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William B. Irvine
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A Guide to the Good Life: The Ancient Art of Stoic Joy 1st Edition

by William B. Irvine (Author)
4.5 out of 5 stars 6,264 ratings
One of the great fears many of us face is that despite all our effort and striving, we will discover at the end that we have wasted our life. In A Guide to the Good Life, William B. Irvine plumbs the wisdom of Stoic philosophy, one of the most popular and successful schools of thought in ancient Rome, and shows how its insight and advice are still remarkably applicable to modern lives.

In A Guide to the Good Life, Irvine offers a refreshing presentation of Stoicism, showing how this ancient philosophy can still direct us toward a better life. Using the psychological insights and the practical techniques of the Stoics, Irvine offers a roadmap for anyone seeking to avoid the feelings of chronic dissatisfaction that plague so many of us. Irvine looks at various Stoic techniques for attaining tranquility and shows how to put these techniques to work in our own life. As he does so, he describes his own experiences practicing Stoicism and offers valuable first-hand advice for anyone wishing to live better by following in the footsteps of these ancient philosophers. Readers learn how to minimize worry, how to let go of the past and focus our efforts on the things we can control, and how to deal with insults, grief, old age, and the distracting temptations of fame and fortune. We learn from Marcus Aurelius the importance of prizing only things of true value, and from Epictetus we learn how to be more content with what we have.

Finally, A Guide to the Good Life shows readers how to become thoughtful observers of their own lives. If we watch ourselves as we go about our daily business and later reflect on what we saw, we can better identify the sources of distress and eventually avoid that pain in our life. By doing this, the Stoics thought, we can hope to attain a truly joyful life.
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  1. ISBN-10
    0195374614
  2. ISBN-13
    978-0195374612
  3. Edition
    1st
  4. Publisher
    Oxford University Press
  5. Publication date
    November 4, 2008
  6. Language
    English
  7. Dimensions
    1.3 x 5.4 x 7 inches
  8. Print length
    336 pages
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  1. One key to happiness, then, is to forestall the adaptation process: We need to take steps to prevent ourselves from taking for granted, once we get them, the things we worked so hard to get.
    Highlighted by 10,040 Kindle readers
  2. Stoic tranquility was a psychological state marked by the absence of negative emotions, such as grief, anger, and anxiety, and the presence of positive emotions, such as joy.
    Highlighted by 9,135 Kindle readers
  3. Your primary desire, says Epictetus, should be your desire not to be frustrated by forming desires you won’t be able to fulfill.
    Highlighted by 7,823 Kindle readers
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Editorial Reviews

Review


"Irvine excels at giving a "walking tour" of the many schools of Stoic philosophy, from Greek to Roman traditions, identifying individual Stoic thinkers (many more than Seneca) and their principles and techniques, which Irvine argues are even more relevant in modern times than their own." --Philosophical Practice


"Another valuable ally in your personal morale campaign can be found in William B. Irvine's A Guide to the Good Life: The Ancient Art of Stoic Joy, which removes the grim grey mask of noble, resigned fatalism attached to the popular conception of Stoic philosophy and lets the humanity out and the air in. It is a work of clarion clarity, and you won't have to read that far into it before the phrase 'stoic joy' ceases sounding like an oxymoron and becomes a workable proposition."--James Wolcott, Vanity Fair


"Irvine's book excels as a guide for practicing Stoics or for individuals seeking to improve that practice." --The Common Review


"Irvine's intended audience is nonphilosophers, but everyone can profit from his clear presentation on the on the benefits of using philosophical doctrines to live a meaningful life."--Library Journal


"If, however, you are skeptical that even therapy will make you happy -- if you are looking for a life philosophy -- A Guide to the Good Life is for you. Irvine's book is more thought-provoking."--Austin American-Statesman


"He writes in clear, almost jargon-free prose that is well suited to his target audience, and maintains a cheerful tone throughout the book. That perfectly expresses the sort of rationally grounded upbeat attitude that is one of the payoffs of becoming a practicing Stoic. I can firmly recommend Irvine's A Guide to the Good Life to anyone interested in exploring some of the ways philosophical work can be brought to bear on the ordinary problems of living there is a great deal of useful thinking and excellent advice to be found in it, presented in a clear, straightforward and often charming manner."--Lauren Tillinghast, Metapsychology Online Reviews


"Bill Irvine has given us a great gift: the most accessible and inviting description of modern Stoicism available. Read this book and be prepared to change your life."--Sharon Lebell, author of Epictetus's The Art of Living: The Classical Manual on Virtue, Happiness, and Effectiveness


"Well-written and so compelling, this is a rare example of a book that actually will make a difference in the lives of its readers. Whether it's coping with grief or arriving at lasting happiness, Irvine shows, with care and verve, ancient Stoic wisdom to be ever relevant and very, very helpful." --Gary Klein, author of Sources of Power: How People Make Decisions


"Never have I seen so delightful, empathetic, and supple a presentation of Stoicism as Irvine gives us here. Hardly Christian even in sensibilities, the Stoics were, none the less, wise in the ways of life, a benison Irvine exposes, and then delivers here, with panache and great acumen."--Phyllis Tickle, author of The Divine Hours


"Irvine's calm yet impassioned presentation of a Western philosophy of life that one can actually abide by and practice will be good medicine for many readers. I heartily recommend it." --The Christian Century


"Dr Irvine has used very simple language in his book. He gives a notion of modern stoicism and urges modern readers to practice stoicism." -- The Nation, Pakistan


Book Description

An eye-opening look at the Stoic philosophers, revealing how we can use their psychological insights and practical techniques to live a happier life

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Oxford University Press
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ November 4, 2008
  • Edition ‏ : ‎ 1st
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 336 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0195374614
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0195374612
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.31 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 1.3 x 5.4 x 7 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 out of 5 stars 6,264 ratings

About the author

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William B. Irvine

William B. Irvine

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William B. Irvine is professor of philosophy at Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio. For more on his life and writings, visit his author website at WilliamBIrvine.com.

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
6,264 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find this book to be a great introduction to Stoic philosophy, well-written, and practical with direct application in modern life. They appreciate its accessible style and ability to help achieve tranquility, with one customer noting how it helps silence the "chattering monkey" thoughts. While many find it engaging, some customers mention it can be repetitive and boring at times.

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PhilosophyReadabilityPracticalityLife valueTranquilityAccessibilityAuthor's perspectiveRecompetition
365 customers mention "Philosophy"346 positive19 negative

Customers find this book to be a great introduction to Stoic philosophy, describing it as a practical guide to life.

"It delivers what it promises: a consistent philosophy of life, ready to use...." Read more

"...I recommend this book for anyone interested in history, philosophy, and leading a meaningful life." Read more

"Very easy to digest and insightful. The author gives a modern explanation of stoicism and offers very practical advice...." Read more

"...Well-written, inspiring, informative...." Read more

312 customers mention "Readability"298 positive14 negative

Customers find the book well-written and fascinating to read, with one customer noting it is extremely well researched.

"...Great book." Read more

"...Finally, it is also such an easy read. I read the whole thing in less than a week, reading a little bit in the morning and at night...." Read more

"...Started out this way but fizzled. Overall, a good read and well written." Read more

"...Good read." Read more

67 customers mention "Practicality"62 positive5 negative

Customers find the book practical, noting its direct application in modern life and useful examples.

"A practical and useful guide to stoicism. It has good background information and outlines the basic principles that stoics live by...." Read more

"...Irvine has shown that the philosophy of Stoicism is as relevant and useful today as it was in Zeno's time...." Read more

"...It is very useful and gives great recommendation s for further stoicism readings. Loved it worth it." Read more

"Useful and practical for modern day life. Written well and with a great bit of humor. For all who've study stoicism and those who are newcomers to it." Read more

28 customers mention "Life value"28 positive0 negative

Customers find the book engaging and actionable, providing interesting techniques for enjoying life that can be applied personally.

"...It's engaging, concise, clearly written and doesn't get wrapped up in unnecessary philosophical explanations...." Read more

"Some interesting techniques for enjoying life. Two main take aways for me were: -..." Read more

"...The book starts with a brief history of Stoicism, centers around psychological techniques to apply in order to embody Stoicism, then applies these..." Read more

"...As a result of this book, I feel that I am gaining more control of my reactions and emotions or at least I seek out more understanding of them and..." Read more

16 customers mention "Tranquility"16 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's focus on tranquility, with one noting how it helps eliminate worry and another describing it as a practice that silences the mind's chatter.

"...is a great way to live life to better ensure happiness and tranquility...." Read more

"...techniques devised by the Stoics for developing and maintaining tranquility, perhaps the most important of which is "negative visualization,"..." Read more

"...including negative visualization, curbing insatiability and eliminating worry, in order to attain tranquility in life...." Read more

"...I recommend the book for someone interested in practical techniques for achieving tranquility, and learning enough about Stoicism to decide whether..." Read more

15 customers mention "Accessibility"12 positive3 negative

Customers find the book accessible, with one mentioning it is written in a way that is easy for non-specialists to understand.

"...They are written for other philosophers. This text is accessible, digestIble, and well written. It is an outstanding introduction to Stoicism." Read more

"...excellent book for making the practical aspects of Stoicism easily accessible to anyone and I highly encourage everyone to read it." Read more

"...It is readable, accessible to the non-specialist, written with the intention to help others, contains information on how to apply Stoicism to one's..." Read more

"A mostly simplistic, repetitive overview of Stoicism, but there are enough nuggets of thought-provoking wisdom in here to make it worth reading...." Read more

15 customers mention "Author's perspective"15 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the author's perspective, with one noting their frank and humble approach, while another mentions their academic background.

"...Solid but unforced description of the va!ue of exercising "Stoic techniques" regardless of one's religious persuasion (or dissuasion)...." Read more

"...The author describes how this has played out in his life in frank and humble yet very outspoken and refreshingly honest terms...." Read more

"...This book provides such a description. It also dispells myths about what Stoicism is...." Read more

"...It is not really needed to follow the path, but I still enjoyed the author perspective. It will definitely help beginners on the Way...." Read more

17 customers mention "Recompetition"0 positive17 negative

Customers find the book repetitive and boring, with the author making the same points multiple times throughout the text.

"...The examples were often bizarre, and there were too many conclusions that did not track with what came before...." Read more

"...It was pretty boring at some times but there were fleeting moments where it was interesting." Read more

"...The only real downside to this book is that the author tends to repeat every point several times...." Read more

"...However, there's a great deal of repetition of the same principles, most of which could be summed up in a few axioms...." Read more

The Best Intro to Stoicism
5 out of 5 stars
The Best Intro to Stoicism
Probably the best introduction to stoicism I’ve found. Very well written. The author juxtaposes various viewpoints throughout the book and considers these view points from a stoic and non-stoic point of view. If you’re wondering if stoicism is for you, or what it’s about or just want to learn more, this is the book for you. One of my instant favorites.
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Susan
    5.0 out of 5 stars Encouraging and comforting read
    Reviewed in the United States on June 25, 2025
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    Sometime toward the end of middle age I found that my values had significantly changed. I was no longer interested in acquiring things or spending money. I began to question the long term wisdom of not only my own choices, but those of humanity in general. Stumbling across the books of Professor Irving helped me accept and refine my thinking. This particular book has given me added insight and a path to follow. Stoicism is so simple and pure. Unlike Buddhism, for example, there are no rituals to follow or a new vocabulary to learn. In my mid seventies now, I only wish I could have had the wisdom to change many years earlier. This book is well suited to all age groups, and will improve your life wherever you happen to be.
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  • Regular Reader
    4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Book, Just Skip Chapter 20
    Reviewed in the United States on January 3, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    This review refers to the MP3 CD. The target audience of this book are ordinary people ( non-academics ) who are interested in the practical aspects of Stoicism for dealing with the vagaries of life. Mission accomplished. The voice actor used for this audio CD was well matched to the subject matter. The lessons were in clear, ordinary language. The topics were subjects any human being could relate too. The material was chock full of practical strategies for dealing with many aspects of life. I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 due to two problems I had with the "book". The first problem, a minor one, was the author intentionally gender flipping pronouns. "When a stoic reflects on X she should....". "When a cook adds salt he usually...." . I found it to be didactic and a little bit PC. i imagine any woman intelligent and educated enough to be interested in Stoicism would find the intentional manipulation of pronouns to be patronizing. The other problem I had with the book was chapter 20. I think the author's intent was to expand upon an insight the stoics had about grief that he mentioned earlier in the book and to warn the reader about getting distracted in looking for happiness in external sources. However, I think chapter 20 could be strongly misunderstood by many to be an attack on psychological counseling and political action for improving the world. Neither are incompatible with Stoicism and the author stated many times that his goal for the book was to "sell Stoicism". Given that, in future editions of the book I think chapter 20 should be dropped. It doesn't help in selling Stoicism and might possibly have the opposite effect. However, this is an excellent book for making the practical aspects of Stoicism easily accessible to anyone and I highly encourage everyone to read it.
    18 people found this helpful
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  • Kurt Rayner
    5.0 out of 5 stars Clear, readable, practical
    Reviewed in the United States on March 28, 2025
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    Excellent review of the topic in practical terms.

    Solid but unforced description of the va!ue of exercising "Stoic techniques" regardless of one's religious persuasion (or dissuasion).

    Always amazed at the relevance of Stoic thought two thousand years on.
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  • Alexander Romano
    5.0 out of 5 stars Just reading this book has changed my outlook on life... for the better
    Reviewed in the United States on March 2, 2022
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    I bought this book because I've been pretty interested in different philosophies for the last couple years now. Particularly because I've been pursuing fame and money and my mentors have told me that I should become a student of philosophy if I want either of those two things.

    Along the way, I've been exposed to a lot of different ways of thinking, concepts, and ideas around my mindset and how I should value different things. Most notably the idea that: "Until I learn to become a happy person with what I have, I'll never be happy after getting the things that I desire to have"

    While I've known - in theory - that I should have been able to find happiness on my own... I just haven't ever been able to put it to practice.

    Until now.

    This book (and the art of stoicism) has given me an amazing set of tools which, for the first time ever, has allowed me to experience joy in my current day-to-day life. And not only that, but I find myself to be ever more productive with a much higher desire to go after certain goals that I have in life because I've found that joy!

    Many of the concepts explained in the book are similar to what people would have read in other religious or Law Of Attraction or philosophical types of books... except it's all explained using simple logic and rational. Something that I think anyone can relate to and makes sense without necessarily trying to get you to believe in the supernatural.

    And for me, at least, it's helped me to finally solidify some concepts that I've been trying for years to wrap my head around.

    So having said that, if you're thinking about getting this book then I definitely would get it. It is perhaps now one of my more favorite books regarding philosophy that I have ever read.
    18 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • Paulo Leite
    5.0 out of 5 stars Irvine escreveu o melhor livro introdutório sobre o estoicismo em inglês.
    Reviewed in Brazil on August 25, 2017
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    Como introdução à filosofia estoica, comparei três grandes livros: “O Guia da Boa Vida, de William Irvine, “Estoicismo e a Arte da Felicidade”, de Donald Robertson, e “Como Ser um Estoico: Sabedoria Antiga Para a Vida Moderna”, de Massimo Pigliucci. “O Guia da Boa Vida, de William Irvine é provavelmente o melhor livro introdutório sobre o assunto. Está escrito em um estilo fácil de ser compreendido, com muitos exemplos sobre cada tema abordado. Irvine começa por Zeno, fundador da filosofia estóica, e depois escreve sobre a vida do filósofo Diógenes Laertius. O livro inclui ainda outras minibiografias de estoicos como Epiteto (meu favorito), Sêneca, Marcus Aurelius e Musonius Rufus. Ficamos sabendo aqui o que essas pessoas fizeram e como elas praticavam suas filosofias.

    Logo nas primeiras páginas o autor aborda a clara dicotomia que há entre o que está sob nosso controle e o que não está, e, ao longo do livro caminha para um tema muito atual: como lidar com as emoções. Os estoicos tinham a reputação de não demonstrarem emoções frente às adversidades, similar ao senhor Spock, de “Jornada nas Estrelas”.

    Quando se olha o que os autores escreveram e a maneira como eles se comportavam na vida, se constata que eles estavam longe de ser seres sem emoção. Não há nada em nenhuma dessas biografias ou em nenhum de seus escritos sugerindo que eles se comportaram de maneira similar ao Spock, suprimindo emoções para pensar somente o racional. O que eles fizeram, e eram muito explícitos sobre isso, foi reconhecer que existem diferentes tipos de emoções humanas. Por exemplo, raiva e indignação contra a injustiça. A indignação contra a injustiça, e a sensação de injustiça, são emoções positivas. Os estóicos acreditavam que o bom caráter é feito da prática de quatro virtudes fundamentais, chamadas de virtudes cardeais. Uma dessas virtudes é a justiça, e sim, a sensação de justiça precisa ser cultivada porque é uma emoção boa. Por outro lado, uma coisa pode ser boa ou má para certos indivíduos, em ocasiões diversas. Quando se tem raiva e sentimento de justiça juntos, a raiva irá “embaçar” seu julgamento, mesmo que seja uma raiva justificável, mesmo que haja uma razão sólida para se irritar. Se você reagir apenas com base na raiva, é provável que tome decisões erradas ou aja de forma precipitada. Nesses casos, o ideal é ficar com a sensação de indignação, de justiça violada, e que motive você a fazer algo a respeito; essa emoção positiva - é algo que os estoicos diriam definitivamente para você leitor fazer.

    Enfim, cada vez mais observamos um grande número de pessoas tentando praticar o estoicismo com vista a se tornar pessoas melhores, e o livro de William Irvine faz parte desta recente ressurreição do estoicismo. Boa leitura!
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  • Ninocrack
    5.0 out of 5 stars Muy buen libro de introducción al Estoicismo
    Reviewed in Spain on March 24, 2019
    Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
    Libro practico y muy bueno para introducirte en el estoicismo, de obligada lectura antes de entrar en grandes clásicos -sobretodo las meditaciones de Marco Aurelio- en general un buen libro y de lectura muy amena y practica.
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  • Mattias A.
    5.0 out of 5 stars A must read for all the homosapiens
    Reviewed in Sweden on August 18, 2023
    Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
     
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    Mattias A.
    5.0 out of 5 stars
    A must read for all the homosapiens

    Reviewed in Sweden on August 18, 2023

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  • stella
    5.0 out of 5 stars Plaisir à lire, ressenti un sentiment de paix et de joie.
    Reviewed in France on January 3, 2021
    Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
    Je viens de lire quelques chapitres, je trouve cela très intéressant. Celui ci est un must-read livre, peut-être nous aider à nous orienter dans la bonne direction vers un sentiment de paix et de joie, nous permet de réduire l'anxiété, de mieux gérer l'humiliation, le chagrin, le vieillissement et d'affronter calmement la tentation de la gloire et de la richesse.
    Par contre, c'est très intéressant pour moi de savoir, le stoïcisme et le bouddhisme présentent d’apparentes similitudes. Je voudrais continuer ma lecture et aller chercher des réponses à mes questions.
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  • Gerard de Vriend
    5.0 out of 5 stars Very practical guide to stoicism
    Reviewed in the Netherlands on March 5, 2017
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    A clear overview of stoicism. Well written, thoughtful, clear, inspiring. Both beginner and advanced stoicism will learn and enjoy. Thank.
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