Reddit mentions of The Emperor's Handbook: A New Translation of The Meditations

Have you ever seen fight club? I think this is an idea I stole from them:

Everyone thinks they will crumble the first time they get hit, but after you get punched once you realize you aren't going to break. Yes, pain hurts, but humans are tough fucking creatures. Once you shatter that illusion that you aren't in fact made of glass, you become a lot more relaxed.

This is true for sickness and injuries as well. I've had a variety of illnesses, injuries, and sicknesses, some of them which have left my body permanently changed (I'm right now thinking of my right shoulder blade which was shattered in a motorcycle accident). But, the body is amazing at healing, and it can overcome a lot.

I recommend you check out some different types of philosophy to accent your meditation practice. Two books which I think you might enjoy:

The Emperor's handbook: http://www.amazon.com/The-Emperors-Handbook-Translation-Meditations/dp/0743233832/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1369505703&sr=8-1&keywords=The+emperors+handbook

and

The Hagakure: http://www.amazon.com/Hagakure-Book-Samurai-Yamamoto-Tsunetomo/dp/1590309855/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1369505730&sr=1-2&keywords=The+hagakure

Although to be fair, those are my two favorite books of all time so that might be one of the reasons I'm recommending them, haha!

The Emperor's Handbook: A New Translation of The Meditations https://www.amazon.com/dp/0743233832/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_G4JXCbDRYZH3W

If you’re looking for a fairly plain English version of the meditations, personally I would probably go with this. Enjoy

You can make it man! if you can bring or receive books i'd send you some good but quick read books since you'll have the time:

The Emperor's Handbook: A New Translation of The Meditations
Duncan is really good to listen to, if you want to dive in deep look for when he had ball cancer. Then out of respect you should meet Duncan's Mom parts 1 & 2. Chris Ryan's 'Tangentially Speaking' can really get you though feeling lost by learning how to enjoy the experience.

If you feel you're a creative or ever wanted to start a business, i'd buy you The War of Art. But both those books really influenced me when I was younger by exposing me to new perspectives on everyday problems I faced.

Word, check it out on Amazon, click on the book cover and they have the "look inside" feature


http://www.amazon.com/Emperors-Handbook-New-Translation-Meditations/dp/0743233832/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1425929872&sr=8-1&keywords=emperor%27s+handbook

Sounds like someone needs to read Albert Camus. Or, if you want something with more temporal pedigree, perhaps Marcus Aurelius.

[http://www.amazon.com/Mindhacker-Tips-Tricks-Games-Level/dp/1118007522]

[http://www.amazon.com/Emperors-Handbook-New-Translation-Meditations/dp/0743233832]


[http://www.amazon.com/Self-Help-Stuff-That-Works-Effective/dp/0962465674]

I have given this out as a gift a few times and it brought my friends into Stoicism: https://www.amazon.com/Emperors-Handbook-New-Translation-Meditations/dp/0743233832

But, it's not an academic version. It's simple, everyday language.

I never finished it because I kept loaning it to people who kept keeping it, but I liked Emperor's Handbook (amazon)

The Emperor's Handbook. For those that are interested.

There is no definite answer to this question. Meditations is always a hard read and it depends on what your preferences are.

I'd like to refer you to the FAQ, where several translations are compared. For more comparisons, see this comment.

Most people here seem to like George Hays translation.

The translation by George Long is freely available online here, but in general quite hard to read as it resembles a 'biblical' writing style.

Some people also liked the version by Hicks.

The Emperor's Handbook.

Changed everything for me. If arguably one of the greatest men who ever lived struggled with these things.....then maybe I'm not as fucked up as I think. At least I have some honorable company.

I can't recommend this translation enough. Accessible, contemporary, and light enough to carry.

The Emperors Handbook by Marcus Aurelius contains just about more wisdom than any other book I have ever read. I cannot recommend it enough. The new translation is beautiful and moving.

http://www.amazon.com/Emperors-Handbook-New-Translation-Meditations/dp/0743233832

The Emperor’s Handbook

I had a similar experience and I tried to read a few different versions that were too sloggy for me. This one is smooth, clean and beautiful.

https://www.amazon.com/Emperors-Handbook-New-Translation-Meditations/dp/0743233832/ref=nodl_

The Emperor's Handbook

This is a great translation and a commonly accepted starting point for people new to Stoic philosophy. Seneca is also a great Stoic writer.

EDIT: The biggest take away is...in very common language: "Shit happens....but it's how you react to that shit that shows who you are as a person."

I have read more in this genre than most. So I will give a few suggestions here but if you want more or want to talk you can always PM me.

Illusions by: Richard Bach. This one is a great and not known by many people but should be read by everyone at least once.

Spiritual Enlightenment, the Damnedest Thing BY: Jed McKenna. This one really opened my eyes to forming your own personal philosophy. The other two books are also very good and worth a read too, but that first one is so so good.

I also really really like classical philosophy and would feel bad if I did not recommend something in that field so I will also recommend--

Meditations by: Marcus Aurelius I think everyone should read this and this is my favorite translation of his work.

https://www.amazon.com/Emperors-Handbook-New-Translation-Meditations/dp/0743233832/

>nice, handy, compact form that could guide me.

The quick road? Easy solution? A sort of step-by-step, best-of-the-best one-for-all ultimate way of getting 'better'?

Didn't work that way for me, but if you find this two-paragraph meaning of life, please share it with the rest of us.

Okay, sarcasm over. I'm on my way out, so I'll make a quick pass and recommend Aurelius. Probably got more books around here somewhere, but that's what comes to mind first.

If my bookmark pile hadn't exploded a few months ago I'd have some nifty blogs for you. Maybe lifehack.

Also, askreddit, better than regular reddit for this sort of query. Best of luck.

The Emperor's Handbook by Marcus Aurelius.

Yes. The driving force for me to commit to daily practice was an inability to control my temper. It is night and day better. I also began reading stoicism along side my daily meditation so I think it is a combination of the two that worked for me. I recommend this book to get you started along with a daily meditation practice.

The Worldly Philosophers - Heilbroner http://www.amazon.com/Worldly-Philosophers-Lives-Economic-Thinkers/dp/068486214X

Modal Logic for Philosophers - Garson http://www.amazon.com/Modal-Logic-Philosophers-James-Garson/dp/0521682290/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1311026075&sr=1-1

The Emperor's Handbook - Aurelius http://www.amazon.com/Emperors-Handbook-New-Translation-Meditations/dp/0743233832/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1311026100&sr=1-1