Breakfast with Seneca: A Stoic Guide to the Art of Living

by David Fideler

Overview

The first clear and faithful guide to the timeless, practical teachings of the Stoic philosopher Seneca.

Stoicism, the most influential philosophy of the Roman Empire, offers refreshingly modern ways to strengthen our inner character in the face of an unpredictable world. Widely recognized as the most talented and humane writer of the Stoic tradition, Seneca teaches us to live with freedom and purpose. His most enduring work, over a hundred “Letters from a Stoic” written to a close friend, explains how to handle adversity; overcome grief, anxiety, and anger; transform setbacks into opportunities for growth; and recognize the true nature of friendship.

In Breakfast with Seneca, philosopher David Fideler mines Seneca’s classic works in a series of focused chapters, clearly explaining Seneca’s ideas without oversimplifying them. Best enjoyed as a daily ritual, like an energizing cup of coffee, Seneca’s wisdom provides us with a steady stream of time-tested advice about the human condition—which, as it turns out, hasn’t changed much over the past two thousand years.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781324036609
Publisher:	Norton, W. W. & Company, Inc.
Publication date:	12/20/2022
Pages:	288
Sales rank:	156,982
Product dimensions:	8.10(w) x 5.40(h) x 0.70(d)

About the Author

David Fideler is a writer, philosopher, and the editor of the Stoic Insights website. Born in the United States, he currently lives in Sarajevo with his wife and son.

Table of Contents

Preface xi

Introduction

A Life Truly Worth Living 1

1 The Lost Art of Friendship 16

2 Value Your Time: Don't Postpone Living 33

3 How to Overcome Worry and Anxiety 46

4 The Problem with Anger 60

5 Wherever You Go, There You Are: You Can't Escape Yourself 79

6 How to Tame Adversity 88

7 Why You Should Never Complain 103

8 The Battle Against Fortune: How to Survive Poverty and Extreme Wealth 115

9 Vicious Crowds and the Ties That Bind 129

10 How to Be Authentic and Contribute to Society 148

11 Living Fully Regardless of Death 163

12 Give Grief Its Due 181

13 Love and Gratitude 190

14 Freedom, Tranquility, and Lasting Joy 206

Acknowledgments 215

Appendix: Stoic Philosophical Exercises 217

Notes 221

For Further Reading: Seneca's Philosophical Writings 243

Seneca's Philosophical Writings 245

Bibliography of Works Cited 247

Index 255

Editorial Reviews

"A great introduction to both Seneca and Stoicism. It will even help those already familiar with Seneca’s writings to gain more benefit from them."

Donald Robertson

"A feast for the soul and spirit. Those who absorb the lessons in Breakfast with Seneca will embark on a life more worth living."

Christopher Phillips PhD

"The most companionable of the new Stoic books."

New York Times - Molly Young

"When I find myself in a tight spot, I take a philosophical shortcut and simply ask, ‘What would Seneca do?’ David Fideler’s wonderful Breakfast with Seneca will come in handy in such situations. An accessible introduction to Stoic practice and to the Stoic philosophy in general."

William B. Irvine

"This book is the perfect antidote to the commercialism and superficial values of modern times. Although Seneca was living two thousand years ago, he speaks directly to us today."

Robin Waterfield

11/08/2021

Ancient Roman stoic philosopher Seneca was “a profound thinker who possessed a much deeper and more satisfying vision of human life than we are encouraged to hold by society today,” writes StoicInsights blogger Fideler (Restoring the Soul of the World) in this comprehensive guide to the philosopher’s ideas. He first gives an overview of Stoicism as a school of thought, dispelling notions that it has anything to do with the modern word stoic, or with bottling up emotions; rather, it’s about learning to transform extreme emotions through understanding. Fideler breaks down the eight core teachings of Stoicism, which include living in agreement with nature and accepting virtue as the only true good, and then digs into Seneca’s approach specifically. There’s an overview of his thoughts on anxiety (live in the present moment to counter it), anger (which, to Seneca, is the “worst human emotion”), and grief (which must be given its due). More tangible concerns are addressed, as well, such as relationships (friendships are crucial in life) and money (a stoic would suggest people must get over the “fear of poverty”). Fideler keeps things accessible and offers plenty of real-world examples for applying philosophy to one’s life, making for a great crash course. Philosophy newbies will find this a fine introduction. Agent: Giles Anderson, the Anderson Literary Agency. (Dec.)

Publishers Weekly

"A fine guide to Seneca, Stoicism, and what it means to live a Stoic life. Highly readable."

John Sellars

"This is a rare gem of a book: simultaneously comforting and challenging, edifying and entertaining."

Eric Weiner

07/01/2021

Of Jamaican and Nigerian heritage and a resident of both London and Brooklyn, PEN Ackerley Prize—winning poet Daley-Ward explains how we can become our own best and truest selves in The How. A principal dancer at the New York City Ballet who starred on Broadway in On the Town, plus a podcast host, MBA student, and mother of three, Fairchild explains The Ballerina Mindset that lets her do it all with apparent ease. In parlous times. Stoic philosophy is suddenly trending, and Fideler's Breakfast with Seneca provides an accessible overview. The first woman and first Black minister at the progressive Collegiate Church in Manhattan, which dates from 1628, Lewis shows how we can cope with today's divisive culture by discussing her own reckoning with racism, her interracial marriage, nine daily spiritual practices that have sustained her, and the importance of Fierce Love. In The Power of Fun, award-winning science journalist Price argues that treating fun as an important part of your life—and she doesn't mean binge-watch your favorite TV shows—will make you happier and more productive. In Saving Grace, Powers leans on her experiences as a CNN senior political analyst and USA TODAY columnist to explain how we can maintain mental well-being without deserting our own convictions during conflict-ridden times. Author of the New York Times best-seller and Reese's Book Club pick Fair Play, Rodsky urges women to rethink their priorities and claim essential healing time for themselves in Find Your Unicorn Space. Having left their New York desk jobs and moved to Montana, leading culture journalists Warzel and Petersen see today's pandemic-driven work-at-home situation as a cobbled-together compromise and explain how we can create true Out of Office work schedules benefiting both workers and employers.

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