Meditations: A New Translation 1St Edition Edition

by Marcus Aurelius (Author), Gregory Hays (Translator)

2,009 customer reviews

ISBN-13: 978-0812968255

ISBN-10: 0812968255

Why is ISBN important?

Have one to sell? Sell on Amazon

Share <Embed>

Buy new

$8.80

In Stock.

Ships from and sold by Amazon.com. Gift-wrap available.

List Price: $11.00
Save: $2.20 (20%)

FREE Shipping on orders over $25—or get FREE Two-Day Shipping with Amazon Prime

Turn on 1-Click ordering

Price

New from

Used from

Kindle

"Please retry"

$9.99

—

Paperback

"Please retry"

$8.80

$6.15

$3.44

Free%20Two-Day%20Shipping%20for%20College%20Students%20with%20Amazon%20Student

Nearly two thousand years after it was written, Meditations remains profoundly relevant for anyone seeking to lead a meaningful life.

Few ancient works have been as influential as the Meditations of Marcus Aurelius, philosopher and emperor of Rome (A.D. 161–180). A series of spiritual exercises filled with wisdom, practical guidance, and profound understanding of human behavior, it remains one of the greatest works of spiritual and ethical reflection ever written. Marcus’s insights and advice—on everything from living in the world to coping with adversity and interacting with others—have made the Meditations required reading for statesmen and philosophers alike, while generations of ordinary readers have responded to the straightforward intimacy of his style. For anyone who struggles to reconcile the demands of leadership with a concern for personal integrity and spiritual well-being, the Meditations remains as relevant now as it was two thousand years ago.

In Gregory Hays’s new translation—the first in thirty-five years—Marcus’s thoughts speak with a new immediacy. In fresh and unencumbered English, Hays vividly conveys the spareness and compression of the original Greek text. Never before have Marcus’s insights been so directly and powerfully presented.

With an Introduction that outlines Marcus’s life and career, the essentials of Stoic doctrine, the style and construction of the Meditations, and the work’s ongoing influence, this edition makes it possible to fully rediscover the thoughts of one of the most enlightened and intelligent leaders of any era.

Frequently bought together

Total price: $34.74

Buy the selected items together

This item:Meditations: A New Translation by Marcus Aurelius Paperback $8.80
In Stock.
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
FREE Shipping on orders over $25. Details
Letters from a Stoic (Penguin Classics) by Lucius Annaeus Seneca Paperback $12.80
In Stock.
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
FREE Shipping on orders over $25. Details
Discourses and Selected Writings (Penguin Classics) by Epictetus Paperback $13.14
In Stock.
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
FREE Shipping on orders over $25. Details

Customers who bought this item also bought

Page 1 of 1 Start overPage 1 of 1

This shopping feature will continue to load items. In order to navigate out of this carousel please use your heading shortcut key to navigate to the next or previous heading.

Lucius Annaeus Seneca

246

in Classic Roman Literature
Paperback
$12.80
Epictetus

43

Paperback
$13.14
Seneca

240

Paperback
$11.26
Ryan Holiday

1,228

Hardcover
$20.00
Ryan Holiday

549

in Greek & Roman Philosophy
Hardcover
$16.07
Seneca

246

Hardcover
$16.00

Editorial Reviews

Review

“Here, for our age, is [Marcus’s] great work presented in its entirety, strongly introduced and freshly, elegantly translated.” —Robert Fagles

From the Inside Flap

A series of spiritual exercises filled with wisdom, practical guidance, and profound understanding of human behavior, Marcus Aurelius's "Meditations remains one of the greatest works of spiritual and ethical reflection ever written. Marcus's insights and advice--on everything from living in the world to coping with adversity and interacting with others--have made the "Meditations required reading for statesmen and philosophers alike, while generations of ordinary readers have responded to the straightforward intimacy of his style.
In Gregory Hays's new translation--the first in a generation--Marcus's thoughts speak with a new immediacy: never before have they been so directly and powerfully presented.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product details

Paperback: 256 pages
Publisher: Modern Library; 1St Edition edition (May 6, 2003)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0812968255
ISBN-13: 978-0812968255
Product Dimensions: 5.2 x 0.5 x 8 inches
Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 2,009 customer reviews
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #943 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #2 in Books > Textbooks > Humanities > Philosophy > Ethics
- #2 in Books > Textbooks > Humanities > Philosophy > History & Surveys
- #3 in Books > Religion & Spirituality > New Age & Spirituality > Spiritualism

Would you like to tell us about a lower price?
If you are a seller for this product, would you like to suggest updates through seller support?

If you buy a new print edition of this book (or purchased one in the past), you can buy the Kindle edition for only $1.99 (Save 80%). Print edition purchase must be sold by Amazon. .

Start reading Meditations: A New Translation (Modern Library) on your Kindle in under a minute.

Don't have a Kindle? Get your Kindle here, or download a FREE Kindle Reading App.

Customer Reviews

Write a customer review

See all 2,009 customer reviews

Rated by customers interested in

Meditation

4.3 out of 5 stars

Philosophy

4.4 out of 5 stars

Books

4.3 out of 5 stars

Is this feature helpful?

Thank you for your feedback.

Read reviews that mention

Top customer reviews

There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.

Nom de Bloom

A word of caution

July 23, 2016

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

Amazon lumps different translations together as merely variations on how the book is delivered. In this case, the Hays translation is the hardcover, while the authors who translated the paperback and Kindle versions aren't specified. So use the tools available (look inside, free sample) to get an idea of the language used by the author and see if it's something you'd like to read, or if a different translation suits you better.

727 people found this helpful

Helpful

Not Helpful

Comment

davidhmorgan

It's worth trying different translations

September 25, 2013

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

I don't know who did the translation for this one but I found it very difficult to follow. This prompted me to look around and I found another translation by George Long (Thoughts of Marcus Aurelius Antoninus 1862). Even though it's not a recent translation, Long's version is often easier to understand. Compare the translations of the first paragraph for example:

This version:

Of my grandfather Verus I have learned to be gentle and meek, and to refrain from all anger and passion. From the fame and memory of him that begot me I have learned both shamefastness and manlike behaviour. Of my mother I have learned to be religious, and bountiful; and to forbear, not only to do, but to intend any evil; to content myself with a spare diet, and to fly all such excess as is incidental to great wealth. Of my great-grandfather, both to frequent public schools and auditories, and to get me good and able teachers at home; and that I ought not to think much, if upon such occasions, I were at excessive charges.

George Long's version:

From my grandfather Verus I learned good morals and the government of my temper. From the reputation and remembrance of my father, modesty and a manly character. From my mother, piety and beneficence, and abstinence, not only from evil deeds, but even from evil thoughts; and further, simplicity in my way of living, far removed from the habits of the rich. From my great-grandfather, not to have frequented public schools, and to have had good teachers at home, and to know that on such things a man should spend liberally.

Having said this however, it's still worth comparing both translations which are free on the Kindle.

1,000 people found this helpful

Comment

May 11, 2014

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

Meditations by Marcus Aurelius

“The happiness of your life depends upon the quality of your thoughts: therefore, guard, accordingly, and take care that you entertain no notions unsuitable to virtue and reasonable nature.”

Before I get into details, I must say that reading Meditations was one of the hardest, but most rewarding experiences in my own personal growth. The book has done so much to ferment my prior beliefs and has helped a lot to broaden my mind and encourage me to be all that I can be.

It is very difficult in today’s world to believe in anything, whether it be divine beings, other people, or even ourselves. It is an epidemic that buries potential and love deep down and leaves anger and frustration to dictate life.

There is no reason to feel unhappy, unfulfilled, or unappreciated , and Meditations by Marcus Aurelius offers advice to anyone who is looking for self help, self love, and a rational way of directing life.

Before reading this book it is interesting to know the man that wrote it. Marcus Aurelius was the last of The Five Good Emperors of Ancient Rome. He took the title of Augustus after the death of his adopted father, Antoninus Pius, the adopted son of the late Emperor Hadrian.

However Marcus Aurelius had tried to pass on the emperorship, for he prefered a much more simple philosophic lifestyle. He accepted the honor with the sole demand that Lucius Verus, his adopted brother, would share the seat with him.

Sharing his seat of power is the one move that summarizes Marcus Aurelius’s entire life; the fear of power and the duty embedded in him through his interest in Stoicism, a philosophy that grounds itself on self-restraint, reason, and fate.

His work is a reflection of his life, and the words inscribed in Meditations are the product of his own thoughts and his own experiences. While reading this book good feelings will begin to surface through introspection, and in turn bad feelings will be expelled.

In my everyday life quotes from his book swim in my mind when I am met with difficult situations, and they enable me to make smarter more thought out and rational decisions. It is fascinating and rewarding each time I don’t simply act on impulse.

This book is not for entertainment, not for adventure, and it is definitely not a “light read.” It is a book that will help those who seek help, irritate those who don’t, and fascinate those who wish to learn and grow.

391 people found this helpful

Helpful

Not Helpful

Comment

The M4chin3

and Socrates is my great uncle and Thales is my grand father

March 7, 2017

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

I am sincerely pissed that I was not provided a copy of this as a kid growing up. I have devised a work around to the whole "Not growing up with a father figure" issue. I have decided that Marcus Aurealis is my actual father, and Socrates is my great uncle and Thales is my grand father. I realize this sounds nutty to read but I honestly feel more in common with these thinkers then the absent XY chromosome donor.

76 people found this helpful

Helpful

Not Helpful

Comment

Stoic in Training

This is one of the best books I've ever read about anything

May 27, 2016

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

You could go your whole life reading the Meditations and Seneca's letters and still not understand Stoicism the way Hadot can teach you in 300 pages. This is one of the best books I've ever read about anything; it is a true masterpiece and a shame that so few people will ever read it. Do yourself a favor and dive in.

51 people found this helpful

Helpful

Not Helpful

Comment

ChaunceyTop Contributor: Photography

Excellent Edition of the Greatest Text Ever Written

July 9, 2016

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

First, do we all recognize that the author of this text, Marcus Aurelius, was a Roman Emperor? If so, why have I not been forced to read this from a young age? This is quite possibly the most insightful, existential book I've ever read. Emperor Aurelius has given us wisdom in its purest form. This should be a manual for every human's life. Every sentence is mind-numbingly profound. This book is so good, that I might just have the entire text tattooed on my body. I cannot stress enough that the sagacity of this book is beyond what I have ever read. Definitely a must-read and a must-live-by.

33 people found this helpful

Helpful

Not Helpful

Comment

Customer images

See all customer images

Most recent customer reviews

Joshua

Solid Read

I enjoyed this read. I kept putting it off for a while. Just wasn't a book I would sit down with and never be able to put down.Read more

Published 1 day ago

Gear Head

A window into the mind of a Roman Statesman and General

Not the words of the head chopping Roman Conquerer one might expect. Accessible, written for the modern ear and alot of backstory as West World might say.Read more

Published 1 day ago

Agape Music

great text. Glad Dover is doing some of these ...

Cheap book, great text. Glad Dover is doing some of these old greats for a good price, but they are cheap. Thanks, Dave (in Colorado)

Published 2 days ago

eric hardy

Great book. Slow read

Published 2 days ago

OmniReader

Either the translator has poor English or has poor Latin

Meandering translation. Either the translator has poor English or has poor Latin, it reads like the translator manages to have poor skills in both languages.

This was a calming influence for me considering the confusion and turmoil of today's America. I recommend it.

Published 4 days ago

Kiran Kota

Don’t get the audiobook

Content is good but don’t get the audiobook. It’s monotonous beyond belief and impossible to pay attention to for any meaningful amount of time

Published 5 days ago

Amazon Customer

I recommend putting this book in the bathroom and every time ...

I recommend putting this book in the bathroom and every time you go to the toilet, I rather read this book than scroll on Instagram and you receive so much knowledge! Recommended

Set up an Amazon Giveaway

Amazon Giveaway allows you to run promotional giveaways in order to create buzz, reward your audience, and attract new followers and customers. Learn more about Amazon Giveaway

This item: Meditations: A New Translation

Set up a giveaway

Customers who viewed this item also viewed

Page 1 of 1 Start overPage 1 of 1

This shopping feature will continue to load items. In order to navigate out of this carousel please use your heading shortcut key to navigate to the next or previous heading.

Marcus Aurelius

2,009

in Ethics
Paperback
$4.00
Ryan Holiday

549

in Greek & Roman Philosophy
Hardcover
$16.07
Marcus Aurelius

2,009

Paperback
$3.99
Epictetus

43

Paperback
$13.14
Lucius Annaeus Seneca

246

in Classic Roman Literature
Paperback
$12.80
Marcus Aurelius

2,009

Hardcover
$24.95

Pages with related products. See and discover other items: ancient religions, the big island, best essays