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Ancient Wisdom for Modern Readers
How to Be Healthy: An Ancient Guide to Wellness
Timeless wisdom about how to be healthy in body and mind from one of the greatest physicians of the ancient world
The second-century Greek physician Galen―the most famous doctor in antiquity after Hippocrates―is a central figure in Western medicine. A talented doctor, surgeon, writer, philosopher, teacher, pharmacologist, and inventor, Galen attended the court of Marcus Aurelius, living through outbreaks of plague (likely smallpox) that devastated the Roman Empire. He also served as physician for professional gladiators, boasting that only two fighters died during his first year (his predecessor had lost sixteen). In writings that provided the foundation of Western medicine up to the nineteenth century, Galen created a unified account of health and disease. In How to Be Healthy , practicing physician and classical historian Katherine Van Schaik presents a collection of Galen’s enduring insights about how we can take care of our bodies and minds, prevent disease, and reach a healthy old age.
Although we now know that many of Galen’s ideas about physiology are wrong, How to Be Healthy shows that much of his advice remains sound. In these selections from his writings, presented in fresh translations, Galen discusses the art of medicine, exercise and diet, the mind-body connection, the difficulty of applying general medical principles to individuals, and much more. Featuring an introduction, brief commentaries that connect ancient medical practices to modern ones, and the original Greek on facing pages, How to Be Healthy offers an entertaining and enlightening new perspective on the age-old pursuit of wellness, from the importance of “the exercise with a small ball” to the benefits of “avoiding distress.”
The second-century Greek physician Galen―the most famous doctor in antiquity after Hippocrates―is a central figure in Western medicine. A talented doctor, surgeon, writer, philosopher, teacher, pharmacologist, and inventor, Galen attended the court of Marcus Aurelius, living through outbreaks of plague (likely smallpox) that devastated the Roman Empire. He also served as physician for professional gladiators, boasting that only two fighters died during his first year (his predecessor had lost sixteen). In writings that provided the foundation of Western medicine up to the nineteenth century, Galen created a unified account of health and disease. In How to Be Healthy , practicing physician and classical historian Katherine Van Schaik presents a collection of Galen’s enduring insights about how we can take care of our bodies and minds, prevent disease, and reach a healthy old age.
Although we now know that many of Galen’s ideas about physiology are wrong, How to Be Healthy shows that much of his advice remains sound. In these selections from his writings, presented in fresh translations, Galen discusses the art of medicine, exercise and diet, the mind-body connection, the difficulty of applying general medical principles to individuals, and much more. Featuring an introduction, brief commentaries that connect ancient medical practices to modern ones, and the original Greek on facing pages, How to Be Healthy offers an entertaining and enlightening new perspective on the age-old pursuit of wellness, from the importance of “the exercise with a small ball” to the benefits of “avoiding distress.”
- GenresPhilosophyHistoryHealth
272 pages, Hardcover
Published January 9, 2024
9 people are currently reading
220 people want to read
About the author
Galen
568 books34 followersAelius Galenus or Claudius Galenus (AD 129–c. 200/c. 216), better known as Galen of Pergamon (modern-day Bergama, Turkey), was a prominent Roman (of Greek ethnicity) physician, surgeon and philosopher. Arguably the most accomplished of all medical researchers of antiquity, Galen contributed greatly to the understanding of numerous scientific disciplines, including anatomy, physiology, pathology, pharmacology, and neurology, as well as philosophy and logic.
The son of Aelius Nicon, a wealthy architect with scholarly interests, Galen received a comprehensive education that prepared him for a successful career as a physician and philosopher. He traveled extensively, exposing himself to a wide variety of medical theories and discoveries before settling in Rome, where he served prominent members of Roman society and eventually was given the position of personal physician to several emperors.
Galen's understanding of anatomy and medicine was principally influenced by the then-current theory of humorism, as advanced by many ancient Greek physicians such as Hippocrates. His theories dominated and influenced Western medical science for more than 1,300 years. His anatomical reports, based mainly on dissection of monkeys, especially the Barbary Macaque, and pigs, remained uncontested until 1543, when printed descriptions and illustrations of human dissections were published in the seminal work De humani corporis fabrica by Andreas Vesalius where Galen's physiological theory was accommodated to these new observations. Galen's theory of the physiology of the circulatory system endured until 1628, when William Harvey published his treatise entitled De motu cordis, in which he established that blood circulates, with the heart acting as a pump. Medical students continued to study Galen's writings until well into the 19th century. Galen conducted many nerve ligation experiments that supported the theory, which is still accepted today, that the brain controls all the motions of the muscles by means of the cranial and peripheral nervous systems.
Galen saw himself as both a physician and a philosopher, as he wrote in his treatise entitled That the Best Physician is also a Philosopher. Galen was very interested in the debate between the rationalist and empiricist medical sects, and his use of direct observation, dissection and vivisection represents a complex middle ground between the extremes of those two viewpoints. Many of his works have been preserved and/or translated from the original Greek, although many were destroyed and some credited to him are believed to be spurious. Although there is some debate over the date of his death, he was no younger than seventy when he died.
The son of Aelius Nicon, a wealthy architect with scholarly interests, Galen received a comprehensive education that prepared him for a successful career as a physician and philosopher. He traveled extensively, exposing himself to a wide variety of medical theories and discoveries before settling in Rome, where he served prominent members of Roman society and eventually was given the position of personal physician to several emperors.
Galen's understanding of anatomy and medicine was principally influenced by the then-current theory of humorism, as advanced by many ancient Greek physicians such as Hippocrates. His theories dominated and influenced Western medical science for more than 1,300 years. His anatomical reports, based mainly on dissection of monkeys, especially the Barbary Macaque, and pigs, remained uncontested until 1543, when printed descriptions and illustrations of human dissections were published in the seminal work De humani corporis fabrica by Andreas Vesalius where Galen's physiological theory was accommodated to these new observations. Galen's theory of the physiology of the circulatory system endured until 1628, when William Harvey published his treatise entitled De motu cordis, in which he established that blood circulates, with the heart acting as a pump. Medical students continued to study Galen's writings until well into the 19th century. Galen conducted many nerve ligation experiments that supported the theory, which is still accepted today, that the brain controls all the motions of the muscles by means of the cranial and peripheral nervous systems.
Galen saw himself as both a physician and a philosopher, as he wrote in his treatise entitled That the Best Physician is also a Philosopher. Galen was very interested in the debate between the rationalist and empiricist medical sects, and his use of direct observation, dissection and vivisection represents a complex middle ground between the extremes of those two viewpoints. Many of his works have been preserved and/or translated from the original Greek, although many were destroyed and some credited to him are believed to be spurious. Although there is some debate over the date of his death, he was no younger than seventy when he died.
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January 27, 2024The latest entry in Princeton's terrific "Ancient Wisdom for Modern Readers" series presents new translations of some of writings of the ancient physician Galen (doctor to Marcus Aurelius) and asking the question: Does Galen have anything useful or beneficial to tell 21st-century readers about health or wellness? Despite the fact that the most advanced doctors of his time knew less about biology than the average high school student does today? The answer, of course, is no - but what self-respecting book series would let a silly detail like that get in the way? Fortunately, translator Katherine Van Schaik does such a fantastic job judiciously selecting from Galen's body of work that that the volume is fascinating anyway. My review is here:
https://openlettersreview.com/posts/h...
https://openlettersreview.com/posts/h...
April 26, 2024
I've been reading most of Princeton Press's Ancient Wisdom for Modern Readers series (see a number of commentaries I published in my Substack newsletter, Figs in Winter). They are all excellent, and this is no exception. Galen was one of the most famous doctors of antiquity, and the personal physician of the Stoic emperor Marcus Aurelius. I have had twice the fortune to visit his native city, Pergamon, now in western Turkey, and see the local Asclepieion (ancient hospital). Galen is such a fascinating character in his own right. But this book does implicitly highlight one of the limitations of the general notion of seeking wisdom in ancient sources: it works when it comes to ethics, it doesn't work when it comes to science. This, I have argued, is because we have not made much progress in ethics (indeed, I consider Kantian ethics and Utilitarianism to be steps backwards compared to ancient virtue ethics), but we have made a lot of progress in science, including medicine. Accordingly, even translator Katherine D. Van Schaik admits that there isn't much that a modern person can learn about health from reading Galen (which means that the title of the book is a bit misleading), other than generic statements concerning the mind-body connection and what we would call a holistic approach to health care. The book is nevertheless interesting for its documentary evidence, and a must read for anyone who is interested in the history of ideas.
January 25, 2025
The works of Galen is very interesting. It is great to see how wellness was integral in the Greek and mid Roman society. It is still very comforting when I read about older philosophies that tie into contemporary trends. These past documentations reinforce the human experience and reinforce the connections to our ancestors.
For this particular book, I enjoyed Galen’s perspective on exercise. The perfect sport for Galen was one that would be similar to present day American Football. One of his least favorite exercise routines would be running. In Galen’s terms, no war has ever been won by a skinny runner.
This book is not necessary to read, and I feel that a wiki on Galen will provide all the information needed for those that are interested in wellness in the 2nd century AD.
For this particular book, I enjoyed Galen’s perspective on exercise. The perfect sport for Galen was one that would be similar to present day American Football. One of his least favorite exercise routines would be running. In Galen’s terms, no war has ever been won by a skinny runner.
This book is not necessary to read, and I feel that a wiki on Galen will provide all the information needed for those that are interested in wellness in the 2nd century AD.
February 20, 2024
Great selections for this short guide, but, ultimately, lacking the amount of content I hoped. This work is merely a "poor man's Loeb" (and I have small Latin and less Greek). Still, it piqued my interest in Galen. I will be seeking more of his original works.
December 23, 2023
Great book from Galen - medical legend of the ancient world 📚
March 21, 2024
Wouldn’t say this is an ancient guide to anything but more of an exploration of Galen and his beliefs
April 28, 2025
Could've been an essay.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews