Stoic Empathy by Shermin Kruse

Stoic Empathy is a practical convergence of Empathy and Stoicism by building healthier external relationships while fortifying inner peace.

Summary

Shermin Kruse manages to combine empathy and Stoicism through an impactful and moving narrative from her own childhood. She begins by unpacking the empathy side of the book, explaining the concept itself. Then she breaks it down into emotional and cognitive empathy. She then offers five powerful tools that can help the reader in any kind of negotiation or interpersonal interaction. Affect labeling, active listening, silence, mirroring or repeating, and probing questions can help us better understand the people we engage with and obtain the information we need.

You can read our other book reviews here: Via Stoica Book Reviews.

The second part of the book focuses on Stoicism. After an introduction to the philosophy, its relationship with emotion, and a comparison with mindfulness and Buddhism, we take a deep dive into emotional regulation. Backed by scientific research and practical examples, Stoic Empathy presents five Stoic tools to help us strengthen our inner citadel. In this part, we learn about the dichotomy of control, discomfort embracing, habituation, memento mori, and moral courage.

It all comes together in the final chapter on ethics. Where staying true to our values is key, and where we learn how this helps us build meaningful relationships. None is more important than the one we have with ourselves, by staying true to who we are.

Review

Stoic Empathy manages to show the true meaning and importance of Stoicism by adding the value of empathy to it. These two seemingly different concepts strengthen each other in a way that can help us become better people, for ourselves and the world around us.

The book is very accessible and includes compelling personal stories that highlight the importance of the topic. Shermin Kruse has created a mix of scientific research, personal experience, and practical tools that provide any reader with a handbook for better living.

Recommendation

Whether you are a top negotiator, a coach, a teacher, or in a relationship, this book gives you clear guidelines for building and maintaining healthy relationships with the people you interact with. The real-life examples and practical tools make it relatable and demonstrate the benefits of these techniques.

If you’ve studied Stoicism for a while, the Stoic part of the book will be a good refresher. But the first part, focused on empathy, will offer a new and deeper perspective, one that expands your understanding of the philosophy and how it applies to our relationships with the world.

Final Thoughts

Stoic Empathy is an excellent book for anyone to read. Its accessible language, impactful examples, and practical tools will have you reflecting on your own actions and thoughts on every page.

You can learn more about the author Shermin Kruse on: https://www.sherminkruse.com

Or follow her on:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sher.kruse 
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sher_kruse/ 
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shermin-kruse/ 
YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZEnWQF0ONo-IE2PLsBI2Eg

You can find the book here: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/770976/stoic-empathy-by-shermin-kruse/

Watch the interview with Shermin Kruse on the Via Stoica Podcast

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Book a free consultation with one of our Stoic Coaches to get support. Or read more about How to Practice Stoicism here. Listen to the Via Stoica Podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube.

Author Bio

Benny Voncken is the co-founder of Via Stoica, where he helps people apply Stoic philosophy to modern life. He is a Stoic coach, writer, and podcast host of The Via Stoica Podcast. With almost a decade of teaching experience and daily Stoic practice, Benny creates resources, workshops, and reflections that make ancient wisdom practical today.