Reviews

On the Shortness of Life: The Stoic Classic by Lucius Annaeus Seneca

_noemi_'s review against another edition

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informative reflective fast-paced

3.0

alexeysidoruk's review against another edition

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3.0

At first I thought if you have read one stoic you know them all, but as I read I found much pleasure in the book. 

Seneca explain what happens to your life, why it seems short and hollow, how you can make the best of it. His advice is compelling, but it implies position: I am not my brother’s keeper. As far as I know this has never led to the good.

Since I have read Meditations by Marcus Aurelius one question have been bothering me. Why two great stoics who get prominency in Roman politics had no lasting impact on Empire. They appeared before the major crises and did not address their causes. After this book I have an answer.

You’d probably want everyone in your city to read the book, but certainly not the mayor. 

storyjuiceman's review against another edition

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hopeful informative reflective fast-paced

3.25

readlittledove's review against another edition

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4.0

It is like a treatise on how to live, how to be, with deliberations on the most common human struggles that assail us. So many incredible insights here. Seneca was a wise and enlightened being for sure. My only complaint, as usual with Seneca's work, is that it can seem patronising. He writes as if he were lecturing you, droning on continuously. But other than that, such a great read and I cannot wait to annotate my highlights.

olivegregory's review against another edition

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hopeful reflective slow-paced

3.0

eamgibs's review against another edition

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inspiring reflective slow-paced

4.0

grantj00's review against another edition

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5.0

Very short pamphlet concentrating Seneca’s views on urgency into 40 pages. Why do we worry so much more about giving some money than an hour of our time? Our time is so, so, so valuable.

kaceyyy's review against another edition

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2.0

A bit rambly and lacking in nuance but some interesting takes 

sethjames's review against another edition

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challenging inspiring medium-paced

5.0

ellies_92's review against another edition

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informative inspiring reflective fast-paced

4.5

Dovrebbe essere un MUST READ obbligatorio per tutti. 
Sarà che l'ho letto anche nel momento giusto della mia vita ma mi ha spronata a continuare verso la direzione che già stavo prendendo per non "sprecare" la mia vita rendendola breve. 
Non do 5 stelle piene per 2 cosucce: 
- 1. Da quanto scrive si evince che l'unico uso saggio della vita é la filosofia, mi sembra un po' pretenzioso. Anche le arti, come la musica ad esempio, vengono messe nella categoria delle "perdite di tempo". A mio modesto parere ognuno ha il suo scopo nella vita, e sebbene sia importante farsi certe domande universali non tutti possiamo diventare filosofi. Avrei preferito un'esortazione a trovare il proprio scopo, perseguire i propri talenti, etc. 
- 2. Non ho saputo cogliere alcune citazioni a eventi o personaggi, ma mi rengo conto che sono io e non è Seneca.