The Complete Works: Handbook, Discourses, & Fragments

A great exposition and explanation of Epictetus’ work. Highly recommended

You can get translations of the works of Epictetus online for free, however the true value of this book is from the quality of the introduction and the notes provided that give context, explanation and further reading. An excellent resource

Having read scattered references to Epictetus' teachings, I wanted to know more about him. This book gives a sense of who he was and his teachings. Although he never wrote any books, his discourses were passed on by one of his students, who later became an historian of some note.

Waterfield is the best. He's a cogent and compelling writer as well as (I assume from his reputation--I don't know Greek) a gifted translator. I can't wait to dive deep into this work. I'm in the introduction now, and it's a joy.And now a few words about the physical book itself.I made the mistake of ordering the $55 hardcover edition. Basing my expectations on the way this same publisher (University of Chicago Press) had treated its Seneca series--classy cloth-bound editions made to last a lifetime, with creamy, premium paper, Smyth-sewn bindings, and attractive dust jackets--I nearly hurt myself in my haste to plop down the requisite cash for a hardcover copy of this exciting new edition of Epictetus.What I got for my $55 was a print-on-demand product on cheaper paper, a glued-not-sewn binding, and a plain matte-black, glued-on self-cover made of some kind of odd, rubbery paper.The U of C Press website (as of Oct, 2022) lists the two print format options as "Paper" and "Cloth." If the hardcover book I received was cloth-bound, I'm a fish.Luckily, the Amazon return was free, easy, and fast. I sent the strange thing back to them asap and ordered the paperback copy, for a savings of more than $35. It's a handsome paperback edition. It too has that oddly tacky finish on the cover (try sliding it across a marble countertop--it puts up a fight), but it's a well-made paperback at least. The binding's not sewn, but the glue job looks more substantial than the one on the print-on-demand edition.So...buyer beware, I guess. If you're collecting the Stoics, you'll certainly want to own this translation; just don't get your hopes up about a high-quality hardcover edition--a life-long companion that you can mark up, make your own, and harmlessly splay open on the table in front of you as you eat your morning cereal.It's hard to know what the U of C Press had in mind with this publishing plan.

5 stars for Robin Waterfield translation and notes for this edition (see his incredible edition of Marcus Aurelius)2 stars for the unfortunately now common low quality of Amazon printed books. I’ll start to return Amazon printed books to buy them in regular stores where the quality is standard.

I love this book. The translator did an amazing job. Perfect annotations.Paper quality could be better for the price.

It's rare to find a paperback of this quality, the contents look promising!