Meditations, Marcus Aurelius
Meditations, Marcus Aurelius
List: $14.62 | Sale: $10.23
Club: $7.31

Meditations
Penguin Classics

Author: Marcus Aurelius, Diskin Clay, Martin Hammond

Narrator: Richard Armitage

Unabridged: 6 hr 18 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 09/26/2019


Synopsis

Brought to you by Penguin.

This Penguin Classic is performed by Richard Armitage, star of Peter Jackson'sThe Hobbit trilogy and also known for his roles in Ocean's 8 and Spooks. This definitive recording includes an Introduction by Diskin Clay.

Originally written only for his personal consumption, Marcus Aurelius's Meditations has become a key text in the understanding of Roman Stoic philosophy. This Penguin Classics edition is translated with notes by Martin Hammond and an introduction by Diskin Clay.

Written in Greek by an intellectual Roman emperor without any intention of publication, the Meditations of Marcus Aurelius offer a wide range of fascinating spiritual reflections and exercises developed as the leader struggled to understand himself and make sense of the universe. Spanning from doubt and despair to conviction and exaltation, they cover such diverse topics as the question of virtue, human rationality, the nature of the gods and Aurelius's own emotions. But while the Meditations were composed to provide personal consolation, in developing his beliefs Marcus also created one of the greatest of all works of philosophy: a series of wise and practical aphorisms that have been consulted and admired by statesmen, thinkers and ordinary readers for almost two thousand years.

Martin Hammond's new translation fully expresses the intimacy and eloquence of the original work, with detailed notes elucidating the text. This edition also includes an introduction by Diskin Clay, exploring the nature and development of the Meditations, a chronology, further reading and full indexes.

Marcus Aelius Aurelius Antoninus (121-80) was adopted by the emperor Antoninus Pius and succeeded him in 161, (as joint emperor with adoptive brother Lucius Verus). He ruled alone from 169, and spent much of his reign in putting down various rebellions, and was a persecutor of Christians. His fame rest, above all, on his Meditations, a series of reflections, strongly influenced by Epictetus, which represent a Stoic outlook on life. He was succeeded by his natural son, thus ending the period of the adoptive emperors.

About Marcus Aurelius

Marcus Aurelius (April 121–March 180) was Roman emperor from 161 until his death. He ruled with Lucius Verus as co-emperor from 161 until Lucius's death in 169. Marcus was the last of the "Five Good Emperors" and is also considered one of the most important Stoic philosophers. His tenure was marked by wars in Asia against a revitalized Parthian Empire and with Germanic tribes along the Limes Germanicus into Gaul and across the Danube. A revolt in the East, led by Avidius Cassius, who previously fought under Lucius Verus against the Parthians, failed.

Marcus's work Meditations, written in Greek while on campaign between 170 and 180, is still revered as a literary monument to a government of service and duty.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Glenn on August 02, 2021

In many important ways, the reflections of Marcus Aurelius (121 AD-180 AD) crystallize the philosophical wisdom of the Greco-Roman world. This little book was written as a diary to himself while emperor fighting a war out on the boarder of the Roman Empire and today this book is known to us as The M......more

Goodreads review by Alexandra on December 29, 2014

This basically consists of Marcus Aurelius repeating, "Get it together, Marcus" to himself over and over again over the course of 12 chapters. SPOILER ALERT: -The time during which you are alive is very very brief compared to the time during which you did not exist and will not exist. -People who wro......more

Goodreads review by Sean Barrs on September 27, 2020

Look within: do not allow the special quality or worth of anything to pass you by. I love this quote and I love the wisdom that runs through this book. It’s such a simple idea and it is also a very true one. Make the most of everything and everyone, of every situation and chance that life......more

Goodreads review by Maru on May 10, 2015

Marcus gives us wise advice about using the Internet, particularly social networking sites: “...because most of what we say and do is not essential. If you can eliminate it, you'll have more time and more tranquillity. Ask yourself at every moment, is this necessary…” He shares his opinions on the wor......more

Goodreads review by Always on February 14, 2020

Someone lent me this because they thought it might help me feel better/change my thinking. I was like sure I'll give it a chance but like sorry to say it did nothing. I feel as though many of the things in there that might be helpful are things I've already gotten elsewhere by this point or attitude......more