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52 of 52 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Nice translation but the text is ABRIDGED, May 29, 2009
This review is from: Discourses and Selected Writings (Penguin Classics) (Mass Market Paperback)
This is a nice, flowing, intelligent translation of the Discourses of Epictetus by an important and respected scholar in the field. The edition also includes the Enchiridion (Handbook) and fragments. The notes and recommended readings are current and helpful.
There is one caveat though: The text is ABRIDGED. The product description does not make this clear. Dobbin justifies omitting selected discourses from books 3-4 due to repetition of themes. For example in book 3, sections 1-2, 6-7, 9-15, 17-19, 21, 24-26 are missing. In book 4, discourses 5-12 have been omitted. This unfortunately limits the usefulness of the text. If you want the complete text, I recommend the Everyman edition (edited by Christopher Gill, with a revised translation by Robin Hard). Better yet if you can afford it, get the two volume Loeb Classical Library edition with the facing Greek text.
In short, this is a nice abridged edition of Epictetus, useful for those who want a streamlined introduction to the philosopher, but limited due to the abridgment.
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10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Original Self Help Book, April 3, 2010
This review is from: Discourses and Selected Writings (Penguin Classics) (Mass Market Paperback)
Philosophy has intrigued me since I was eighteen years old (never mind how long ago that was!) While I am hardly an expert in philosophy, it has made for some fascinating reading, and the writings of the Stoics have particularly grabbed me, especially Epictetus. He was the first Stoic writer I read. I later went on to read Marcus Aurelius and parts of Seneca, but I must confess that Epictetus is my favorite.
I was pleasantly surprised the first time I began the DISCOURSES. I had confused STOICISM with SPARTAN and was expecting to read admonitions to sleep on nails, sleep outside in the freezing cold wearing only one thin garment and to self-flagellate regularly. Well, I found none of the above. Basically, Epictetus teaches that happiness consists of learning what is in our control and what isn't, and to live in harmony with God and nature. Also central to Stoic thought is the importance of correct reasoning.
I was also pleasantly surprised that Stoicism does not advocate an uncaring view of the world. The DISCOURSES are full of examples of family, politics, friendship issues as well as dealing with hardships. I had a good chuckle over the the title: "To those who tackle philosophy just to be able to talk about it." (Book 2, chapter 19) On page 126, he says "Just pay attention to the way you behave and you will discover the philosophy you really belong to."
The introduction and "Further Reading" sections give examples of prominent people whose lives were (and some still are) profoundly influenced by Epictetus.
This volume contains all four "Books" of Epictetus' DISCOURSES as well as the ENCHIRIDION, a condensation of his teachings into smaller paragraphs and sayings. I was also pleased to find fragments of other writings from Epictetus as well which I didn't know still were around.
They are well worth reading.
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15 of 19 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars
Great Book, Bad Translation, May 8, 2011
This review is from: Discourses and Selected Writings (Penguin Classics) (Mass Market Paperback)
Dobbin's translation attempts to 'modernize' Epictetus, but succeeds only in rendering the text awkward and clunky. Far, far better is the Everyman's Library edition, translated by Robin Hard. The Discourses of Epictetus - The Handbook - Fragments (Everyman's Library) Here's a comparison to illustrate my point, from Book 3, Chapter 22 (On The Cynic Calling) Line 20:
Dobbin: "My mind represents for me my medium - like wood to a carpenter, or leather to a shoemaker. The goal in my case is the correct use of impressions."
Hard: "From this time forth, the material I must work upon is my own mind, as wood is the material of a carpenter or leather that of a shoemaker; for my business is to make right use of my impressions."
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