Showing titles in Greek & Roman

The life and thought of Diogenes the Cynic, an iconoclastic philosopher who pioneered a brash and free-thinking vision of life that inspired the philosophy of Stoicism—“a rich, engaging portrait of intellectual fearlessness” (Stacy Schiff, Pulitzer Prize–winning author of Cleopatra) In...

An immediate sensation when it was first published in two volumes in 1945, Popper's monumental achievement has attained legendary status on both the Left and Right and is credited with inspiring anticommunist dissidents during the Cold War. Arguing that the spirit of free, critical inquiry that governs scientific investigation should also apply to politics, Popper traces the roots of an opposite, authoritarian tendency to a tradition represented by Plato, Marx, and Hegel. 

Written in Greek by the only Roman emperor who was also a philosopher, without any intention of publication, the Meditations of Marcus Aurelius offer a remarkable series of challenging spiritual reflections and exercises developed as the emperor struggled to understand himself and make sense of the universe. While the Meditations were composed to provide personal consolation and encouragement, Marcus Aurelius also created one of the greatest of all works of philosophy: a timeless collection that has been consulted and admired by statesmen, thinkers and readers throughout the centuries.

'About things that are within our power and those that are not.' Epictetus' Discourses have been the most widely read and influential of all writings of Stoic philosophy, from antiquity onwards. They set out the core ethical principles of Stoicism in a form designed to help people put them into...

Epictetus, one of the greatest of the ancient thinkers, believed that the primary mission of philosophy is to help ordinary people meet the challenges of daily life and deal with losses, disappointments, and grief. His prescription for the good life: master desires, perform one's duties, and learn to think clearly about oneself and the larger community. In this accessible interpretation by Sharon Lebell, contemporary listeners will find useful advice from this ancient text. This recording also includes an interview with philosopher Jacob Needleman on the significance of Epictetus' work.

Own five of history's most influential books on strategy, power, war, and leadership in one complete audiobook. Together, these classics have shaped the thinking of military commanders, political leaders, entrepreneurs, executives, and strategists for centuries. Their lessons extend far beyond the battlefield, offering enduring insights into leadership, negotiation, competition, preparation, decision making, and human nature.

How to Win an Election is an ancient Roman guide for campaigning that is as up-to-date as tomorrow's headlines. In 64 BC when idealist Marcus Cicero, Rome's greatest orator, ran for consul (the highest office in the Republic), his practical brother Quintus decided he needed some no-nonsense advice on running a successful campaign.

More than 2,000 years later, Plato's Republic remains astonishingly relevant to our everyday lives. It poses one question after another that might well have been drawn from the headlines and debates of our nation's recent history: What sort of person should rule the state? Are all citizens equal before the law? Should everyone have equal access to health care? Plato's greater inquiry, however, was into the question of defining justice itself and the reasons why a person would choose a life aligned with that virtue.

The tradition of ancient philosophy is a long, rich, and varied one, in which a constant note is that of discussion and argument. This book introduces listeners to some ancient debates to engage with the ancient developments of some themes. Getting away from the presentation of ancient philosophy as a succession of Great Thinkers, the book gives listeners a sense of the freshness and liveliness of ancient philosophy and of its wide variety of themes and styles. 

How much of life is actually within your control? Epictetus begins with a distinction that shapes the entire Enchiridion: your judgments, choices, and responses are yours to work on, while reputation, possessions, other people's behavior, and many external events are not fully yours to command...

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 as a source for his own guidance and self-improvement. These books have been carefully adapted into contemporary form to allow for easy listening.

In Aristotle's Rhetoric, the philosopher identifies rhetoric as one of the three key elements of philosophy, along with logic and dialectic. According to Aristotle, logic is concerned with reasoning to reach scientific certainty while dialectic and rhetoric - because they are concerned with probability - are the branches of philosophy best suited to human affairs. Rhetoric is a tool for practical debate, a means for persuading a general audience to resolve practical issues using probable knowledge.

Brought to you by Penguin. What aspects of your life do you really control? What do you do when you cannot guarantee that things will turn out in your favour? And what can Stoicism teach us about how to live together? In the past few years, Stoicism has been making a comeback. But what exactly...

Lorsque l'on évoque René Descartes, viennent spontanément à l'esprit l'adjectif « cartésien » et la formule « Je pense, donc je suis ». Réduite à une exaltation de la seule raison, sa pensée est pourtant souvent simplifiée à l'excès. Cet ouvrage propose de dépasser ces lectures convenues en restituant la richesse et la complexité de son œuvre, où la méthode s'articule étroitement avec l'intuition et l'expérience du doute.

Spinoza passe pour un philosophe difficile à comprendre. Son système, pourtant, est extrêmement simple : tout découle de la parfaite nécessité de Dieu. Encore faut-il entendre le mot « Dieu » dans le sens donné par Spinoza : non un Dieu personnel, mais un principe d'unité pour toute la nature. Par le nombre de concepts qu'il aborde et la clarté de ses explications, ce livre propose une synthèse exigeante et accessible de son œuvre.

How does the most powerful man on Earth find peace when his world is in absolute chaos? Imagine holding a private, unfiltered diary written by a Roman Emperor on the active frontlines of war, under the dim light of a military tent. This is "Meditations" - the secret, raw journal of Marcus...

In an increasingly polarised world, asking better questions in our daily and working lives is a radical shortcut to personal and professional success. It can create space for us to rethink our positions, find answers together and even change our minds for the better.

Brought to you by Penguin. This Penguin Classic is performed by Jim Barclay, best known for their roles in The Young Ones and Jeeves and Wooster. This definitive recording includes an introduction by Christopher Rowe, also read by Jim Barclay. 'We set about founding the best city we could...

THE 'ELECTRIFYING' UNTOLD STORY OF SLAVERY IN THE ROMAN EMPIRE BY THE AUTHOR OF A FATAL THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM. 'Excellent . . . a thoughtful and refreshing, intimate and disturbing insight into the workings of the Roman Empire' - Sunday Times 'The most important book you'll ever...

The Practical Stoicism Collection brings together three essential works from the Stoic tradition. Together these works offer one of the clearest entrances into Stoicism: live according to reason, master the passions, accept what cannot be changed, and cultivate the inner freedom of a disciplined soul.