Meditations (illustrated)

One measure, perhaps, of a book's worth, is its intergenerational pliancy: do new readers
acquire it and interpret it afresh down through the ages? The Meditations of Marcus
Aurelius, translated and introduced by Gregory Hays, by that standard, is very
worthwhile, indeed. Hays suggests that its most recent incarnation--as a self-help
book--is not only valid, but may be close to the author's intent. The book, which
Hays calls, fondly, a "haphazard set of notes," is indicative of the role of philosophy
among the ancients in that it is "expected to provide a 'design for living.'" And it does,
both aphoristically ("Think of yourself as dead. You have lived your life. Now take
what's left and live it properly.") and rhetorically ("What is it in ourselves that
we should prize?"). Whether these, and other entries ("Enough of this wretched,
whining monkey life.") sound life-changing or like entries in a teenager's diary is
up to the individual reader, as it should be. Hays's introduction, which sketches
the life of Marcus Aurelius (emperor of Rome A.D. 161-180) as well as the basic
tenets of stoicism,
is accessible and jaunty.

Includes unique illustrations.