The average reader, reading at a speed of 300 WPM, would take 2 hours and 45 minutes to read Meditations by Marcus Aurelius. As an Amazon Associate, How Long to Read earns from qualifying purchases. Thank you for helping to keep this site running! Check it out on Amazon! Listen to the audiobook on Audible!
Table of Contents
Is meditation worth reading?
Yes, you should read it. Marcus Aurelius’s Meditations serves as both a compact treatise on living a happier, more virtuous life and an excellent introduction to Stoic philosophy.
Why you should read Meditations by Marcus Aurelius?
What’s remarkable about the Meditations is that we get to read the private self-improvement journal of a Roman emperor; the most powerful human being in the world in his time, and possibly any other; the fifth and last of Rome’s so-called “good emperors”.
Is Meditations a self-improvement book?
Meditations is a series of personal writings by Marcus Aurelius, Roman Emperor from 161 to 180 AD, recording his private notes to himself and ideas on Stoic philosophy. Marcus Aurelius wrote the 12 books of the Meditations in Koine Greek as a source for his own guidance and self-improvement.
Which version of Meditations should I read?
Gregory Hays This is the most popular modern translation of The Meditations. It’s concise but very engaging and accessible, written in a style well-suited to lay readers.
What should I read after meditation?
- Antifragile by Nassim Nicholas Taleb.
- Self Reliance by Ralph Waldo Emerson.
- The Bhagavad Gita.
- Striking Thoughts by Bruce Lee.
- Maxims and Reflections by Goethe.
- In Praise of Idleness by Bertrand Russell.
- Walden by Henry David Thoreau.
Is Marcus Aurelius Meditations a good book?
It is imminently readable and perfectly accessible. You cannot read this book and not come away with a phrase or a line that will be helpful to you the next time you are in trouble. Read it, it is practical philosophy embodied. Despite his privileges as an Emperor, Marcus Aurelius had a difficult life.
How do I read Marcus Meditations?

What version of Meditations should I read Reddit?
The translation by Gregory Hays is the most popular here, but there are sometimes questions about its accuracy. Other widely recommended translations include those of the Robin Hard, Hammond, and Hicks and Hicks.
What does the quote by Marcus Aurelius mean?
Marcus Aurelius explains that you always have control over your mind. Regardless of what may be going on around you, you choose what to tell yourself about what’s happening, and that determines how you feel. In addition, your happiness doesn’t depend on any external event.
Why are self-help books useless?
These can be grouped into three categories: Bad effect: Self-help books give wrong and sometimes harmful advice, they give false hope, they make uncertain people just feel worse about themselves, or they make people refrain from seeking professional support.
Which is the best book to read?
- To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee.
- 1984, by George Orwell.
- Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, by J.K. Rowling.
- The Lord of the Rings, by J.R.R. Tolkien.
- The Great Gatsby, by F.
- Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen.
- The Diary Of A Young Girl, by Anne Frank.
- The Book Thief, by Markus Zusak.
Do successful people read self-help books?
85% of rich people read two or more education, career-related, or self-improvement books per month, compared to 15% of poor.
How do you read Stoicism?

What language did Marcus Aurelius speak?
The Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius spoke Latin and Greek. Latin was the common language of the Roman Empire for most of its existence. Further, Marcus Aurelius wrote his philosophical work, Meditations, in Greek.
Who has read Marcus Aurelius?
Bill Clinton โ The former president reads Marcus Aurelius’s Meditations every year. You can read more in this New York Times story. Theodore Roosevelt โ Theodore Roosevelt, one of history’s most resilient leaders, brought Epictetus and Marcus Aurelius on his deadly “River of Doubt” expedition.
How do you become a Stoic?
- Develop An Internal Locus Of Control.
- Guard Your Time.
- Don’t Outsource Your Happiness.
- Stay Focused When Confronted With Distractions.
- Toss Away Ego And Vanity.
- Consolidate Your Thoughts In Writing.
- Stand Your Ground.
- Imagine The Worst That Could Happen.
Who founded Stoicism?
Stoicism takes its name from the place where its founder, Zeno of Citium (Cyprus), customarily lecturedโthe Stoa Poikile (Painted Colonnade). Zeno, who flourished in the early 3rd century bce, showed in his own doctrines the influence of earlier Greek attitudes, particularly those mentioned above.
What is a Stoic philosopher?
Stoicism is a school of philosophy that hails from ancient Greece and Rome in the early parts of the 3rd century, BC. It is a philosophy of life that maximizes positive emotions, reduces negative emotions and helps individuals to hone their virtues of character.
How do you think like Romans?
In How to Think Like a Roman Emperor, cognitive psychotherapist Donald Robertson weaves the life and philosophy of Marcus Aurelius together seamlessly to provide a compelling modern-day guide to the Stoic wisdom followed by countless individuals throughout the centuries as a path to achieving greater fulfillment and …
How can I be like Marcus Aurelius?

Who translated Meditations by Marcus Aurelius?
According to Guinness World Records as of 1995, the Bible is the best-selling book of all time with an estimated 5 billion copies sold and distributed.
What is Stoicism Marcus Aurelius?
Stepping back from emotional and physical chaos to reach a state of calm, clear-headed thinking is the bedrock of Stoicism, a philosophy famously practiced by Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius.
Is Marcus Aurelius copyrighted?
Works about Marcus Aurelius Works by this author published before January 1, 1927 are in the public domain worldwide because the author died at least 100 years ago. Translations or editions published later may be copyrighted.
What is Marcus Aurelius most famous quote?
- “You have power over your mind – not outside events.
- “Dwell on the beauty of life.
- “The happiness of your life depends upon the quality of your thoughts.”
- “Everything we hear is an opinion, not a fact.
- “Waste no more time arguing about what a good man should be.