How To Read Seneca (The World’s Most Interesting Stoic)

Seneca is one of the most fascinating Stoic figures. 

A famed writer, dramatist, politician and advisor, Seneca is one of the three key figures in the development of Stoicism. He not only wrote on philosophy but used it in the way it’s meant to be used: to handle and navigate through the upsides and downsides of fortune. And those he knew extremely well—varying from massive wealth to exile to handling with dignity the suicide order from his own pupil Nero.

In this video Ryan Holiday breaks down who Seneca was, why you should be interested in his work, some of the key themes from his writing and how you should read this master of Stoic Philosophy.

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00:00 Intro
00:55 Who was Seneca?
08:32 Why should you read Seneca?
11:49 What are the best themes from Seneca’s writing?
17:41 How should you read Seneca?

#Stoicism​ #DailyStoic​ #RyanHoliday​

[janralphebora]

Man, we are so lucky that Ryan does these kinds of valuable, long-form content for free.

[georgewebb]

I’m 17 and I’ve been discovering and learning about stoicism for 2 years, I think learning the lessons from stoicism at such a young age is the best choice I’ve ever made, I think stoicism should be taught in schools honestly, Imagine the change in the world, I feel like my generation needs to hear the wisdom of the stoicism NOW, I love what I’ve learnt so far and making myself a little better each day.Love your work Ryan and wish everyone a great day, week, month, year and life🖤

[batdoguk]

I was reading Seneca around the time my father suffered heart failure in March 2021, and Seneca's advice helped me come to terms with the fact that my father was soon going to die. Three months later I even took my copy of Letters from a Stoic into hospital to read on the night my father died. Although both Marcus Aurelius and Epictetus contains numerous nuggets of wisdom, I much prefer Seneca, who comes to life in the pages of his letters to Lucilius.

[conradmcdaniel]

Letters from a stoic may be the best thing I've read besides Meditations.

[jcoste]

I’m 24 and just recently found stoicism and didn’t realize this is what I was practicing throughout my life! I’m glad I found there’s an actual name to it!

[Blueskyhat]

I feel like Ryan is giving me ancient mental software that still remains timeless and incredibly useful

[ml]

I'm a lucky man Ryan, this is my 65th year of life & through you & because of you, i am discovering Stoic philosophy. Your teaching bring it down to my level and, i thank you for this. Cheers :)

[goldmvnd]

i often complain about my choice for high school because sometimes it's really difficult to do well (translating latin and ancient greek), but i'll always be grateful that they introduce us to amazing authors like seneca. he's definitely one of my favorites :)

[waitpethk]

Thank you so much for your kind sharing, I start to read Meditation and Letters from a Stoic. I am a Buddhist and I find it very practical for my life and practice as well. The Stoic philosophy is more important today as we are facing a rapid changing world.

[debraleong]

This was so helpful. As someone who is new to Stoic philosophy and gets a little overwhelmed by all the different great thinkers in Stoic philosophy, this was very helpful. Thank you.

[OneBlurryLens]

Always learning.

When we read this again down the river, we will learn something new, again.
Thanks!

[howardstein]

One of your best lectures, Ryan. I love Seneca. One very powerful aspect to reading Seneca, for me, is what an absolutely beautiful writer he was. I am often astonished at the beauty of his words, as much as the content of his wisdom.

[MegaFount]

Such an incredible life he had - full of tragedy and obstacles. He forged ahead no matter what. Never surrender. As Becket wrote: I can’t go on; I must go on.

[flyinggoat]

I thought I had listened to enough stoic philosophy second hand to get the benefit. I thought I was finally mastering my feelings and learning to breathe and focus through my challenges. And then the bombs fell on Ukraine, my second home. Every day I fear the fate of my friends, students, colleagues, and heroes sacrificing themselves as I stand virtually powerless to help. I’ve been constantly on the edge of tears for months… this war made an absolute mockery of my ability to control my emotions.

I’m glad I found this essay today. I think I’ll grab a book and go to the park.

[evitwael]

A good way to know these legends, I hope you will feature all of them. Thanks, Ryan. Keep up the great work.

[darrellshoub]

I started reading Seneca via Ryan, when my father died, when I was 55, ... I still pick up two of his books, ,,, pretty often when I feel fear or weakness creep in,

[jaredbaker]

Having a rough time with life, financially, health and fatherhood. This is helping me change into the person I want to be. Thank You

[Cinemagoer_]

This is one of the greatest videos I’ve ever seen thank you Ryan you’re awesome!!

[paavoviuhko]

I am happy to connect. I spend a lot of time reading philosophy because I feel a strong attraction to it. Just lately I picked up this book Letters On Ethics by Seneca (Graver and Long, University of Chicago Press). Fantastic book. Best thing I've read in a long time. I am so engrossed with this book that I have been advertising it in comments on Youtube to people that might not be aware. But of course this in not the first book I have read on Seneca. I studied philosophy during my university years and later so I became familiar with the whole tradition. But at this stage in my life, no one speaks to me like Seneca. It seems like the only place to go and get a non-Christian influence of the best values on how to live your life. But reading never really gets you there. It has to become a practice and in that respect I praise you for your effort. I would like to stay connected because you have a value that is missing in most places. So I subscribed though I would not consider myself classified as a Stoic. Even Seneca rejected some of the earlier Stoic teachings. Best wishes to you.

[Arthur_Wellesley]

Could you do a video like this for Epictetus? I just got his discourses book for Christmas and have been slowly working my way through it.