Enchiridion
Epictetus · A short handbook of Stoic advice on living a good, calm life.
2 people say it helped them, in their own words on Hacker News.
What people said
Epictetus' Enchiridion helped me massively with depression and anxiety over the past few years. I still read a few excerpts from it weekly.
I have found that in my own times of trouble and profound sadness that two books have helped me cope.
Description from Open Library
Born a slave and lamed by his master, Epictetus studied Stoic philosophy while in captivity. Once freed, he survived Domitian’s banishment of all philosophers from Rome to settle in Greece, where he founded a school of philosophy.
Read the full description
He quickly rose to prominence as a renowned Stoic scholar and teacher, and even though he was personally friendly with emperors, he kept a simple life.
The Enchiridion is a summary of practical advice compiled by Epictetus’ student Arrian. While based on Epictetus’ Discourses, it’s not a philosophical treatise as much as it is a short handbook with practical suggestions on how to live a good and satisfying life.
It remained popular for centuries with translations to different languages completed as early as 1493, and was even a common school text in Scotland during the 18th century.
What people got from it AI summary
Best if you're coping with depression, anxiety or deep sadness and want a text to return to.
- Eased depression and anxiety
- Became a weekly reread
- Helped in times of sadness
Style
Reflective & spiritual · 72 pages
The one-line description under the title is written by AI. Quotes are copied word for word.