Letters from a Stoic — Seneca

Paperback | Penguin Books | Reprint Edition (July 30, 1969)

The Gist

Seneca talks philosophy and life with his besties via snail mail.

Read if you like

• On the Shortness of Life also by Seneca

• Disclosures of Epictetus by Epictetus

• Meditations by Marcus Aurelius

• Essays

• Epistolary style

The Verdict: Worth the Read and the Buy

Over the course of his exile, Seneca corresponded with friends about a variety of subjects. Chief among them is philosophy. In particular, Seneca weaves in and out of both the Stoic and Epicurean schools. Though the conversation is one-sided (we never actually read what Seneca’s friends have written), each letter quickly and clearly defines the subject they are writing about. Though his style may feel a bit dated to us, the letters are very conversational. So while the letters may look dense and intimidating, they’re actually very easy to settle into. It also helps that the letters selected deal with a number of reoccurring things Seneca (e.g. getting older and being closer to death, dealing with life’s turbulence and unknowns) is wrestling with as a philosopher, a politician, and a human. At the core of each letter is a clear portrait of what it is to be a human being who is flawed and doesn’t always get things right the first time.