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A Guide to Stoicism
This book was converted from its physical edition to the digital format by a community of volunteers. You may find it for free on the web. Purchase of the Kindle edition includes wireless delivery.
43 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1908
199 people are currently reading
410 people want to read
About the author
St. George Stock
49 books2 followersSt. George Stock was the son of St George Henry Stock senior of Castle Connell, County Sligo and Frances Wilhelmina Atkinson of Rehins Parish, Ballynahaghish, County Mayo, who were married at St Peter’s Church, Dublin on 17 December 1844. He was the fourth of six children.
In 1868 St George junior went up to the University of Oxford from Victoria College, Jersey, and was matriculated from Pembroke College on 26 October 1868.
His granddaughter Heather Grace Angel was a Hollywood actress.
In 1868 St George junior went up to the University of Oxford from Victoria College, Jersey, and was matriculated from Pembroke College on 26 October 1868.
His granddaughter Heather Grace Angel was a Hollywood actress.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
August 4, 2018
You need to know a lot about philosophy/ancient Greece for this to make sense. Reader for Librovox recording was robotic.
January 16, 2017
Thanks to Leon Mire for volunteering to read the free Librivox edition
Stock's best point is his worst point: his didactic approach - he disagrees, and he has reasons for it.
Getting an opposing view is seldom uninteresting, though it be irksome. In my latest stop down the rabbit hole of philosophy awesome, Stock approaches Stoicism extensively, revealing a version very at odds with the current popular versions.
Stock, a declared follower o Aristotle and spends the first two chapters on an introduction of Greek life and philosophy, the second two on a description of Stoicism, especially in contrast with this view, and the last on the finer aspects of "physics". Provided that he did not misrepresent the subject, Stock represented a more human view of Stoicism as a school. He represented the doctrine and the diverging views of prominent scholars, with clear examples, the inflexibility and the aspects reminiscent of religion.
Going by this one, it appears it's a clear point for the Marcus Aurelius camp.
Still I'm hardly at a point of discernment. Timothy Ferriss puts a nice spin on Stoicism, setting it up as a guideline for clarity and balance. Following up with Seneca in Moral letters to Lucilius Volume 1, the hakuna matata seemed to hold. However, while enlightening and educational, the letters did not lay down a clear system. Retrospectively it could be due to Seneca translating the dogma into everyday living, or to his own personal boss-level equilibrium and maturity.
It's grating to contrast it to the stark Meditations of Marcus Aurelius, which I felt cut off into everyday humanity too much to be realistic. Enchiridion strikes a balance, but it's still in the Aurelius camp - and they're both to do's.
To conclude, it's worth reading on its own, by complete beginners. The approach is interesting, from a historical and a fact-checker point-of-view (because motivational articles nowadays are filled with so much pseudo-historical woo-woo) but it did not make me more of a Stoicism fan. I'll probably start looking into Seneca's more rigorous work.
Stock's best point is his worst point: his didactic approach - he disagrees, and he has reasons for it.
Getting an opposing view is seldom uninteresting, though it be irksome. In my latest stop down the rabbit hole of philosophy awesome, Stock approaches Stoicism extensively, revealing a version very at odds with the current popular versions.
Stock, a declared follower o Aristotle and spends the first two chapters on an introduction of Greek life and philosophy, the second two on a description of Stoicism, especially in contrast with this view, and the last on the finer aspects of "physics". Provided that he did not misrepresent the subject, Stock represented a more human view of Stoicism as a school. He represented the doctrine and the diverging views of prominent scholars, with clear examples, the inflexibility and the aspects reminiscent of religion.
Going by this one, it appears it's a clear point for the Marcus Aurelius camp.
Still I'm hardly at a point of discernment. Timothy Ferriss puts a nice spin on Stoicism, setting it up as a guideline for clarity and balance. Following up with Seneca in Moral letters to Lucilius Volume 1, the hakuna matata seemed to hold. However, while enlightening and educational, the letters did not lay down a clear system. Retrospectively it could be due to Seneca translating the dogma into everyday living, or to his own personal boss-level equilibrium and maturity.
It's grating to contrast it to the stark Meditations of Marcus Aurelius, which I felt cut off into everyday humanity too much to be realistic. Enchiridion strikes a balance, but it's still in the Aurelius camp - and they're both to do's.
To conclude, it's worth reading on its own, by complete beginners. The approach is interesting, from a historical and a fact-checker point-of-view (because motivational articles nowadays are filled with so much pseudo-historical woo-woo) but it did not make me more of a Stoicism fan. I'll probably start looking into Seneca's more rigorous work.
January 16, 2011
Absolutely great, brief introduction to Stoicism. I took intro to philosophy in college five years ago, and reading a few lines from Epictetus was my only taste of Stoicism until this book. Stock does a fantastic job covering the basics of the Stoic philosophical worldview, in terms of logic, ethics, and physics. Stock translates the language of the Stoics into terms more consistent with modern usage. For a philosophy book, it feels very accessible, though I did make use of my Kindle's dictionary a few times. Stock also attempts to put the Stoics into the context of Greek philosophy more generally, a perspective I greatly appreciated.
If you are looking to learn a bit about this view of the world, I would recommend reading this book and then read Epictetus's Handbook (The Enchiridion). Both are brief, available online for free, and accessible to the lay reader.
If you are looking to learn a bit about this view of the world, I would recommend reading this book and then read Epictetus's Handbook (The Enchiridion). Both are brief, available online for free, and accessible to the lay reader.
September 30, 2022
This is not a guide to stoicism. It's a serious critique disguised as a guide.
Firstly it's very oddly organized information with a very loose structure to it. It's simply quite information dense. I have had some familiarity with stoicism and still felt very lost at times. If someone picks this as his introduction to stoicism he will be confused beyond measures.
Secondly the author critiques multiple stoic ideas throughout the text and at times it feels like he does not present the original ideas in a proper manner. So it seemed like a debate where only one side keeps speaking while the other watches in silence.
Still I now know much more about stoicism than I did before reading it. But it ultimately is a weird analysis of the philosophy that confuses you more than anything.
And IT'S NOT A GUIDE
Firstly it's very oddly organized information with a very loose structure to it. It's simply quite information dense. I have had some familiarity with stoicism and still felt very lost at times. If someone picks this as his introduction to stoicism he will be confused beyond measures.
Secondly the author critiques multiple stoic ideas throughout the text and at times it feels like he does not present the original ideas in a proper manner. So it seemed like a debate where only one side keeps speaking while the other watches in silence.
Still I now know much more about stoicism than I did before reading it. But it ultimately is a weird analysis of the philosophy that confuses you more than anything.
And IT'S NOT A GUIDE
November 5, 2023
This is a good book on the topic with a thick language to understand. The content is the king but it could be written in a more plain English, which would enable an easier read; nonetheless, it covers many points on the main subject.
September 23, 2017
Good intermediate primer on Stoicism. From my notes:
Virtue (Is the highest and only good)
• Wisdom
• Justice
• Courage
• Moderation
Vice (Is the lowest and only evil)
• Folly
• Intemperance
• Cowardice
• Injustice
Logic
• Rhetoric
• Dialectic
Ethics
• Passion
o Delight
o Grief
o Desire
o Fear
Physic
• Active
o Reason
• Passive
o Matter
♣ That out of which anything is produced
Virtue (Is the highest and only good)
• Wisdom
• Justice
• Courage
• Moderation
Vice (Is the lowest and only evil)
• Folly
• Intemperance
• Cowardice
• Injustice
Logic
• Rhetoric
• Dialectic
Ethics
• Passion
o Delight
o Grief
o Desire
o Fear
Physic
• Active
o Reason
• Passive
o Matter
♣ That out of which anything is produced
February 3, 2021
Its not that long so it’s ok to read it, but I feel that there are other books that must be better
June 5, 2025
I chose this book because I thought Stoicism was cool but after finishing it I think they're just annoying 🙄 It is very wel written though. George Stock is cool 💪👍Stoicism not 😔😩
December 30, 2018
This review is for the Librivox audio version
It was a difficult one, it's surprisng how such a short book demands so much attention for you to enjoy.
The style was very academic so every word seems to have been carefully picked and the amount of repetition is tiny - you really have to stay focused to follow along. The problem is that it is both taxing on your ming and quite a boring style at the same time!
On the good side, I did learn a lot about the stoics quite quickly, and I feel I have a better understanding of their philosophy today than I did before.
Not recommended to anyone as a guide to how to be a stoic, or as an introduction to the subject but rather as an comprehensive (albeit short) guide to the stoic's way of thinking
It was a difficult one, it's surprisng how such a short book demands so much attention for you to enjoy.
The style was very academic so every word seems to have been carefully picked and the amount of repetition is tiny - you really have to stay focused to follow along. The problem is that it is both taxing on your ming and quite a boring style at the same time!
On the good side, I did learn a lot about the stoics quite quickly, and I feel I have a better understanding of their philosophy today than I did before.
Not recommended to anyone as a guide to how to be a stoic, or as an introduction to the subject but rather as an comprehensive (albeit short) guide to the stoic's way of thinking
July 6, 2017
A short and unsympathetic introduction to the ancient Greek philosophy of Stoicism, written over 100 years ago. It lists the main Stoic teachers (that we know of) with a summary of their beliefs and arguments, situating them in relation to other Greek philosophical traditions. It doesn't go into their practices or do much more than summarise anything. You can find a lot about Stoicism on the internet, and the value of this little book today probably lies mostly in the fact that it relates a few things that most modern Stoics don't bother with, like Greek cosmology.
February 9, 2017
The very first sentence of this book cranks on the Stoics as cheap knockoffs of other Greek philosophers. Kind of an interesting way to start a book about Stoicism. The author isn't wrong in that assessment, and his short book is a good summary of their thought, but one wonders why anyone would want to read even a good summary of a knockoff philosophy.
July 24, 2020
An older book (1908) that gives a bit of an overview of Stoicism, but from the viewpoint of someone not sympathetic. As you'd expect from a book of this vintage, the language is stilted and the content does not reflect current scholarship in the subject. Overall, it gives a different perspective on Stoicism, and is worthwhile despite these caveats.
December 30, 2021
An Enjoyable Critique
Certainly enjoyed this book, though the title should be more of a critique than a guide. As a person interested in Stoicism is was a decent read along that outlines the foundation upon which Stoicism stands. I appreciated the author's comparison he made between it and Christianity. Definitely a good read for someone interested in this useful philosophy.
Certainly enjoyed this book, though the title should be more of a critique than a guide. As a person interested in Stoicism is was a decent read along that outlines the foundation upon which Stoicism stands. I appreciated the author's comparison he made between it and Christianity. Definitely a good read for someone interested in this useful philosophy.
Currently reading
January 12, 2017Many thanks to Leon Mire for volunteering to read the free Librivox edition
January 1, 2023
"Except to the most avid seekers of wisdom, Stoicism is either unknown or misunderstood. Indeed, it would be hard to find a word dealt a greater injustice at the hands of the English language than “Stoic.” To the average person, this vibrant, action-oriented, and paradigm-shifting way of living has become shorthand for “emotionlessness.” Given the fact that the mere mention of philosophy makes most nervous or bored, “Stoic philosophy” on the surface sounds like the last thing anyone would want to learn about, let alone urgently need in the course of daily life."
"The philosophy asserts that virtue (meaning, chiefly, the four cardinal virtues of self-control, courage, justice, and wisdom) is happiness, and it is our perceptions of things—rather than the things themselves—that cause most of our trouble. Stoicism teaches that we can’t control or rely on anything outside what Epictetus called our “reasoned choice”—our ability to use our reason to choose how we categorize, respond, and reorient ourselves to external events."
"One of the analogies favored by the Stoics to describe their philosophy was that of a fertile field. Logic was the protective fence, physics was the field, and the crop that all this produced was ethics—or how to live."
"Stoics focus on a series of questions not unlike the ones we continue to ask ourselves today: “What is the best way to live?” “What do I do about my anger?” “What are my obligations to my fellow human beings?” “I’m afraid to die; why is that?” “How can I deal with the difficult situations I face?” “How should I handle the success or power I hold?" All are based on reason as Arthur Schopenhauer, would describe it as “the highest point to which man can attain by the mere use of his faculty of reason.”
"The philosophy asserts that virtue (meaning, chiefly, the four cardinal virtues of self-control, courage, justice, and wisdom) is happiness, and it is our perceptions of things—rather than the things themselves—that cause most of our trouble. Stoicism teaches that we can’t control or rely on anything outside what Epictetus called our “reasoned choice”—our ability to use our reason to choose how we categorize, respond, and reorient ourselves to external events."
"One of the analogies favored by the Stoics to describe their philosophy was that of a fertile field. Logic was the protective fence, physics was the field, and the crop that all this produced was ethics—or how to live."
"Stoics focus on a series of questions not unlike the ones we continue to ask ourselves today: “What is the best way to live?” “What do I do about my anger?” “What are my obligations to my fellow human beings?” “I’m afraid to die; why is that?” “How can I deal with the difficult situations I face?” “How should I handle the success or power I hold?" All are based on reason as Arthur Schopenhauer, would describe it as “the highest point to which man can attain by the mere use of his faculty of reason.”
January 3, 2022
The great lesson of Greek philosophy- it is worthwhile to do what is right irrespective of reward and punishment and regardless of shortness of life.
The quote kicks off the book to great start as the stoicism fruits the state as it is the natural product of life. The nine ways of the stoic :
1. Presentation
2. Likeness
3. Analogy
4. Transposition
5. Composition (Centaur)
6.Opposition (Death/Life)
7. Kind transition
8. Nature
9. Privation
When impulse is not identical with reason, it is not truly impulse but passion.
The quote kicks off the book to great start as the stoicism fruits the state as it is the natural product of life. The nine ways of the stoic :
1. Presentation
2. Likeness
3. Analogy
4. Transposition
5. Composition (Centaur)
6.Opposition (Death/Life)
7. Kind transition
8. Nature
9. Privation
When impulse is not identical with reason, it is not truly impulse but passion.
May 18, 2020
This book provided a broad overview of the main tenets of stoicism. The academic style made the book a little heavy in reading and demanded focus, but the didactic nature contributed to providing clear explanations of Stoic reasoning. While it is clear that the author disagrees with much of the Stoic philosophy, the book overall cover Stoicism relatively fairly, and his rebuttals of points provide interesting contrast and discussion.
August 14, 2023
This book is kind of a lot. The more you know about philosophy going into this the better. A lot of the comparisons or other mentioned works are those pertaining to philosophy. With college level intro to phil I found this interesting but could tell that some of the meaning was hard to understand as I don’t have a good background. Also the librivox recording sounded fine I like to up the speed though so it sounds more enthusiastic 😂
March 10, 2023
Feels like a serious critique of the stoic belief. As someone who has been looking into the ideology to seek comfort for my own life it’s refreshing to have a book that gives an alternative perspective and dissection into the belief other than what I’m looking for. Though I disagree with a lot of its criticisms I can’t deny it’s decently put together nonetheless.
December 4, 2019
it's a bit hard to understand the terms, especially because I'm taking ontology and epistemology nowadays, it definitely needs more time in reading, researching and then discussing it with someone, not a one breath read for sure.
March 17, 2024
A good, quick introduction to Stoicism, a philosophical school from ancient Greece, but very popular among Romans until Christianity ruined everything. (This school is the main source of my personal philosophy). You may like it too, and it can be read in a couple of hours.
July 21, 2017
Despite his stated goal of a fair treatment, Stock's dislike of Stoicism seems to show through in this book.
February 26, 2019
Stoicism
An interesting read on the topic from an outsider to the position. Not a very long read if you’re interested.
An interesting read on the topic from an outsider to the position. Not a very long read if you’re interested.
May 7, 2021
good intro to guiding
February 14, 2022
This was mostly an analysis rather than a guide. Still a good analysis though, but the title is misleading.
April 8, 2022
Overly academic and analytical. Almost abstract in it's discussion.
April 29, 2022
I listened this as an audiobook and it was a bit difficult to follow, but I definitely picked up a few things!
October 22, 2022
To abstract for my current understanding of philosophy at the moment.
November 21, 2022
I could not understand anything in the audiobook 😖 I’ll try the physical copy another day
November 24, 2022
Not a good primer to stoicism, but seems like it would be very interesting if you were intermediate level in understanding.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews