On the Shortness of Life (Penguin Great Ideas)

Timeless wisdom

The same conversations that saturate and permeate our media, our lives, our relationships were happening hundreds of years ago. The same human condition. The same questions. A beautiful book.

Great book. Motivating and thought provoking. Reminding the modern world that no matter how advanced we are, humanity seems to always have the same problem. Taking our lives and time for granted. A must read for everyone old and young alike..

Great book. Motivating and thought provoking. Reminding the modern world that no matter how advanced we are, humanity seems to always have the same problem. Taking our lives and time for granted. A must read for everyone old and young alike..

Probably one of the best writings that have held the test of time. I recommend this book for anyone. I picked it up because Neil Strauss recommended it on a Podcast. The Shortness of Life really puts life in a new perspective.

Extremely useful even for those who aren't typically philosophising their lives away.

Depending on how much time you spend thinking about life in general or who you talk to your mileage may vary - at the very least it provides plenty of reminders about how we can all live a more fulfilling life, at most it can completely change your outlook on life.

Seneca takes the stance of Socrates, "the unexamined life is not worth living" and builds on it --suggesting ways to make luge both worthwhile and truly enjoyable.

Book nerd sidenote: the paper used for this book is great quality! I highlight the hell out of books, and nothing bleeds through -- which is good, bc you'll want to mark it up.

This is a good book, definitely worth reading, but I expected more from it...perhaps because of a lengthy review I read heartily praising its contents and prompting me to purchase it. I was just a bit disappointed, but again, definitely worth reading once. :)

Seneca's wisdom will forever echo and flow like a river through the human psyche, shedding light on the shadowy, slippery, jaded rocks and soothing the soul to sway and playfully dance with the sails of the sea of Fortune.

Hard to believe we are separated by 2000 years. More like he is having a morning coffee with you, discussing people and historical figures.Very perspicacious in his insights into people - more like a novelist-and a broad view.
Have to remember he was a patrician, wealthy and in favour with the emperor Nero almost until the end of his
life and had household slaves all of which may have given him a distorted view of the world.Talking to his household slaves would have been interesting too!
Of course, his view that men show their character in the manner of meeting their death,is all very well but we're all full of bravado till we have our guts shot out!
Being a coin collector, I particularly take to heart
' that man ... who arranges with anxious precision his Corinthian bronzes, the cost of which is inflated by the mania of a few collectors and spends most of the day on rusty bits of metal.'
The Stoic philosopher can still teach us!
I wonder how Seneca filled his days? Did he practice what he preached? Few preachers do!