosophy actually is, the role it plays in the character of the military, and its powerful value as a philosophy of life.
Read my highlights, or check out the Amazon page.
Man’s Search For Meaning – Viktor Frankl
Viktor Frankl’s hugely influential book chronicling his experiences as a prisoner in Nazi concentration camps during World War II, and describing his psychotherapeutic method, which involved identifying a purpose to each person’s life.
Read my highlights, or check out the Amazon page.
How to Be a Stoic – Massimo Pigliucci
Massimo Pigliucci explores Stoic philosophy and how its wisdom can be applied to our everyday lives in the quest for meaning. He shows how Stoicism teaches us the importance of a person’s character, integrity and compassion.
Read my highlights, or check out the Amazon page.
Lives of the Stoics
Short biographies of all the famous, and lesser-known, Stoics, to show what it means to live Stoically, and reveal the lessons to be learned from their struggles and successes. The result is a useful collection of insights and examples for anyone in search of living a good life.
Read my highlights, or check out the Amazon page.
Happy
Derren Brown explores changing concepts of happiness – from the surprisingly modern wisdom of the Stoics and Epicureans in classical times right up until today, when the self-help industry has attempted to claim happiness as its own.
Read my highlights, or check out the Amazon page.
Awareness
De Mello uses humour, compassion and insight to help his readers into a real understanding of the importance of “awareness” in understanding ourselves and the world around us.
Read my highlights, or check out the Amazon page.
The Way to Love
The Way to Love contains some of the most beloved stories from Anthony de Mello. Here, more than ever before in his bestselling writing, he grapples with the ultimate question of love.
Read my highlights, or check out the Amazon page.
Being Better
In Being Better, Kai Whiting and Leonidas Konstantakos apply Stoic principles to contemporary issues such as social justice, climate breakdown, and the excesses of global capitalism.
Read my highlights, or check out the Amazon page.
The Philosophy of CBT
The Philosophy of Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy demonstrates how techniques and concepts from Socratic philosophy, especially Stoicism, can be integrated into the practise of CBT and other forms of psychotherapy.
Read my highlights, or check out the Amazon page.