I’m generally a big fan of books that make deep philosophical concepts more accessible and applicable to our current lives (see also: Michael Schur’s How to be Perfect) - and this book does just that for Stoicism. This philosophy is such a perfect answer for how to deal with constant global crises, anxieties, and competition - our problems are actually not all that different from the problems of the original Stoics. It provides real, actionable ways to focus on what’s in your control, cultivate tranquility, and enjoy life, and Delaney spells out exactly what she learned in her four-year project so you can do it too.

There’s so much that is scarily relevant to our modern world written by Seneca and Marcus Aurelius. Their words echo deeply when it comes to dealing with overconsumption, consumerism, capitalism, FOMO, social media, road rage, comparison, climate crises, plagues, death, and more. I love the idea that Stoicism provides the insights, comfort, and guidance that religion provides for many without needing to have faith in something unknowable: it focuses on your character, being good for goodness’ sake, and making the most of what little time we have here.

There are still a few things that still leave me with questions. Namely, I’m not fully satisfied with the Stoics’ answer to how to enact social change or respond to global crises such as climate change. Being able to fight climate change is not within any one person’s direct control, and constant anxiety over it is unproductive and harmful. Stoics would say to do everything you can individually to address the problem - live in moderation, model sustainable behaviors, call your representatives, lobby for climate action, vote with your dollar. At the end of the day, I know this is all one person truly can do. But that still doesn’t feel right or feel like enough unless every single person acted this way. I totally see the logic and flow of Stoic thought on this, but it feels unsatisfying nonetheless.

That aside, I loved how approachable this book was. It’s exactly the kind of actionable, logical, and helpful guide I feel like I’ve been needing for all the problems in the world right now, and Delaney’s digest of it made it even more relevant and helpful than if I just picked up Meditations itself.