Javier Centellas’s Reviews > Meditations: Gilded Pocket Edition > Status Update

Read book ten. I haven't picked this one up in a while, but hopefully I'll finish it before Monday. It's been a long couple of days, and I need some stoic philosophy to try to get through it all. I can tell that Aurelius was older when he wrote this section, and he talks about death a lot. I like a lot of what he said, and much of it were ideas I already subscribed to, just phrased well.

Read book nine. Nothing exactly profound, but just rehashing and rephrasing the same core philosophical ideas promulgated in the rest of the book. It's interesting to see how Aurelius' religious ideas get more skeptical in this book. I need to find out when each book was written, but I'm pretty sure all of that information is lost to time. I have battles to fight right now, and Aurelius helps give me strength.

Read book seven. Mostly just ruminations on what it means to be "good" and "bad" and the temporary nature of life. Philosophical examination of Plato and Socrates.

Read Book Two. Now it feels much more like a philosophical text, although like Book One it is mostly disconnected ideas. Assumedly, different entries by Aurelius over a long time period. His stoic philosophy is really starting to come out in this section, reminds me of eastern zen spirituality and practices in a lot of his big ideas. I also really like the little designs per book heading, such a small detail.

Book 1 of the work. Although his works were never meant to be published, it is remarkable how well organised & coherent Aurelius' words are. Nothing profound in this section yet, just mainly giving thanks to figures of his upbringing. Focus on rationality and logical problem solving and decision making, without emotion.

Got this for Christmas. Read the intro. Shockingly short (one and half pages) for such an important man historically. Although the historical context doesn't quite matter for these writings to be understood, I still would have liked for the author of the introduction (who is anonymous) to touch more on Marcus Aurelius' reign as roman emperor. Maybe some of this context will come out through reading.