Meditations
Marcus Aurelius · 167
Lindy Score
1,859 yrs
Age
14
Endorsers
Why it endured
Personal writings of the Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius, reflecting on Stoic philosophy as he dealt with war, plague, and the weight of empire. Never intended for publication — written purely as self-guidance. The most direct window into the Stoic mind ever recorded.
What they're saying
14 people recommend this book
“Read Marcus Aurelius' Meditations. The best book on Stoicism — and it's only an hour to read.”
“Meditations by Marcus Aurelius is probably the book I gift most. It's the definitive guide to Stoic thinking, written by a man who had real power and chose to constrain himself.”
The Tim Ferriss Show
“Meditations is the book I have read more than any other. Marcus Aurelius wrote it for himself — it was never meant to be published. That makes it the most honest philosophical text ever written.”
DailyStoic.com
“Marcus Aurelius' Meditations has been more influential on how I think about leadership than any other book.”
Blog post
“Marcus Aurelius understood that the obstacle is the way. I reread Meditations regularly.”
“Meditations by Marcus Aurelius — it's very relevant even today.”
Interview
“Meditations is a book I return to regularly. It offers reminders about what matters.”
Shareholder letter
“Reading about Marcus Aurelius and his effort to apply Stoic principles made me want to be more intentional about my own commitments.”
GatesNotes
“The Stoics had it right. Meditations is the closest thing to a manual for living under uncertainty.”
Antifragile
“Meditations is one of those books I keep returning to when life gets hard. Marcus Aurelius applies to daily life in ways I keep rediscovering.”
YouTube
“Marcus Aurelius built the strongest mind of any man who ever lived. Meditations is the training manual.”
Be Useful
“I've returned to Meditations more than any other book. Aurelius reminds me what actually matters.”
Interview
“Meditations is the ultimate leadership book — written for an audience of one: the author himself.”
“Marcus frequently quotes Epictetus in his famous written word Meditations”