Meditations on Self-Discipline and Failure

Here is another book from a neo-Stoic perspective, partly as an antidote to self-help books and written in the spirit of Seneca, Epictetus and Marcus Aurelius. It is evident that the author has fully absorbed the Stoic tradition and now presents it with a modern voice that nevertheless echoes the Stoic view. The book has 30 chapters, none of which have titles, but they all broken down into single paragraphs. Readers are urged to be dispassionate not only about others, but also about themselves, remembering that they alone are in charge of ourselves and can decide what kind of person we want to be. On the positive side, they are encouraged to show appreciation and gratitude while retaining a broad and independent perspective on life and people. The result is a bracing and valuable practical wisdom.