The Daily Stoic You Are Not Too Busy To Read
Jan 13, 2021
Discover how historical leaders like Marcus Aurelius and Napoleon prioritized reading despite their busy lives. The discussion highlights the essential benefits of making time for books, with a focus on personal and professional growth. You’ll be inspired to break the busy cycle and incorporate reading into your daily routine. Dive into the vitality of literature and learn how it can transform your thinking and productivity.
03:28
Make Time for Reading
- You are not too busy to read.
- Even busy historical figures like Marcus Aurelius and Seneca prioritized reading.
Napoleon's Reading Habits
- Napoleon brought 125 books on his Egypt campaign, including history, philosophy, and poetry.
- Even while commanding an army, he prioritized reading, demonstrating its importance.
Prioritize Reading
- Make time for reading; don't just try to find it.
- Prioritize reading like historical leaders such as Marcus Aurelius and Seneca.
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Napoleon
A Life
Andrew Roberts
Andrew Roberts’s 'Napoleon: A Life' is the first one-volume biography to fully utilize Napoleon’s 33,000 recently published letters, offering a radical transformation in our understanding of his character and motivation.
The book portrays Napoleon as a protean multitasker, decisive, and surprisingly willing to forgive his enemies and his wife Josephine.
Roberts, an award-winning historian, traveled to fifty-three of Napoleon’s sixty battle sites and discovered crucial new documents in archives, including a trip to St. Helena.
The biography is praised for its magisterial, insightful, and beautifully written narrative, providing a deep and nuanced look at Napoleon’s life, successes, and failures.
The sorrows of young Werther
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
The Laws of the Spirit World
Khorshed Bhavnagri
The book explores the concept of seven realms in the spirit world, ranging from what is akin to hell (realms 1-3) to heaven (realms 5-7).
It discusses topics such as karma, rebirth, free will, and the nature of good and evil.
The author, inspired by messages from her sons who died in a car accident, uses automatic writing to convey the spiritual laws and guide readers on how to lead a spiritual life on Earth and progress towards higher realms after death.
Homer
Homer
Homer's works, including the Iliad and the Odyssey, are foundational texts of ancient Greek literature, shaping Western culture and storytelling.
Julius Caesar
William Shakespeare
The play, written in 1599, explores themes of political power, honor, and fate versus free will.
It centers around the conspiracy led by Brutus and Cassius to assassinate Julius Caesar, fearing his rise to power could lead to tyranny.
The play delves into the moral dilemmas faced by its characters and the consequences of their actions, culminating in a civil war.
The characters, including Brutus, Cassius, and Mark Antony, represent different facets of political ideology and personal conviction.
The play is known for its iconic lines and its enduring relevance in examining the dynamics of power and political decisions.
History of the Peloponnesian War
Thucydides
Written by Thucydides, this work is a detailed and insightful historical account of the Peloponnesian War. It chronicles the conflict between the Peloponnesian League, led by Sparta, and the Athenian Empire, emphasizing the significant impact of this war on Greek society.
Thucydides outlines the historical context leading up to the war, tracing the evolution of Greek society and detailing the tensions and incidents that led to the conflict.
The narrative examines key events, alliances, and the complex interplay of human ambition and political motivations during the war.
Plutarch's Lives
Plutarch
Plutarch's Lives, also known as Parallel Lives, is a collection of 48 biographies of notable men from ancient Greece and Rome.
The work is structured in pairs, with one Greek and one Roman figure of similar destiny, such as Alexander the Great and Julius Caesar, or Demosthenes and Cicero.
Plutarch's primary concern was not to write strict historical accounts but to explore the moral virtues and failings of his subjects, aiming to provide examples of conduct to imitate or avoid.
The biographies are significant not only for their insight into the individuals but also for their historical value, offering a glimpse into the times in which they lived.
Tacitus
Ronald Mellor
Tacitus, a Roman historian and senator, wrote several significant works, including the Annals and Histories.
His writings provide valuable insights into the Roman Empire, particularly the reigns of the Julio-Claudian and Flavian emperors.
Known for his sharp observations and critical perspective, Tacitus's works offer a nuanced portrayal of Roman politics, society, and military campaigns.
His style is characterized by its conciseness and powerful imagery, making his accounts both informative and engaging.
Ab Urbe Condita (The History of Rome)
From the Founding of the City
Titus Livy
Livy's 'Ab Urbe Condita' is a 142-volume work that chronicles the history of Rome from its legendary founding to the reign of Augustus.
Although only 35 books have survived, it remains a foundational text in Roman historiography, emphasizing moral lessons and the heroic narrative of Rome's rise.
The Three Voyages of Captain James Cook Round the World
The Three Voyages of Captain James Cook Round the World
An Account of the Voyages Undertaken by the Order of His Present Majesty for Making Discoveries in the Southern Hemisphere
James King
Joseph Banks
James Cook
This collection documents Captain James Cook's three historic voyages, which significantly expanded European knowledge of the Pacific and its islands.
The voyages, conducted between 1768 and 1779, included the discovery of Australia, New Zealand, and the Hawaiian Islands.
The accounts provide insights into geography, navigation, and the cultures encountered during these expeditions.
Virgil
Aeneid VIII
Virgil
Keith Maclennan
This book provides a detailed commentary on Book VIII of the Aeneid, highlighting its significance in the mythological foundation of Rome and its political implications for the Augustan regime.
It includes discussions on style, meter, and reception, making it suitable for students and scholars alike.
“We get it. You’re busy. You have kids. You have a job—maybe two. You have these things you are trying to accomplish. You have to get to the gym. You have a long commute. You have all these projects around the house.”
Discover the vitality of reading and how historical leaders carved out time to make it a priority, on today’s Daily Stoic Podcast.
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