Letters from a Stoic: Epistulae Morales Ad Lucilium

I apologize in advance. This is just another book written for a dead man. The messages appear enlightening. However, the original author had no realistic outlook for oneself or others. Discriminating against himself and fellow man. Lacking true loyalty and compassion. While the subject is relevant today, it raises the question. If death is merely the absence of pain and pleasure, we are dead once we no longer accept either. The stoic is immobilized, afraid to speak his truth. Therefore, he was reduced to write it. Reminds me of a cyber bully or an absentee "friend" who uses self justification for their distasteful actions. If you can not love correctly, do not shame others for it. If you can not apologize properly, don't act like you deserve to be forgiven. Wars have deafened our ears, and the internal war within ourselves is not one that will ever be quiet. People only lie and adapt to the conditions that are presented before them. Bet he never got a woman off, either.

I am disappointed in my own ability to be disciplined and self-possessed enough to focus on the topics discussed by Seneca in his letters. Many passages confused me or bored me and delayed my reading greatly, causing me to become unmotivated. This of course is not Seneca's fault but my own. I believe the lessons taught in his letters are of utmost importance to the value of stoicism as a whole and learning to apply it. However, every page reminded me of my cognitive weaknesses and it was an arduous process to get through to the end. I believe that I lost most of the value in those pages due to my inattention or lack of patience, as I would often read through parts without truly taking the time to comprehend them. If you are going to read this book of letters, be ready to take notes and do it seriously over the course of a month or more, otherwise I fear it is impossible to truly register and begin applying few of his teachings.

Another review points out that Cicero isn't super profound, but pratical. I think that's what most of us need, just some sound practical advice. Funny, how a lot of what he writes about addresses the same problems we have today, from 2100 years ago.