The Art of Living (Hardcover Library Edition)

Epicectus was a slave and it is important to keep it in mind when reading this book.I find some parallels between this and Victor Frankl's "Man's search for meaning" both written under conditions of extreme persecution.Epicectus's primary thought is that - what ever is within our control is free and limitless , that is, anything resulting from our actions. Anything which is not in our control is slavery. Desire and Aversion and Pursuit and Avoidance are our primary actions. Body , property and fame are included into external things. Even if, one lives as per Epicectus's principle , note that others do value those external things and are therefore slaves of these things. Therefore, we must evaluate the currency of exchange in our relationships. Do our relationships to improve ourselves ? or they are based on this buying and selling of objects of slavery ?When do allow ourselves to be hurt ? it is when,we allow ourselves to put value on something external. It is therefore a choice.Some of the prose is heartbreaking, as to when Epicetus talks about generalization of loss and includes wife and child in it. I can't imagine the kind of pain he must have gone through as a slave , not a family to call his own, not even his own body. Yet he finds the way to freedom.Highly recommended.

Nice book to understand daily life

Good to read

Strongly recommend it as a guide to be read daily.Always keep it handy and reread it to make the principles sink in.

Hands down one of the best books I've purchased!

A clssic not to be mised for a thinking mind!!!!!!

Difficult language

A must have. I carry it with me when travelling .. And at home too i keep it handy.Such wisdom in plain words. No frills and always applicableIt always manages to put me back on path.