By Donald J. Robertson
An introduction to Stoicism and a how-to guide to put it into practice from a psychotherapist’s view.
Summary
Stoicism and the Art of Happiness was written under the Teach Yourself umbrella and it follows this approach well. We start by placing the ancient philosophy of Stoicism in the context of our modern day. From here Donald Robertson takes us on a journey through all the different parts of Stoicism. He provides us with clear examples of how we can use them to live better.
As we look at all the core tenets, we get to meet the important names within Stoicism. From Zeno to Seneca, Epictetus, and Marcus Aurelius. But we don’t only stay with the Stoics. There are plenty of references to other ways of living, such as Buddhism and Daoism. These examples give us a better view of what Stoicism is like.
Since Donald Robertson is a licensed psychotherapist, his expertise allows us to learn about modern techniques that can help us apply these ancient teachings. It also shows how relevant the ideas of the Stoics still are. Each chapter contains detailed exercises or meditational prompts for us to put these teachings into practice.
The core of the book revolves around the three disciplines which can be read throughout Epictetus’s discourses and as highlighted by Pierre Hadot. These three concepts take up the central piece of the book. Around which the other Stoic ideas and practices are placed.
Review
As a Teach Yourself book, Stoicism and the Art of Happiness can be a little complex at times. Although it does break all the segments of Stoicism down into bite-sized chunks. Yet certain parts of the book could use a bit more background information for the novice reader. It also falls a little outside of the realm of an easy-to-understand introduction to Stoicism. All-in-all, it tries to do too much between being a philosophical and a self-help book.
For the more advanced student of Stoicism, this book is a good refresher and reminder to put the Stoic teachings into practice. It falls below The Inner Citadel by Pierre Hadot, to which it references a lot. But it is easy to spot that Stoicism and the Art of Happiness was the foundation for Donald Robertson’s best-selling book, How to Think Like a Roman Emperor. The main difference between these two is the compelling narrative of Marcus Aurelius’s life used to explain Stoicism in the latter book.
Recommendation
If you have the time to read it, it will not disappoint nor is it too redundant. It provides the novice and the advanced Stoic student with enough new insights to continue her journey. It also shows the progression of Donald Robertson as a writer of modern philosophical self-help books.
This book wouldn’t be at the top of a recommendation list, but if you happen upon it, give it a read. It is one of those books that remind us that if we want to live well and learn to art of happiness, then we need to put it into practice.
Final thoughts
As someone who enjoys reading books by Donald Robertson, this one didn’t fail. The reader can spot the background of the author and this gives extra weight to the fact that Stoicism is still relevant. It is a good introduction but might be a bit heavy at certain parts for someone at the beginning of their Stoic journey. Those who are further down the path might find it lacking in certain areas. But in general, this is an excellent reminder of what Stoicism is and how it should be practiced.
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