Art of Living: The Classical Mannual on Virtue, Happiness, and Effectiveness (Plus)

Author - Epictetus ... [Goo?] [Posters]
Author - Sharon Lebell ... [Goo?] [Posters]

This Paperback Book item from HarperOne was reviewed on 11-Dec-2008.

Search ISBN:0061286052 offer from Abebooks or used books from Alibris. Art of Living: The Classical Mannual on Virtue, Happiness, and Effectiveness (Plus) Reference Book. Classifications : General AAS Qualifying Textbooks Custom Stores Specialty Stores Books General Psychology & Counseling Health, Mind & Body Subjects Books General AAS Psychology & Counseling Health, Mind & Body Subject . Click the following link to view the cover of Art of Living: The Classical Mannual on Virtue, Happiness, and Effectiveness (Plus).

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1) Paperback Book Art of Living: The Classical Mannual on Virtue, Happiness, and Effectiveness (Plus) by HarperOne. This book is the bad Hollywood remake of a classic film. I think previous reviews are split into two different categories - one set reviewing the thoughts and ideas of Epictetus (who deserves 5 stars), the other reviewing sham ´author´ Sharon Lebell (who deserves 1 star). The source material being abused here is absolute genius. Sadly it gets butchered by a woman who by her own admission doesn´t know Latin and had no idea who Epictetus was until the publisher approached her and asked her to ´write´ this book. The translator is never revealed (bad sign), but previous reviews are correct that the actual text has been stretched, paraphrased, and regurgitated into lame self-help-isms. It´s a testament to the power of the original work that some of the main the ideas still come through. Forget the terrible remake, go watch the original!¤

2) Paperback Book Art of Living: The Classical Mannual on Virtue, Happiness, and Effectiveness (Plus) by HarperOne. This book was recommemed by a specialist in treating people with attendtion deficit disorder (ADD). The pieces of wisdom are good bits of wisdom but I feel it would have been better if the author could have elaborated. The pieces of wisdom are only one two pages. Some only a paragraph or two. Perhaps given examples or some type of historical context as Robert Greene id in 48 principles of power.¤

3) Paperback Book Art of Living: The Classical Mannual on Virtue, Happiness, and Effectiveness (Plus) by HarperOne. Sirs: In the Amazon provided title for this book, they spelt part of the title wrong, with: ´mannual´, rather than the correct ´manual´.¤

4) Paperback Book Art of Living: The Classical Mannual on Virtue, Happiness, and Effectiveness (Plus) by HarperOne. I have read this four or five times, and I have found that it is truly a manual to live by. If this manual replaced the Bible, the New Testament, and the Koran, people would be much more peaceful and contented. It has great common sense advice, and such a simple, humble tone. It reminds me of the Tao Te Ching, but less mystical. Every time I read it I feel better about life. I think anyone would benefit from reading it.¤

5) Paperback Book Art of Living: The Classical Mannual on Virtue, Happiness, and Effectiveness (Plus) by HarperOne. While some reviewers might object to the "updated" terminology of Lebell´s adaptation of Epictetus´ philosophy, I must say that the reason this edition is so effective is largely because the "abstract", "scholarly", "dry" language that one usually encounters (with conventional translations of Epictetus´ philosophy) is here replaced with a pleasing approximation of how Epictetus himself would likely speak TODAY (assuming his native tongue were English).

IMPORTANT NOTE: Though I certainly do esteem my copy of this excellent, conventional-book edition, I must say that the alternative AUDIO edition is infinitely more powerfully effective for ME. Indeed, since discovering the AUDIOBOOK edition (an excellently judicious abridgement of this conventional-book edition) some years ago, I´ve found myself listening to it over and over and over, and I expect to do so for the rest of my life! I certainly can´t say THAT about any other audiobook (with the possible exception of the audio edition of "How to Stop Worrying and Start Living" by Dale Carnegie). If everybody would listen to that audio while commuting to/from work (and/or at bedtime or upon waking), this would likely be a kinder, saner world.

Therefore, IN ADDITION TO (or, initially, instead of) this conventional-book edition, you should absolutely purchase the "audio download" edition of this book so that you can have it as either a conventional compact disc or as MP3 files (for your iPod, MP3 player, computer, etc.). [As of this writing, you can find Amazon´s "audio download" edition by first "searching" on the ISBN number of the CASSETTE edition (1574530887) and then clicking on the "Also Available" audio download edition link near the top of the page.] The price for the "audio download" edition is remarkably low; indeed, it may well amount to the greatest "self-help" bargain you´ll ever encounter!

Regarding this TEXT edition, be aware that only the latest (2007) edition [ISBN: 9780061286056] includes two RECENTLY WRITTEN essays by author Lebell: "Epi-Who? How a 200-Year-Old Dead White Male Changed My Life" and "Why Would Anyone Want to Be a Stoic?". These helpful and gratifying essays (appended to the reprinted text of the prior, 1995 edition) should prove helpful/entertaining to most readers, especially newcomers to Epictetus´ teachings. Oh, btw, the latest edition also features all-new cover art.¤

6) Paperback Book Art of Living: The Classical Mannual on Virtue, Happiness, and Effectiveness (Plus) by HarperOne.

Epictetus was born into slavery about 55 ce in the eastern outreaches of the Roman Empire. Once freed, he established an influential school of Stoic philosophy, stressing that human beings cannot control life, only their responses to it. By putting into practice the ninety-three witty, wise, and razor-sharp instructions that make up The Art of Living, readers learn to meet the challenges of everyday life successfully and to face life´s inevitable losses and disappointments with grace.

7) Paperback Book Art of Living: The Classical Mannual on Virtue, Happiness, and Effectiveness (Plus) by HarperOne. "Happiness and freedom begin with a clear understanding of one principle: Some things are within our control, and some things are not. It is only after you have faced up to this fundamental rule and learned to distinguish between what you can and can´t control that inner tranquility and outer effectiveness become possible." The Stoic philosopher Epictetus was born on the eastern edges of the Roman Empire in A.D. 55, but The Art of Living is still perfectly suited for any contemporary self-help or recovery program. To prove the point, this modern interpretation by Sharon Lebell casts the teachings in up-to-date language, with phrases like "power broker" and "casual sex" popping up intermittently. But the core is still the same: Epictetus keeps the focus on progress over perfection, on accomplishing what can be accomplished and abandoning unproductive worry over what cannot.¤

Page Updated: Robert N. Goolsby, 8-Jan-2009, 00612860529780061286056, 520-140-370-180-950-930-8

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