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How to Think Like a Roman Emperor

The Stoic Philosophy of Marcus Aurelius

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How to Think Like a Roman Emperor

By: Donald J. Robertson
Narrated by: Donald J. Robertson
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About this listen

"This book is a wonderful introduction to one of history's greatest figures: Marcus Aurelius. His life and this book are a clear guide for those facing adversity, seeking tranquility and pursuing excellence." — Ryan Holiday, bestselling author of The Obstacle is the Way and The Daily Stoic

The life-changing principles of Stoicism taught through the story of its most famous proponent.

Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius was the final famous Stoic philosopher of the ancient world. The Meditations, his personal journal, survives to this day as one of the most loved self-help and spiritual classics of all time. In How to Think Like a Roman Emperor, psychotherapist Donald Robertson weaves stories of Marcus’s life from the Roman histories together with explanations of Stoicism—its philosophy and its psychology—to enlighten today’s listeners. He discusses Stoic techniques for coping with everyday problems, from irrational fears and bad habits to anger, pain, and illness.

How to Think Like a Roman Emperor takes listeners on a transformative journey along with Marcus, following his progress from a young noble at the court of Hadrian—taken under the wing of some of the finest philosophers of his day—through to his reign as emperor of Rome at the height of its power. Robertson shows how Marcus used philosophical doctrines and therapeutic practices to build emotional resilience and endure tremendous adversity, and guides listeners through applying the same methods to their own lives.

Combining remarkable stories from Marcus’s life with insights from modern psychology and the enduring wisdom of his philosophy, How to Think Like a Roman Emperor puts a human face on Stoicism and offers a timeless and essential guide to handling the ethical and psychological challenges we face today.

©2019 Donald Robertson (P)2019 Macmillan Audio
Greek & Roman History Personal Development Personal Success Philosophy Stoicism Inspiring Meditation Ancient History Roman Philosophy

Critic Reviews

"This book is a wonderful introduction to one of history's greatest figures: Marcus Aurelius. His life and this book are a clear guide for those facing adversity, seeking tranquility and pursuing excellence." (Ryan Holiday, best-selling author of The Obstacle Is the Way and The Daily Stoic)

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Loved it I highly recommend this book great insight into Stoicism and Marcus Aurelius good for anyone new to Stoicism

Great book

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The book overall is a really great read on stoicism. It gives you life tips and views which have the possibility to change one's life. It teaches us how to be calmer in any situation, how to stop fearing death and more. In addition, the book has sections which are written and spoken more like a history textbook rather than a self-help book. This is in no way a bad thing, however, it may put some people off.

The only problems I have with the book is the narration and the final chapter. The narration isn't bad by any means, it just takes a little while to get used to the Scottish accent of the narrator, however, this is a very trivial complaint. Another issue I had with the book is the final chapter, specifically the middle of it. It honestly sounded borderline like the writer had an acid trip and began running his mouth, it just felt like babbling more than anything else, however, this was also a very small complaint.

Overall, the book is definitely worth the read and the purchase, I would give it 4.5/5 stars if I were able to.

A Great Read on Stoicism

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lf only this information was part of our education system. This should part of an MBA.

History is the answer

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Many audiobooks are made unnecessarily difficult to listen to because of bad narration. Not this one.

This was a peaceful and calm teaching of stoic philosophy.

Confidently relaxed narration

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Robertson gives a guide on how to empathize with Marcus, thus arms the reader with a model to review their interpretations of the meditations. Major themes are discussed and contextualised nicely and in the spirt of stoicism.

Helps clarify the meditations

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The content is enthralling. I found the last chapter profound and listened to it with tears in my eyes.

The Author’s narration is absolutely perfect. Nobody could have done a better job. I hope he narrates more books.

Spectacular.

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Loved the theory being explored through the lens of story telling Macy’s Aurelius’s life. Highly recommended.

Just fantastic

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The book is engaging, insightful, and filled with real-world applications, making it a must-read for anyone seeking a calmer, more rational approach to life’s challenges. Whether you’re new to Stoicism or a seasoned practitioner, this book provides invaluable lessons on how to navigate adversity with wisdom and grace.

How to think like a Stoic !!

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Love this way to learn . Story makes it personable. A book I’ll listen to again.

Wisdom in story form

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this book is a truly excellent and fascinating introduction to stoicism . I will be listening again

stoicism

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