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    How to Be Free: An Ancient Guide to the Stoic Life
    How to Be Free: An Ancient Guide to the Stoic Life
    How to Be Free: An Ancient Guide to the Stoic Life
    Audiobook1 hour

    How to Be Free: An Ancient Guide to the Stoic Life

    Written by Epictetus and Anthony Long

    Narrated by Shaun Grindell

    4.5/5

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    About this audiobook

    Born a slave, the Roman Stoic philosopher Epictetus (c. 55-135 AD) taught that mental freedom is supreme, since it can liberate one anywhere, even in a prison. In How to Be Free, A. A. Long-one of the world's leading authorities on Stoicism and a pioneer in its remarkable contemporary revival-provides a superb new edition of Epictetus's celebrated guide to the Stoic philosophy of life (the Encheiridion) along with a selection of related reflections in his Discourses.

    Freedom, for Epictetus, is not a human right or a political prerogative but a psychological and ethical achievement, a gift that we alone can bestow on ourselves. We can all be free, but only if we learn to assign paramount value to what we can control (our motivations and reactions), treat what we cannot control with equanimity, and view our circumstances as opportunities to do well and be well, no matter what happens to us through misfortune or the actions of other people.

    How to Be Free features splendid new translations and a compelling introduction that sets Epictetus in context and describes the importance of Stoic freedom today. The result is an unmatched introduction to this powerful method of managing emotions and handling life's situations, from the most ordinary to the most demanding.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherHighbridge Company
    TranslatorAnthony Long
    Release dateOct 9, 2018
    ISBN9781684414796
    Author

    Epictetus

    Epictetus (circa 55-135 ce) taught in Rome until the year 94 ce, when Emperor Domitian banished philosophers from the city. In exile, he established a school of philosophy where his distinguished students included Marcus Aurelius, author of Meditations. Some 1,863 years after Epictetus's death, Tom Wolfe revived his philosophy in the bestselling novel A Man in Full.

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    Reviews for How to Be Free

    4.5/5

    323 ratings11 reviews

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    • 5/5
      I've read the Handbook twice. This is the third time. I read it, part of it, this third time in New York City, in Central Park ... in the New York Public Library. I did not get to the snippets of the Discourses also included in this version. I love the accessibility of these thoughts. They're practical and less complicated than much other philosophy.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 4/5
      A really good book if you're new to stoic philosophy as it often reflects on earlier works of Stoicism
    • 5/5
      Great translation and great work overall. I will be re-listening to it!
    • 5/5
      This is one you should listen to over and over. However the introduction was too long for my personal tastes.
    • 1/5
      I listened to the whole book and I’m still in this cell. The guard didn’t even budge! I tried the door at least once every 10 minutes and the lock wasnt even loose. From the moment I saw the title I thought “Finally, now’s my chance! I’ll kill that bitch Sophie, always mowing her lawn at 10am when the whole neighborhood is sleeping and as long as I keep this audiobook loaded I’ll have my get out free card”. What a ripoff
    • 5/5
      A great translation of a classic. Long also gives an insightful introduction.
    • 5/5
      Very philosophical to the young minds of this generation. Excellent.
    • 2/5
      Not enough substance. Seems just a series of dos and don't.
    • 4/5
      Easy to follow, a great companion during my travel time.
    • 3/5
      Always enjoy stoic philosophy, but this one felt more like a list than other books in this series.
    • 5/5
      Great introduction and commentary intertwined with timeless wisdom. A must read for sure.