A Guide to the Good Life - William Braxton Irvine
By Josh Kaufman
What’s the purpose of life? Is it to accumulate dollars or possessions? To become famous the world over? To experience sensations of pleasure every moment of every day?
A Guide to the Good Life is an examination of a universal question: what makes life worth living? In this meditation on daily life, William Braxton Irvine revisits the philosophy of Stoicism, as practiced by the ancient Greeks and Romans.
Far from being a philosophy of cold emotional detachment, Stoicism is a practical philosophy that recognizes a few consistent elements of reality. The world is always changing, we have only limited control or influence over the world around us, and becoming too attached to certain situations is likely to cause us great pain. By recognizing these realities, we can reduce or eliminate major negative emotions, and experience joy in our daily lives more often.
For good or ill, “enlightened hedonism” is the default philosophy of life for most individuals in the world today, regardless of culture or religion. A Guide to the Good Life will help you examine and practice the benefits of virtue, self-discipline, and self-control.
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