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Meditations
 
 
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Meditations (Paperback)

by Marcus Aurelius (Author)
4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (62 customer reviews)
Price: CDN$ 4.00 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over CDN$ 39. Details
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Product Description

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One measure, perhaps, of a book's worth, is its intergenerational pliancy: do new readers acquire it and interpret it afresh down through the ages? The Meditations of Marcus Aurelius, translated and introduced by Gregory Hays, by that standard, is very worthwhile, indeed. Hays suggests that its most recent incarnation--as a self-help book--is not only valid, but may be close to the author's intent. The book, which Hays calls, fondly, a "haphazard set of notes," is indicative of the role of philosophy among the ancients in that it is "expected to provide a 'design for living.'" And it does, both aphoristically ("Think of yourself as dead. You have lived your life. Now take what's left and live it properly.") and rhetorically ("What is it in ourselves that we should prize?"). Whether these, and other entries ("Enough of this wretched, whining monkey life.") sound life-changing or like entries in a teenager's diary is up to the individual reader, as it should be. Hays's introduction, which sketches the life of Marcus Aurelius (emperor of Rome A.D. 161-180) as well as the basic tenets of stoicism, is accessible and jaunty. --H. O'Billovich --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.


Product Description

Stirring reflections on the human condition from a warrior and emperor provide a fascinating glimpse into the mind and personality of a highly principled Roman of the 2nd century. Recognizing that suffering is at the core of life, he counsels stoic detachment in the face of inevitable pain, loss and death.
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Customer Reviews

62 Reviews
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Average Customer Review
4.5 out of 5 stars (62 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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14 of 19 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars Avoid this inferior 'dumbed down' translation, Mar 23 2004
By Keith Appleyard "kapple999" (Brighton, UK) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
This review is from: Meditations (Paperback)
I picked up this more modern translation of this work, and phrases like 'junk' and 'if you keep putting things off' leapt out of the text. Consternation - did the Greek original actually have words like that? It was a 'modern' translation - 'modern' as in 'dumbing down'.

So I went looking for another translation, only 40 years old, but more faithful to the original, as in 'think of your many years of procrastination' rather than 'if you keep putting things off'. I don't view it as 'colloquial', I view it as patronising.

I'm sorry, but if you can't handle good English, and need the 'dumber' versions, then you're probably too dumb to appreciate the finer points of the work in the first place. Both versions were the same price, so that didn't influence my decision.

One reviewer mentioned it was translated from the Greek, and another reviewer corrected them as he was a Roman. If the second person had actually read the book correctly, he would have discovered that this book was written in Greek - thus another mark of the man.

Then you can sit back and invest your time in truly enjoying the thoughts & the musings of this interesting man.

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4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting But Very Dark, Oct 14 2008
By Patrick Sullivan (Kingston, Ont. Canada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
This review is from: Meditations (Paperback)
This is a great introduction to classical philosophy. Marcus Aurelius`s lessons of life can be used by anyone. Aurelius was one of Romes greatest Emperors, yet his words make him so down to earth.
The one draw back, is the very dark side of the book. There is a constant death reference throughout the book. Who cares, in hundred years we will all be dead. Aurelius seems to always have this thought on his mind.
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5.0 out of 5 stars A BOOK FROM A RARE, SELDOM "WISE" EMPEROR, Nov 19 2004
By alaskadoggie (Boom (near Antwerp), BELGIUM) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)   
This review is from: Meditations (Paperback)
Marcus Aurelius, the emperor-philosopher, ruled the immense Roman Empire from 161 untill 180. He is the last representative of the Stoa. In this book, also known by the name "Diaries of M.A.", written between 170 and 180 in his army camp, he reflects about his ideals and his doubts. In his meditations one can (constantly) very well distinguish the ideas of a living human being, a man ... ruled by the universe of the divine providence, where all men live as fellow citizens of the gods. With far more warmth than one may expect from a stoic, Marcus Aurelius emphasizes the social "duties" and the feelings of solidarity that originate of them.

Another ever-recurring motive is the personal liberty, freedom of the individual. This is quite normal because ALL DEPENDS on our judgments (in the sense of 'impression') of the circumstances. Very often WE SUFFER FAR MORE OF OUR JUDGMENT of something or of a situation that we consider "terrible", THAN OF THE SUBJECT ITSELF !! For example a poor constitution (of the body) and other adversities cannot/could NOT HAVE influence our own inner compass...
Top of the shelf literature, STRONGLY RECOMMENDED to ALL OF YOU!!

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 		 Most recent customer reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Best translation of this classic
This is my favorite translation of the meditations, an opinion further solidified yesterday when I went to the book store to get a last-minute graduation gift for a young man, and... Read more
Published on Jun 6 2004 by grouper52

4.0 out of 5 stars I love M. A. Antonio 's Spiritual Execises
This translation may not be perfect, but it is a good resource for wise choice making. Although, Marcus Aurelius persecuted Christians (a sect in his time) his virtues and stoic... Read more
Published on May 11 2004 by Celia A. Escalante

4.0 out of 5 stars 4* Read this one and avoid any inferior translations
There's some confusion over the editorial & reviews. This edition is translated by Staniforth, and that is the one to read. Read more
Published on Mar 23 2004 by Keith Appleyard

5.0 out of 5 stars An Exploration of Character and Integrity
I'm awestruck - just got this today. To think it was written over 1800 years ago! Aurelius combines strict adherence to doing the right thing with a wild and dark sense of humor... Read more
Published on Mar 21 2004 by Ed Luhrs

4.0 out of 5 stars Stoicism for Monarchs
If you are at all interested in the history of philosophical or theological thought, then you will want to acquaint yourself with the writings of Marcus Aurelius. Read more
Published on Jan 14 2004 by Peter Reeve

5.0 out of 5 stars Way, way before its time
Meditations is the kind of book you can just open up to any page and learn from, a still-relevant lesson about how to set priorities in what Socrates called the examined life. Read more
Published on Oct 23 2003 by Eric J. Lyman

5.0 out of 5 stars a diamond
The Meditations are terse statements, aphorisms, notes, even reminders. Some are like fragmented dialogues, which I find fascinated. Some are very hard to get a hold of. Read more
Published on Oct 5 2003 by David C. Pecot

5.0 out of 5 stars Two for the price of one
This book is really two pamphlets in one. Each is well worth reading in its own right. Together, they are a real treat. Read more
Published on Oct 3 2003 by lowellcy

5.0 out of 5 stars The philosophical notes of a Roman emperor
Marcus Aurelius was an emperor of Rome. He was bought up in the stoic philosophical tradition of many of the Roman upper classes. Read more
Published on Sep 14 2003 by K. Maxwell

5.0 out of 5 stars A Little Dry, But Great
This edition of Marcus Aurelius' 'Meditations' is an excellent rendition of what may be the most profound book of insight meditation ever written. Read more
Published on Aug 31 2003 by Timothy Dougal

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