It was never meant to be seen by prying eyes. It certainly wasn't meant to be published as a book. It was written in an antiquated, foreign language, full of ancient philosophy that, until recently, few had ever heard of. And the man doing the writing lived a life unimaginably different and distant from yours.
Then why bother reading a book like that? How could it possibly affect or improve your life?
Yet it is this book that Frederick the Great reportedly rode into battle with in his saddlebags, as did four-star General James Mattis, who carried it with him on deployments throughout the Middle East. It is this book that American presidents have read and raved about. It is this book that Robert Louis Stevenson, the great novelist, described as unlike any other. It is this book that Beatrice Webb, who helped to found the London School of Economics and created the concept of collective bargaining, called her "manual of devotion." That actors and musicians and entrepreneurs are still reading today.
So why has Meditations by Marcus Aurelius endured and influenced across so many centuries? And what makes its ancient wisdom still relevant to the modern problems we face today?
Because in Meditations, Marcus attempts to answer those questions we all ask› ourselves at some point: What is the good life and how do I live it? How do I stop running from pain and misfortune and start dealing with my problems? How do I learn to treat other people better when they can be so petty, miserable, and annoying—and how do I learn to treat myself better, too?
Marcus answers these questions with great clarity and wisdom in Meditations. In fact, he gives us an entire "design for living," writes Gregory Hays in his translation of the book. Marcus gives us a set of rules and guidelines to live our lives by, practical exercises that made him a better person and can make you one, too.
That's why people have read Meditations for the last two thousand years. That's why it's a favorite of presidents and prisoners, men and women, soldiers and activists, entrepreneurs and everyday people.
Just as Heraclitus says you can never step in the same river twice—because the river has changed and you have also changed—Meditations isn't a book you read just once and understand. Because while it's easy to read, it's the work of a lifetime to explore its vast depths. That's what we've been working so hard to do here at Daily Stoic over the last decade—trying to make the wisdom of this enduring book more accessible and approachable to everyone.
We've spent thousands of hours with Marcus's writings and the work of experts on Stoic philosophy to understand how we can use this wisdom to improve our lives and the lives of those around us.
That's exactly why we created How To Read Meditations: A Daily Stoic Digital Guide, built for anyone who wants to go beyond reading Marcus's words and actually live them. In 11 modules, you'll go deeper into the text and learn takeaways you can apply to your life right away. It's the companion we wish we'd had when we first started—part masterclass, part daily practice—designed to turn timeless wisdom into real change. And now, for Meditations Month, happening throughout the month of April to celebrate Marcus Aurelius's birthday (April 26th), we're inviting you to work through it with us, alongside thousands of others around the world who are committed to living their lives with more intention and purpose.
Here's the best way to get started: purchase the leatherbound edition of Meditations—a beautiful, heirloom-quality version of the book—and you'll receive the digital guide, completely free. That includes all 11 modules, AND an invitation to aLIVE Q&A with Ryan Holiday, where he'll take your questions on all things Meditations, Stoicism, and how to apply these ideas to your life right now, in today's world.
Head here now to grab your Meditations book and guide bundle. Start living your life with more courage, discipline, justice, and wisdom by deepening your understanding of one of the most enduring books on life ever written. We'll see you in there!
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