Breakfast with Seneca

A Stoic Guide to the Art of Living

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Pub Date Dec 14 2021 | Archive Date Nov 30 2021

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Description

The first clear and faithful guide to the timeless, practical teachings of the Stoic philosopher Seneca.

Stoicism, the most influential philosophy of the Roman Empire, offers refreshingly modern ways to strengthen our inner character in the face of an unpredictable world. Widely recognized as the most talented and humane writer of the Stoic tradition, Seneca teaches us to live with freedom and purpose. His most enduring work, over a hundred “Letters from a Stoic” written to a close friend, explains how to handle adversity; overcome grief, anxiety, and anger; transform setbacks into opportunities for growth; and recognize the true nature of friendship.

In Breakfast with Seneca, philosopher David Fideler mines Seneca’s classic works in a series of focused chapters, clearly explaining Seneca’s ideas without oversimplifying them. Best enjoyed as a daily ritual, like an energizing cup of coffee, Seneca’s wisdom provides us with a steady stream of time-tested advice about the human condition—which, as it turns out, hasn’t changed much over the past two thousand years.

About the Author: David Fideler is a writer, philosopher, and the editor of the Stoic Insights website. Born in the United States, he currently lives in Sarajevo with his wife and son, where he still enjoys his breakfasts with Seneca.

The first clear and faithful guide to the timeless, practical teachings of the Stoic philosopher Seneca.

Stoicism, the most influential philosophy of the Roman Empire, offers refreshingly modern...


Advance Praise

"You'll feel as if you're joining David Fideler to breakfast with Seneca while discussing his philosophical letters. It's a great introduction to both Seneca and Stoicism and will even help those already familiar with these writings to gain more benefit from them." - Donald Robertson, author of How to Think Like a Roman Emperor

"This book is the perfect antidote to the commercialism and superficial values of modern times. Although Seneca was living two thousand years ago, he speaks directly to us today. David Fideler breaks Seneca's teachings down into easily comprehensible chunks and is concerned throughout to stress the practical, therapeutic aspects: how to deal with grief; how to be in the present moment; how to live a good life whatever the circumstances. He channels Seneca without distortion and makes him accessible to the twenty-first-century reader." - Robin Waterfield, translator of Marcus Aurelius and Epictetus

"What the world needs now, more than ever, is fellow feeling, authentic community, and artful living. But how to achieve this tall order? David Fideler applies the wisdom of Seneca to show us the way. A feast for the soul and spirit, those who absorb the lessons in Breakfast With Seneca will embark on a life more worth living, liberating their minds and hearts and setting an inspirational stage for generations to come." - Christopher Phillips PhD, author of Socrates Cafe

"I have lately noticed that when I find myself in a tight spot, I take a philosophical short-cut and simply ask, “What would Seneca do?” David Fideler’s wonderful Breakfast with Seneca will come in handy in such situations. Besides being an accessible introduction to Stoic practice and to the Stoic philosophy in general, the book is full of advice from Seneca, often in his own words, on how to cope with life’s challenges." - William B. Irvine, author of A Guide to the Good LIfe and The Stoic Challenge

"This is a fine guide to Seneca, Stoicism, and what it means to live a Stoic life. As David Fideler unquestionably shows, Seneca’s advice is as relevant and useful today as it was when it was first written almost two thousand years ago. Highly readable, Breakfast with Seneca not only explains key Stoic ideas but also shows how to incorporate them into one’s own life." - John Sellars, author of Lessons in Stoicism

"What can we possibly learn from a sickly, two-thousand-year-old Roman philosopher? Quite a lot, it turns out, as David Fideler demonstrates so convincingly in Breakfast with Seneca. Seneca is the Stoic philosopher everyone has heard of, sort of, but few really know. Fideler enlightens us, and in a wonderfully simple and honest style that mirrors that of his subject. This is a rare gem of a book: simultaneously comforting and challenging, edifying and entertaining. Reading Breakfast with Seneca is like sitting down for a good cup of coffee with a wise and compassionate friend." - Eric Weiner, author of The Socrates Express

"You'll feel as if you're joining David Fideler to breakfast with Seneca while discussing his philosophical letters. It's a great introduction to both Seneca and Stoicism and will even help those...


Available Editions

EDITION Other Format
ISBN 9780393531664
PRICE $26.95 (USD)

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Featured Reviews

Breakfast with Seneca by David Fideler shares the key teachings from the Stoic philosopher Seneca, an advisor to the Roman Emperor Nero. This book explains Seneca's teachings and shares new translations of his texts, while also providing background information on Stoicism. The book shares the 8 core teachings of Roman Stoicism to provide a foundation for Seneca and his worldview. By explaining these teachings, the book then ties these teachings to our daily lives to realize the human condition is common throughout the ages.

This book tackles a variety of topics such as the importance of friendship, dealing with difficult emotions, avoidance and escaping, and much more. I found each of the topics to stand on their own and did not find the book to be repetitive. One of the chapters that I connected to was Chapter 5: Wherever You Go, There You Are: You Can't Escape Yourself. I found the various anecdotes to be interesting and also appreciated how the author contrasted a Stoic and non-Stoic lens in the chapter.

To me, the best part was the variety of exercises the author shares to practice Stoicism in daily life. I find many of these exercises to be incredibly helpful. While not all are completely new to me, I enjoyed the reminder of previous ones and the addition of those I have not practiced before.

Overall, I truly enjoyed this book and believe many would benefit from reading this book -- even if just for the exercises!

Many thanks to the publisher W. W. Norton & Company and Netgalley for the ARC in return for an honest review.

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