I found this book in the local independent bookstore and I thought that it would be an appropriate read. I am getting old and I am going to sail the Greek Islands later this year. The author spent a month on the Greek island of Hydra, where he had spent a considerable amount of time much earlier in his life. The premise of the writing is based upon the Greek philosopher Epicurus, who lived about 80 years after Plato and was born in 341 BCE. Epicurus believed that we should enjoy life and we have More...

Travels with Epicurus. A journey to a Greek Island in search of a Fulfilled life by Daniel Klein

The author had an epiphany after being offered dental implants at 73 and started to question what it meant to be an authentic old man who was aware about how much full conscious and rational life he had left. he would want to use that time in the best way possible.
With lots of questions and not many answers, he takes off to the Greek island of Hydra with a suitcase of philosophy books.

Chapter 1. The o More...

More about philosophy than about travel, the little book Travels with Epicurus , grabbed my attention for a couple of reasons. First, the author is 73 and thinking of how to be old. Second, he travels to a Greek Island to do his thinking.

Daniel Klein, a Harvard-educated philosopher, has not only read widely in philosophy, he’s also written several books of his own. You can tell right away there is nothing stuffy about the musings of a guy who not only writes philosophy, but also a series of myst More...

A quaint little travelogue and meditation on aging. Klein is searching for an authentic old age here, a kind of capstone to a well-lived life and a space for reflection and appreciation before the dreaded old old age descends and robs the body and mind of their faculties. I found this slim book rather delightful. While not rigorous in the least, it was packed with tidbits of philosophy spanning - more or less - the whole of humanity. I think the main takeaway for me was that life's discrete stat More...

This is an interesting book: Travels with Epicurus: A Journey to a Greek Island in Search of an Authentic Old Age will give pause for thought to anyone in the Baby Boomer generation contemplating how best to manage the transition to old age.

Because what Daniel Klein is on about, is the importance of accepting the limitations of aging so that you can enjoy the stage of life that comes before old old age.

Klein is American, but what he says about the contemporary enthusiasm for being ‘forever young More...

I'm getting to an age where looking toward old age doesn't require as much squinting down the road as it did in the past. So this book was very topical. What really sold me on reading it is that the author did what I think would be a wonderful way to spend some time - just going to a Greek island and hanging out with the locals. Having been to a few Greek islands, I've always enjoyed the experience, but never felt like I had spent enough time to capture the rhythms of the life. This author retur More...

A nice celebration of old age in a wonderful landscape and with the helps of some famous greek philolosophers, well known writers, psychologist and directors. More collaboration from some inhabitans of Hydra, a little island in Peloponneso and retsina. Toughts and meditation to understand what involves growing old and how to enjoy this so neglected period of our lives.

Una piacevole celebrayione della vecchiaia, con un bellissimo sfondo e con l'aiuto di alcuni famosi filosofi greci, conosciuti sc More...

Probably too young to be reading a book about an elder going through his retiring years, reflecting on the joys of old age so many in our world today actively run from. Of course, it's not all roses and sunshine; old age has its disadvantages too. But the author reminds us that there is a season and a time for everything. Compared especially to the annoyances of stressful youth, I can already see some aspects of carefree frolicking elderly people enjoy seems rather refreshing. The book (a rather More...

Epicurus was not epicurean as we mean it in the modern sense. His pleasures were simple but vast. Writer Daniel Klein takes his readers on a leisurely journey, a walking meditation through the Greek island of Hydra. Travels With Epicurus: A Journey To A Greek Island In Search Of A Fulfilled Life has a stillness to it, a slowness of age and contemplation. Epicurus believed mental pleasures surpassed physical ones, the mind is able to dip back and remember past pleasures or dream of future ones. K More...

I really enjoyed the premise of this book - especially, the beginning when the author was talking about how growing old (and accepting that) are looked at in America. There are so many people who seem to want to stay forever young - by working until they physically can't, setting more and more goals, doing plastic surgery, etc.. It doesn't seem that many want to enjoy the pleasures of being old - we've forgotten this.

About halfway through, it got too philosophical for me - it's great if you lik More...

I did not like this book, but it does spur some modicum of thought so gave it two stars.

Basically a rehash of popular thought on "meaning of life", not much traveling. Author bemoans his contemporaries trying to stay healthy, basically argues for aging gracefully. IMO, he completely undermines his credibility when two-thirds of the way through the book, he stops along an idyllic walk on a greek island for a smoke. At this point the thought creeps in this whole book is a rationale for "you can't More...

Found it here:
http://www.npr.org/2012/12/13/1668706...

I am glad I read this little, change of pace book. The premise is that as we age, we must embrace this stage of our life. There is little need or use in vainly grasping at extensions of youth, or in wasting precious time and resources fretting about the terrors of "old, old age". There is grace and beauty in this time if we look for this simplifying.

Klein uses ancient philosophy to guide him here. I guess that is because it was familiar to hi More...

I wasn't sure what to expect when I began this book. It's a cross between a travelogue and one man's reflection on life and ageing. Klein contemplates his life and whether it is 'a life well lived' as he faces old old and the impending loss of body, mind and faculties. The fact that he does this reflecting on a Greek Island adds enjoyment to an interesting reflection on life. The author comes to the conclusion that living life to its fullest and being true to oneself is more important than youth More...

I was fortunate to have been approved a galley copy of this book.

The focus of this book is very much the notion of old age and how to approach life at that point. I enjoyed how the author used both philosophy and his experience living in that Greek community to exemplify his search and understanding of old age and how to live a fulfilling life at that age. He also touches on the subject of old age in our society, the attitude towards it, etc. as a contrast to what the philosophers say about it a More...

Travels with Epicurus is a collection of musings about how to live one's old age well. As a 43-year-old, I'm not there yet, so some of the ideas can't apply to me until I'm older. Still, I enjoyed this book for several reasons. The small size delighted me, relaxing me enough to take time and savor each paragraph. I literally slowed down to read this book. And the subject matter itself was very much about slowing down, so it encouraged me to see ways that I can slow down and simplify, even at thi More...

I think the author has an interesting view on old age. I didn't realize it was going to be about old age, and I thought it would be more about Greece. Although all the observations he made about the Greek people, are the same ones I made a few years ago when I visited. I loved being there because they are so chill. Although the facts they are a bankrupt country could probably be a result of them being so chill. It was definitely an interesting read.

Klein leaves his family home and travels alone to Greece to meditate on the way he will spend the last part of his life. Now in his seventies, Klein remembers fondly an earlier time in Greece. It is a soothing and outrageously beautiful place, a fitting location for contemplation of the philosophy of aging. Klein considers the teachings and advice of Epicurus who believed in living in tune with life’s pleasures. Klein wants to know how he best to spend the last of his days. Should he fight aging More...

For those over a certain age, this is a bare bones book on aging and old old age. Although from the perspective of an old professor who is a man, it gave me a glimpse into what could lay ahead. Written while on a year long sojourn to Hydra, Greece, Daniel Klein interspersed his old-old age academic rant with local colour, which mostly takes place in the local watering hole (pub/cafe). I found this book amusing and a reality check. Recommended.

Overall 3.5 stars but 4 for ease of readability.
The premise of comparing attitudes to ageing between elderly Greek men on Hydra and general American /western attitudes is a little forced and to me isn't a 'real' comparison when one thinks of lifestyle and costs. However it is a nice exploration of the ancient and some fairly recent thought on our attitudes and gives permission to stop pretending we are younger than we are. However he doesn't explore the health benefits of living today that can a More...

A quick read, though beautifully paced to draw a young reader to a slower, more thoughtful reading. As with all of his work, Danny (who is admittedly a personal friend) brings a rich personal voice to his explorations and I can't help but be swept into his contemplations and bring in my own inner reflection to the reading experience. Quite lovely, it also makes me want to travel to Greece.

Daniel Klein is getting on in years. He’s come to that time in life when you are very, very clear about what’s small stuff and what’s not. He decides to spend some time on a Greek island thinking a little and writing a little about what should matter to us in our last years. And here is this little book, full of those thoughts and speculations. Very wise.

Even though this book is very philosophical & intellectual (which is normally way above my head), I still thoroughly enjoyed "Travels with Epicurus" in which Daniel Klein vacations on the idyllic Greek island of Hydra while philosophising about old age according to the philosophy of Epicurus.
I found it very inspirational & thought provoking as I approach the "old" age of 70.
A really good read.

A 73 year old man travels to Hydra, a small island in Greece, to read about and meditate on the question of how to live well as an older person. It's relatively short, smart, and written with a kind of earnest charm that makes you pay attention to the observations. I wouldn't have enjoyed it much in my 40's, but I did now.

A thoughtful exploration of the stages of life and how the latter stages let us reflect and savor. Consistent with bis admiration for Montaigne, Klein's assessment is a journey in multiple ways. He includes elements of other Greek thinkers, especially Epictetus, as well as Eastern religion.

Groundbreaking dissertation to the Babyboomer generation from a person who lived it. Seen through the filter of Greek sensibilities, the author gives us permission to limit our striving and adopt a lifestyle more generous to our aging bodies. An overview of philosophers old and recent well worth reading.

This was an unexpected gem. I thought this was going to be about food. It was not. I don't want to limit it by saying it's about coming to terms with aging but it rather is and so much more. I practically dog-eared the whole, little book.

It is a quick, delightful read that gives one much to ponder.

Two surprises to this quiet little book. One that it is not really a travel log full of Greek food like I expected and two that I am an Epicurian, oh and I quess three in that Epicurian doesn't really mean what I thought.

I actually kind of loved this. It's not a travel book, it's not even really a memoir--it's collected thoughts on philosophy and how life, especially as you get older, should be lived.

Full review here: http://americanbookjunkie.wordpress.c...

A great little book! For those who may look ahead and decide that preserving "the prime of life" is less important than living each and every stage of life to its fullest. Aging is not something to fear!

A delightful small tome I read on a recent IAH-Amsterdam flight. The subtitle "A Journey to a Greek Island in Search of a fulfilled Life" pretty much says it all. A must-read, highly recommend!