The Little Book of Stoic Quotes is a modern Stoic handbook that is full of reminders and practices to keep living the good life and they are based on the most inspiring quotes in Stoicism.
Summary
The Little Book of Stoic Quotes is, as the title shows, packed with the most impactful quotes given to us by the ancient Stoics. Hidden among them are some more contemporary gems, such as Viktor Frankl’s lessons. Each quote is accompanied by Phil van Treuren’s view and interpretation. Some are even accompanied by a little fable, one to illustrate the meaning behind the thoughts. Phil’s wonderful illustrations turn this into a joyful book to read.
Who is the author Phil van Treuren? Read more about him here.
It is also a lovely introduction to Stoic philosophy. Most of the major concepts of Stoicism show up and give the reader an accessible and easy-to-reference body of work. It can be read from front to cover, or you can simply open a page and let your cup be filled.
Review
This book, the Little Book of Stoic Quotes, is a fun and inspirational book. It does exactly what the title says, it’s a little book filled with Stoic quotes. However, the additions that Phil made, make it so much more. The illustrations add a certain playfulness to the pages and the personal view of the lessons provides insights necessary to put them into practice.
It is a quick book to read, but also an easy one to use as a reference or when you need some inspiration. You can open it on any page and find the knowledge you need or didn’t even know you needed. It is well written and the original fables give it a magical touch.
Recommendation
Is this the first book on Stoicism you want to read? In a certain way, I hope it is for you. It could give a person who is seeking some guidance and structure in her life the nudge to explore more about Stoicism. There is enough in it to open the mind and follow the path of wisdom. We do recommend delving deeper into Stoicism, but that is what this book inspires the novice reader to do. For the more advanced Stoics, this book acts as a great reminder of the beauty and application of the philosophy.
Final thoughts
Phil van Treuren has created a wonderful addition to the Stoic vault of knowledge. If this were to survive the next millennia, then the people finding it would be able to get a good idea of the basic principles of Stoicism. And for us now, it serves as a great reminder of what it takes to live a good life.
The Little Book of Stoic quotes pretends to be nothing else than what it is and it is the lighthearted spirit that made it a joy for me to read.
Watch the interview we did with Phil van Treuren on The Via Stoica Podcast. Or read more of our book reviews. You can buy the Little Book of Stoic Quotes on Amazon.
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