A Guide to the Good Life: The Ancient Art of Stoic Joy

by William B. Irvine

Overview

One of the great fears many of us face is that despite all our effort and striving, we will discover at the end that we have wasted our life. In A Guide to the Good Life, William B. Irvine plumbs the wisdom of Stoic philosophy, one of the most popular and successful schools of thought in ancient Rome, and shows how its insight and advice are still remarkably applicable to modern lives.

In A Guide to the Good Life, Irvine offers a refreshing presentation of Stoicism, showing how this ancient philosophy can still direct us toward a better life. Using the psychological insights and the practical techniques of the Stoics, Irvine offers a roadmap for anyone seeking to avoid the feelings of chronic dissatisfaction that plague so many of us. Irvine looks at various Stoic techniques for attaining tranquility and shows how to put these techniques to work in our own life. As he does so, he describes his own experiences practicing Stoicism and offers valuable first-hand advice for anyone wishing to live better by following in the footsteps of these ancient philosophers. Readers learn how to minimize worry, how to let go of the past and focus our efforts on the things we can control, and how to deal with insults, grief, old age, and the distracting temptations of fame and fortune. We learn from Marcus Aurelius the importance of prizing only things of true value, and from Epictetus we learn how to be more content with what we have.

Finally, A Guide to the Good Life shows readers how to become thoughtful observers of their own lives. If we watch ourselves as we go about our daily business and later reflect on what we saw, we can better identify the sources of distress and eventually avoid that pain in our life. By doing this, the Stoics thought, we can hope to attain a truly joyful life.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780195374612
Publisher:	Oxford University Press
Publication date:	11/04/2008
Pages:	336
Sales rank:	69,093
Product dimensions:	5.40(w) x 7.00(h) x 1.30(d)

About the Author

William B. Irvine is Professor of Philosophy at Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio. He is the author of On Desire: Why We Want What We Want.

Table of Contents

IntroductionPart One: The Rise of StoicismThe Birth of PhilosophyThe First StoicsThe Roman StoicsPart Two: Stoic Psychological TechniquesNegative Visualization: What's the Worst That Can Happen? The Dichotomy of Control: On Becoming InvincibleFatalism: Letting Go of the Past . . . and the PresentSelf-Denial: On Dealing with the Dark Side of PleasureMeditation: Watching Ourselves Practice StoicismPart Three: Stoic AdviceDuty: On Loving MankindSocial Relations: On Dealing with Other PeopleInsults: On Putting Up with Put-DownsGrief: On Conquering Tears with ReasonAnger: On Overcoming Anti-JoyPersonal Values: On Seeking FamePersonal Values: On Luxurious LivingExile: On Surviving a Change of PlaceOld Age: On Being Banished to a Nursing HomeDying: On a Good End to a Good LifeOn Becoming a Stoic: Start Now and Prepare to Be MockedPart Four: Stoicism for Modern LivingThe Anti-StoicsStoicism ReconsideredPracticing StoicismiA Stoic Reading Program/iiNotes/iiWorks Cited/i

Editorial Reviews

"Irvine excels at giving a "walking tour" of the many schools of Stoic philosophy, from Greek to Roman traditions, identifying individual Stoic thinkers (many more than Seneca) and their principles and techniques, which Irvine argues are even more relevant in modern times than their own." —Philosophical Practice

"Another valuable ally in your personal morale campaign can be found in William B. Irvine's A Guide to the Good Life: The Ancient Art of Stoic Joy, which removes the grim grey mask of noble, resigned fatalism attached to the popular conception of Stoic philosophy and lets the humanity out and the air in.... It is a work of clarion clarity, and you won't have to read that far into it before the phrase 'stoic joy' ceases sounding like an oxymoron and becomes a workable proposition."—James Wolcott, Vanity Fair

"Irvine's book excels as a guide for practicing Stoics or for individuals seeking to improve that practice." —The Common Review

"Irvine's intended audience is nonphilosophers, but everyone can profit from his clear presentation on the on the benefits of using philosophical doctrines to live a meaningful life."—Library Journal

"If, however, you are skeptical that even therapy will make you happy — if you are looking for a life philosophy — A Guide to the Good Life is for you.... Irvine's book is more thought-provoking."—Austin American-Statesman

"He writes in clear, almost jargon-free prose that is well suited to his target audience, and maintains a cheerful tone throughout the book...that perfectly expresses the sort of rationally grounded upbeat attitude that is one of the payoffs of becoming a practicing Stoic.... I can firmly recommend Irvine's A Guide to the Good Life to anyone interested in exploring some of the ways philosophical work can be brought to bear on the ordinary problems of living.... there is a great deal of useful thinking and excellent advice to be found in it, presented in a clear, straightforward and often charming manner."—Lauren Tillinghast, Metapsychology Online Reviews

"Bill Irvine has given us a great gift: the most accessible and inviting description of modern Stoicism available. Read this book and be prepared to change your life!"—Sharon Lebell, author of Epictetus's The Art of Living: The Classical Manual on Virtue, Happiness, and Effectiveness

"Well-written and so compelling, this is a rare example of a book that actually will make a difference in the lives of its readers. Whether it's coping with grief or arriving at lasting happiness, Irvine shows, with care and verve, ancient Stoic wisdom to be ever relevant and very, very helpful." —Gary Klein, author of Sources of Power: How People Make Decisions

"Never have I seen so delightful, empathetic, and supple a presentation of Stoicism as Irvine gives us here. Hardly Christian even in sensibilities, the Stoics were, none the less, wise in the ways of life, a benison Irvine exposes, and then delivers here, with panache and great acumen."—Phyllis Tickle, author of The Divine Hours

"Irvine's calm yet impassioned presentation of a Western philosophy of life that one can actually abide by and practice will be good medicine for many readers...I heartily recommend it." —The Christian Century

"Dr Irvine has used very simple language in his book. He gives a notion of modern stoicism and urges modern readers to practice stoicism." — The Nation, Pakistan

From the Publisher

How can we live a fulfilling and meaningful life? According to Irvine (philosophy, Wright State Univ.; On Desire), modern academic philosophy cannot help us answer this question because it is more concerned with theoretical problems than how to live a meaningful life. He explains that we must look back to the Stoic philosophers of ancient Greece and Rome to establish a philosophy of life. Using the writings of Epictetus, Seneca, and Marcus Aurelius, Irvine shows how Stoic ethics and psychological theories can help us overcome negative emotions and determine what is truly important for living a fulfilling life. These sections cover a wide range of topics from how to deal with insults to how to confront death. In the last sections, Irvine explains the impact of Stoic philosophy on his own life and offers advice for individuals who want to live by Stoic doctrines. Irvine's intended audience is nonphilosophers, but everyone can profit from his clear presentation on the benefits of using philosophical doctrines to live a meaningful life. Recommended for academic and public libraries.
—Scott Duimstra

Library Journal