The Stoic Art of Living: Inner Resilience and Outer Results [Hardcover]

Tom Morris (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 10, 2004

In these pages, Tom Morris lays out some of the best advice ever given for successful living in times of change. In simple language, he presents profound and useful insights from the three great philosophers in ancient Rome whose thought has helped successful people for nearly 2,000 years. Epictetus the slave, Seneca the prominent lawyer, and Marcus Aurelius the Emperor represented the three levels of society in their world, and yet spoke with one voice on what really matters in life. Drawing from the wisdom of these practical philosophers, the book distills their best advice about setting proper goals; building self-confidence; dealing with difficulties and challenges; staying consistent with your deepest values; defeating negative emotion and using positive emotion; building strength of character for the long run; and eliminating the most common obstacles to happiness. The Stoic Art of Living is all about making the most of our inner resources in challenging times and working more creatively toward the results we need in life. It digs deep into some of the best advice ever given on inner attitude, and offers useful techniques that can change the way we approach everything.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Dr. Morris returns philosophy's focus from abstractions to the everyday problems of how to live life." -- Star News, August 15, 2004 --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

About the Author

Tom Morris is the former Notre Dame philosophy professor whose classes became a campus legend and whose nationwide speaking engagements have electrified the audiences of corporate America. Continuing in his mission to bring philosophical wisdom into the trenches of everyday life, he shows how ideas of Stoic Philosophy - which emphasizes goals like gaining command of one's passions and achieving indifference to pain and distress - are completely up to date in their relevance to the practical issues people confront in the 21st century.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 192 pages
• Publisher: Open Court (May 10, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0812695704
• ISBN-13: 978-0812695700
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,798,677 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Feel Good Stoicism, August 21, 2006

By 

Dave Mills - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Stoic Art of Living: Inner Resilience and Outer Results (Paperback)

I was disappointed with this book in that the Stoa of Seneca, Epictetus and Aurelius are really given a superficial treatment. This is followed with brief, "feel good" concepts intermixed with variations of original quotes. Naturally it has a value and place in this world, those seeking a light reading of Stoicism should be pleased.

17 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Philosopher At Large Does It Again..., November 12, 2005

By 

Dr. (Montgomery, Alabama United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Stoic Art of Living: Inner Resilience and Outer Results (Paperback)

Tom Morris does what few brilliant, academic, first-rate philosophers are capable of doing--he makes philosophy accessible. Dr. Morris has that rare gift of bringing the deepest and best to the level of everyman and readers can be thankful that he is not stingy with this gift.

12 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Stoics for the rest of us, September 14, 2005

By 

Richard Mojica (El Paso, Texas) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Stoic Art of Living: Inner Resilience and Outer Results (Hardcover)

Even those of us who are novices when it comes to stoic philosophy can enjoy this book. I am not sure where some reviewers get the opinion that religion is the central theme, but I found the lessons taught by the stoics to be drawn more from life experience than anything else. In any case, I found the book to be both informative and timely.