7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
fast & easy read, but no room for nuance or shades of gray, February 25, 2009
This review is from: The Ten Golden Rules: Ancient Wisdom from the Greek Philosophers on Living the Good Life (Hardcover)
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The book sets forth ten principles for a rich, spiritual life, each based on the teaching of a Greek philosopher. It contrasts the ancient Greek wisdom, which derives spirituality from man's gift of rational thought, as a unifying force for mankind, from the spirituality of Judeo-Christian and other religious principles, which can be divisive.
For the most part, this little book was enjoyable & insightful. The principles are simply stated and easily understood. Each of the ten discussions begins with an illustrative anecdote. Although I enjoyed the book, I found some of the anecdotes to be troubling, a bit too pat and predictable and judgmental, with clear distinctions between good and bad, moral and immoral. In choosing anecdotes to illustrate the rules, the authors consistently imply that success, wealth and material possessions lead to unhappiness, while simplicity and poverty lead to happiness. There are no happy executives or grumpy secretaries in Ten Golden Rules world. Wealth and career success, in and of themselves, are not indicia of moral bankruptcy, though the stories in this book would certainly lead one to believe otherwise. And the authors communicate a clear disdain for therapy. Anyone who seeks therapy -- definitely a sign of a miserable life. For example . . .
Rule #1: Examine Life (Plato) -- but not through therapy. This principle compels us to participate in life fully, engage our minds rather than being a spectator, approach new adventures with a childlike wonder. The rule is illustrated by a nameless 103 year old man living in the mountains of Greece, who keeps his mind engaged and therefore, keeps his soul at peace. Other examples involve retirees who have found new paths in life. Despite the fact that an unexamined life is not worth living, it seems that the authors would certainly frown upon seeking the assistance of a therapist in that examination, as we see in . . .
Rule #2: Worry Only about the Things You Can Control. This principle compels us to stop worrying about things we don't control -- our children, our spouses, the stock market. (Oddly, "our legislators" is in the list of things we can control.) The example at the beginning of the discussion contrasts Pamela, who never worried about the things under her control, with Tiffany, focused exclusively on things she could control. Now in her sixties, Pamela is three times divorced, lives alone, and is constantly "running from one therapist to another" trying to find peace in her soul. Tiffany, of course, is happily married with grown children who treasure her and best of all she has "never required the services a therapist to work out her problems."
Rule #3: Treasure Friendship (Aristotle). This principle is illustrated by Gloria and Helen. Gloria owns a successful business, an elegant house, a new car, and fine things. She's lonely and depressed, with no true friends. Helen, on the other hand, is a secretary who lives in a modest apartment, drives and old car and shops at discount stores. But, you guessed it, she is content with her life and even better, "she has never seen a therapist." All because she has good friends. Introverts have a real advantage here, as "by its very nature, friendship will involve a small number of high-quality relationships." George, the president of a company, thinks he has friends because he gets many invitations, but they're not true friendships, they're "utility friendships." Apparently, a company president won`t have friends, but the stockroom clerk, that's a different story.
Rule #4: Experience True Pleasure. Here we see Maria and Pamela -- but this is good Pamela, not the bad Pamela from Rule #2. Maria flits from man to man, dines at the finest restaurants, and works two jobs to fund her lavish lifestyle. Pamela's life is simple and balanced. She doesn't succumb to fads or waste money on clubs. She is in a solid relationship and values her family and is an elementary school teacher who derives such satisfaction from helping young children.
Rule #5: Master Yourself (Epictetus). Enter John, a successful mechanic and master in his field, a family man and good citizen, always voting in local elections. But John was a heavy smoker and drinker and he craved junk food. Because he couldn't master his cravings, he died in his forties from a heart attack. (/So not only company presidents and the fabulously wealthy experience bad things. Interesting.)
Rule #6: Avoid Excess (Solon). I thought that John the dead mechanic covered this pretty well, but the authors introduce Marisa, who starves herself one day and eats whatever she wants the next. Some days she goes on wild spending sprees while other days she won't even buy essentials, "like coffee." This chapter evolves into a criticism of wealth and therapy, as "the fancy car does not immunize against divorce" nor does "the mansion in Hollywood . . . keep you off the therapist's couch. Foreclosure and homelessness don't keep you off the therapist's couch, either, but the authors don't look at things from that angle.
Rule #7: Be a Responsible Human Being (Pythagoras). This principle is illustrated by Tracy, who blames her teachers for her poor grades and blames her boss and co-workers for her poor work performance, while she wastes hour after hour watching sitcoms on TV. She's doomed to a miserable life.
Rule #8: Don't Be a Prosperous Fool (Aeschylus). John (again) quit college, earned a six-figure income in his twenties, became a millionaire in his thirties, and climbed over everyone in his path. Now he's in his sixties and he lives all alone in a big mansion. Maybe someone should introduce him to wealthy but lonely Gloria from Rule #3.
Rule #9: Don't Do Evil to Other People (Hesiod). Patrick spread rumors about others and tried to undermine them. Now he has poisoned his relationships and lives in constant fear of retaliation.
Rule #10: Kindness Towards Others Tends to be Rewarded (Aesop). This principle is illustrated by Bob, a very nice person who helped care for his younger siblings, shared his lunch money, and helped others with their homework. Now Bob has a wonderful life.
Although I enjoyed the book and the discussions, the anecdotes were a little hokey & unbelievable, with very little nuance, no shades of gray. In The Ten Golden Rules world, Good people live good lives. Bad people are doomed to depression and misery. Good people have friends. Bad people are lonely. Why do some genuinely kind and caring people suffer from depression and loneliness? How is it that successful and wealthy businesspeople can be happy and happily married, when they surround themselves with material possessions? I don`t think you`ll find an answer in this book.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The "Secrets" of happiness in plain sight for 2300 years, July 16, 2009
This review is from: The Ten Golden Rules: Ancient Wisdom from the Greek Philosophers on Living the Good Life (Hardcover)
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The word Spirituality means different things to different people; often it's just a vague impression paired with religious rituals or a life of passive devotion. For most, perhaps, it's even more undefined as when people say they're not religious, but they are spiritual, suggesting again, a connection to a supreme being but without the embelishments of a formal church in the mix.
In "The Ten Golden Rules", the two authors with strong Greek last names, recount the belief system of Hellenism formed by Greek philosophers who lived 2300 years ago but who remain household names for good reason.
The book's introduction agrees that spiritual living has been joined at the hip to faith as opposed to reason. And throughout history, faith was literally opposed to reason, resulting in suppression of scientific thought and often creating bloodshed and mayhem. Yet all men and women ultimately share a common unifying core in the form of rational capacity.
The Greek Philosophers believed these were "ideal states of mind" and achieving these result in the good life, contrary to a life of materialism and excess that commercialism and advertising portray as the keys to happiness.
The authors begin each of the 10 chapters with a statement from the likes of Plato, Aristotle and Aesop. A short profile next describes some contemporary person that illustrates the "rule", or a person's life that embodies the opposite. Each chapter is only a few pages ending with a "meditation grid", the main bullet points of the chapter. So while the book can be read in a single sitting, the advantage is found in taking time to reflect on each summary point to absorb it and make it personal.
The authors don't offer to reveal some hidden "Secret" formula as if they had some grand epiphany revealed for the first time. Just the opposite. For 20 centuries great individuals and keen minds have realized the simple truth that living a life developed around sound principals and humanity is what gives lasting contentment and feeds the spirit and spirituality. Philosophy was tossed away as a subject to be taught or at least considered in our education system long ago, replaced by sound bites and talking heads. The Ten Golden Rules is a refreshing and welcome change in thinking.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Comfort and Direction for Those "Opposed" to Religion, May 3, 2009
This review is from: The Ten Golden Rules: Ancient Wisdom from the Greek Philosophers on Living the Good Life (Hardcover)
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Author Michael Soupios, PhD is a professor at Long Island Univeristy's C.W.Post campus, where he has taught for more than thirty years and conducts workshops on spiritual living. Author Panos Mourdoukoutas, PhD teaches at teaches at several universities including the Economic University of Athens, Long Island University. They have collaborated to bring us "The Ten Golden Rules: Ancient Wisdom from the Greek Philosophers on Living the Good Life."
Soupios and Mourdoukoutas have observed that a significant number of people are now becoming aware of "an inverse correlation between material prosperity and spiritual contentment: economic well-being is not in itself a guarantee of the fuller satisfactions instinctively sought (in life)." They also feel that "the spiritual imperatives of life continue to demand our attention at a time when traditional mechanisms (organized religion) for addressing these needs have become increasingly dysfunctional and ineffective." Their "The Ten Golden Rules" provides an alternative, one that does not rely on faith but rather on a rational inquiry focused on humanity as epitomized by Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, Epictetus, Epicurus, and others.
The authors' ten rules represent what they call, "the enduring features of Greek wisdom." These include:
* Examine life
* Worry only about the things you can control
* Treasure friendship
* Experience true pleasure
* Master yourself
* Avoid excess
* Be a responsible human being
* Don't be a prosperous fool
* Don't do evil to other people
* Kindness toward others tends to be rewarded
The authors provide considerations for those interested in spirituality opposed to religion. "Those who speak of spirituality opposed to religion generally believe in the existence of many "spiritual paths" and deny any objective truth about the best path to follow. The path which makes the most coherent sense becomes the correct one (for oneself)."
Readers who believe organized religion is "dysfunctional and ineffective" may find comfort and direction in "The Ten Golden Rules." As one who does not share this belief, I found the book a useful reminder of practices I try to practice and believe in. Reason is not incompatible with faith.
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