This book guides us through the fascinating life and writings of Marcus Aurelius, the only Roman emperor celebrated for centuries for his decency and earnest Stoic philosophy. Philosopher William O. Stephens explores Marcus’ reluctant rise to power, his marriage and his efforts to mould his son into a successor. He examines Marcus’ Stoic tenets as he describes the struggles of dealing with a fifteen-year pandemic, the betrayal of a trusted general, social upheaval centred on a new ‘superst...

Soon after Aristotle's death, several schools of ancient philosophy arose, each addressing the practical question of how to live a good, happy life. The two biggest rivals, Stoicism and Epicureanism, came to dominate the philosophical landscape for the next 500 years. Epicureans advised pursuing pleasure to be happy, and Stoics held that true happiness could only be achieved by living according to nature, which required accepting what happens and fulfilling one's roles. Stoicism, more than...

This book is a clear and concise introduction to the Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius Antoninus. His one major surviving work, often titled 'meditations' but literally translated simply as 'to himself', is a series of short, sometimes enigmatic reflections divided seemingly arbitrarily into twelve books and apparently written only to be read by him. For these reasons Marcus is a particularly difficult thinker to understand. His musings, framed as 'notes to self' or 'memoranda', are the exhort...

This text remains the only English translation of Bonhöffer’s classic, definitive examination of Epictetus’s ethics. Thorough, knowledgeable, perceptive, and accessible, the unity of this book and its thematic presentation make it an invaluable resource for both scholars and general readers eager to apply Stoic thinking in their daily lives. The translation is crisp, clear, consistent, and very readable. Careful attention to the details and nuances of the German as well as the Greek of Epi...

For anyone approaching the Encheiridion of Epictetus for the first time, this book provides a comprehensive guide to understanding a complex philosophical text. Including a full translation and clear explanatory commentaries, *Epictetus's '*Encheiridion' introduces readers to a hugely influential work of Stoic philosophy. Scott Aikin and William O. Stephens unravel the core themes of Stoic ethics found within this ancient handbook. Focusing on the core themes of self-cont...

From bookshelves overflowing with self-help books to scholarly treatises on neurobiology to late-night infomercials that promise to make you happier, healthier, and smarter with the acquisition of just a few simple practices, the discourse of habit is a staple of contemporary culture high and low. Discussion of habit, however, tends to neglect the most fundamental questions: What is habit? Habits, we say, are hard to break. But what does it mean to break a habit? Where and how do habits ta...

The title has a familiar poetic ring to it. It is the second half of a rhyme that goes back to 1475, when William Caxton wrote a book about games The Game and Playe of the Cheese. It was a divination game, about who you were going to marry. Then AA Milne recycled it in 1927, in Now We Are Six. It is a playful turn of phrase, but serious too. So it is both traditional and relevant, like the book, which has recycled "beggar man" as "bogyman", to fit the narrative. And for gender balance, "po...

In 1737, Englishman William Stephens (1671--1753) sailed to Georgia to serve as colonial secretary to its British Board of Trustees. His lucid reports on the condition of Georgia deeply impressed the board, which eventually appointed him president of the troubled colony. The elderly Stephens adroitly shepherded the fledgling settlement over the following decade through a precarious and tumultuous period. Though Stephens's actions proved critical to the survival of colonial Georgia, histori...

Stephen Arnold Douglas was a prominent American politician and lawyer, best known for his role in the debates with Abraham Lincoln during the 1858 Illinois Senate race. His advocacy for popular sovereignty in the territories made him a key figure in the contentious issues surrounding slavery in the United States. Douglas's political career was marked by his commitment to the Democratic Party and his influence in shaping the nation's policies during a tumultuous period. His legacy is often ...

Get the best sex ever with these sexy positions!Now you achieve satisfying climax on this book!Are you in a position of looking for better satisfaction in sex?"The Cliffhanger is an explosive position for me and my woman—really gets you to a mind-blowing orgasm!" – Barbara V.Having sex is not all about having orgasm. It also needs variety to achieve better pleasure.This book offers you the best woman to woman positions to satisfy that need to look for ...

This multiple award-winning anthology of twenty psychological and supernatural horror stories explores the outer limits of fear.To create this volume, renowned horror editor Ellen Datlow wrote to her favorite authors asking for stories that would "provide the reader with a frisson of shock, or a moment of dread so powerful it might cause the reader outright physical discomfort; or a sensation of fear so palpable that the reader feels impelled to turn up the lights v...

Lösungsorientierte Skills für Coachs Dieser Band bietet einen Überblick über Techniken und Skills des lösungsorientierten Coachings. Die Autoren führen Erkenntnisse aus der Literatur und eigene Erfahrungen zusammen und reflektieren u.a. welche Rolle Ethik im Coaching spielt, Besonderheiten des Gruppen- und Team-Coachings oder die Beziehung zwischen Coach und Coachee. Fallbeispiele, Arbeitsblätter, Praxistipps und Fragen zur vertiefenden Reflexion und Diskussion führen direkt in die Praxis....