Think Like a Stoic: Ancient Wisdom for Today's World

An introduction to the basics of Stoic philosophy; an emphasis on living reasonably and pro-socially; teaching one to live according to nature; the two pillars of this ancient school of thought; the four cardinal virtues and the dichotomy of control.

How Stoic philosophy has evolved over time; placing Stoicism among its rivals and influences, including major Hellenistic schools of thought like Epicureanism and Cynicism; Seneca, Baruch Spinoza and the transcendentalism of Henry David Thoreau.

The ancient Stoics use several metaphors to get their points across; the metaphor of the garden, whose elements are physics, ethics and logic; comparing how Aristotle and the Stoics think of logic; how Stoic epistemology and psychology are related.

Stoics' thoughts on providence are much different from what Christians later think of it; three interrelated notions of Stoic thinking that constitute three important aspects of their metaphysics; a new perspective on the problem of free will.

Ethics is arguably the most important part of Stoic philosophy; differentiating between ancient and modern conceptions of what is ethical; the virtues of practical wisdom, courage, justice and temperance; translating them into everyday practice.

How to practice Stoicism as described by Epictetus; a series of engaging exercises on how to train desires and aversions; bringing attention to the issues outlined here; helping realign wants with what is important; what is truly within your control.

Human beings are eminently social creatures; negotiating relationships with other human beings; the Stoic discipline of action through exercises that train how to keep peace of mind in mind; how to deal with insults; handling difficult people.

According to Epictetus, the discipline of assent, concerned with arriving at correct judgments, is difficult to master; examples to highlight tactics for overcoming mental weakness, controlling outbursts of anger and bringing urges under control.

The letters Seneca writes in his last years to Lucilius, which offer an informal curriculum on Stoic philosophy; eye-opening thoughts on managing time; the high standards of friendships; feeling joy; judging others; coming to terms with death.

The categories into which Stoics divide emotions; involuntary emotional reactions, reactive emotions and positive emotions; what Seneca says about anger, which the Stoics consider a classic example of a negative emotion; an anger management exercise.

One test of any philosophy of life is whether it is helpful in unpleasant, unavoidable situations; Stoicism passes this test by looking at what Seneca (in three letters of consolation he writes) has to say about the subjects of grief and distress.

Epictetus is a practical and humorous philosopher; the first volume of the Discourses, a treatise on Stoic philosophy written by one of his illustrious students; Stoic views on cosmopolitanism; the notion that all are members of the same cosmopolis.

The second volume of Discourses, written by Epictetus; applying its insights to one's own life; what Epictetus tells about what is under one's complete control; the trade-off between material things and family relations; managing everyday anxieties.

Epictetus employed the concepts of desire, action and assent as disciplines to understand the entirety of Stoic philosophy, the tyrannical reign of Roman Emperor Domitian, using them as a powerful framework to lead a more meaningful life.

According to the Stoics, if one wants to live a free life, they have to be the master of their own desires, chiefly by eliminating them; philosophical tips on doing that; the fourth and last surviving book of the collected teachings of Epictetus.

Epictetus writes Enchiridion as a practical manual for living how to live what the Greco-Romans consider a worthwhile life; Enchiridion is a well-known text throughout the Middle Ages and into the Renaissance; changing one's desires and aversions.

Marcus Aurelius's mastery of Stoic philosophy helps him navigate disasters; the first four chapters of Meditations; exercises in gratitude and contemplations on adversity; his misunderstood idea is: the universe is transformation; life is opinion.

Highlights from the next four chapters of Meditations; the Stoic sense of duty, an analogy involving vineyards that captures desire for praise and fear of criticism; the inevitability of change; the lust for fame; other human traits.

Practicing Stoicism during times of turmoil in one's life; the last four chapters of Meditations; exploring how not to catastrophize; how to be mindful of labels; how to practice a sunrise exercise that goes back to the 6th century B.C.E.

Knowing what the Stoics say about diets, the furniture in houses or the proper lengths of a man's beard; some of the many topics to explore in this fascinating conversation; one of the most influential of Stoics and least-known, Gaius Musonius Rufus.

Role models, a crucial aspect in Stoicism; two individuals Seneca suggests his contemporaries should model themselves after; Cato and Gaius Laelius Sapiens; contemporary role models who fit the Stoic concept; Nelson Mandela and Spider-Man.

Different roles one plays naturally produce conflict; the role of parent or friend; the call for different roles in one's life; following four criteria laid down by Epictetus; considering one's social relations and listening for a divine sign.

Whether Stoics move through life with stiff upper lips; whether Stoicism is all about suppressing emotions; can Stoicism help make one rich; the common misconceptions about Stoicism; how they diverge from the philosophy's intent; learning from them.

Why anyone living today wishes to become a Stoic; Pigliucci answers this question by comparing Stoicism with three other philosophies of life; Buddhism, Confucianism and Daoism; how his own practice of Stoicism helps him in his life.

Four examples of personal crises in contemporary life; revealing just how helpful Stoicism can be in guiding everyday thoughts and practices; learning from a struggling adult child; a tormented married couple; a father's terminal illness.