I have only heard about Seneca but never got the opportunity to read or get familiar with his philosophy. Now that I have read this I must say that it is quite intriguing and critical read. The main idea proposed by him is as follows- "We are not given a short life but we make it short, and we are not ill- supplied but wasteful of it". If we think along these lines then the modern advent of civilisational progress has only made it worse rather than making it better. We are equipped with much more and most of it is being wasted away rather than being used wisely.

Seneca contests that it is stupid to forget our mortality and put off sensible plans to our sixtieth and seventieth years. Although it's important to realise that external goods are really of trivial importance because prosperity does not elevate the sage and adversity does not depress him. I really liked this one paragraph in Seneca says "Let my mind be fixed on itself, cultivate itself, having no external interest- nothing that seeks the approval of another; let it cherish the tranquility that has no part in public or private concerns"

There are many more themes discussed in the book which struck a chord with me. I also feel that Seneca was much ahead of it time. If not told that this belongs to a certain era then one might not be able to predict. I look forward to reading more works of Seneca.