Rating: 4 out of 5 stars. Stoicism is a practice that I have become interested in within the last three years, and I am always on the lookout for books that explain the concepts of this way of life and thought. This book did just that - a great read. ~ Candice Kendall (Reviewer), NetGalley

5 out of 5 stars: ................In his introduction, Ferraio states, "The world is a rough place and no one get out alive." Then he offers what I believe to be the thesis of his book, "This book is one author's attempt to understand a few central elements of the human condition....Let us hope that life is, indeed, worth living" He gifts the reader with what I believe to be ample proof that this life is, indeed, worth living. And he does so with depth and necessary complexity. He also gifts the reader with variety. In addition to frequent references to ancient philosophy, he includes a wonderful kind of 'study of a character study' on Cormac McCarthy's No Country for Old Men. Personally, this was my favorite essay in the book.............I very highly recommend "A Life Worth Living: Meditations on God, Death, and Stoicism." Its reading will be time well and productively spent... ~ Wadatrip, Amazon

5 out of 5 stars: Another great book by William Ferraiolo. It is different than his other books. They were more full witty stoicisms and short but sharp thoughts and takes. This book is a series of essays that dig deeper into the underpinnings and some nooks and crannies of Stoic philosophy. A Life Worth Living seems more like a graduate course into some of the more interesting and sometimes difficult questions. It wasn't always an easy read but I learned a good amount and have a greater understanding of Stoic philosophy after having read it than I did before starting. Kudos. ~ Robert & Karin Glenn, Amazon

5 out of 5 stars: William Ferraiolo hit a home run with this one! Very indifferent to many paradigms concerning God, Death and Stoicism. "A Life Worth Living" was informative, intriguing, and educational. We especially liked the "Chigurh's Coin" analogy. We recommend your book to our friends. Never Stop sharing your knowledge. Sincerely, paul and Velvet Soul. ~ Another World Enterprises, Amazon

5 out of 5 stars: The author produced a great work that lays out a very simple program of personal governance with personal ruminations over two decades over class instruction and reflection. So far, it has been a deep reading that I've enjoyed. If this is your first time with the publications of this professor, please check out Meditations on Self Discipline and Failures as well. ~ Jake Goss-Kuehn, Amazon

I feel there is a lot of misinformation around on stoicism and it is perhaps seen as "keeping a stiff upper lip" and accepting whatever life throws at you. But it is so much more than that. I see it as managing your own behaviour so that you react to whatever life throws at you in a healthy way. It is a "practice" and a way of life. Mr Ferraiolo uses the famous stoic tracts by Epictetus and Augustine, among others, to show how we can live now by learning from these past masters. "The stoic sage does not make demands on the external world, but instead develops self discipline so as to deal reasonably with the world as it presents itself." "We need not (and should not) concern ourselves with the thoughts, opinions, and behaviours of others. As these are beyond our control, they also ought to lie beyond our concern." "No one can force indecency, cowardice, or any other vice upon a virtuous man. The only person that one has the power to diminish, degrade, or devalue, is oneself." I think these few quotes show the emphasis of stoicism and the author's slant on taking responsibility for ourselves and getting away from following the crowd or "they made me do it." This is a book with a lot of content but it is an easy read and one I will be returning to over and over again. Especially when I feel the behaviour of others impacting me in a bad way. ~ Anne Maguire (Reviewer) , NetGalley

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars. PRICELESS! I took my time while reading this book and have since purchased other books on stoicism. Ferraiolo has written a book that can serve as the basis for understanding this ancient mindset. While intellectually dense at times, it remains readable by all who desire to understand stoicism and embrace its timeless essence. ~ Erica Watkins (Reviewer) , NetGalley

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars. This book beautifully applies the ideas of Stoicism to the modern world, sifting through the words of two thousand years ago to find the valuable life advice for today's problems and bringing them to a modern audience. So much of our current age is defined by this ever-present specter of "anxiety" and I have long wondered what solutions we might have to come to as a society. A stoic revival might be one solution. I found Ferraiolo's "IDEA method" supremely helpful. This book was exactly the right length for any reader to get through and I think it's a gift that many people would benefit from and love. ~ Mary Rose (Reviewer) , NetGalley

William Ferraiolo, A Life Worth Living: Meditations on God, Death and Stoicism, O-Books, 2020, 192 p., 14.1 x 1.14 x 21.44 cm, ISBN: 1789043042 William Ferraiolo's recent book, A Life Worth Living: Meditations on God, Death and Stoicism (2020), offers a contemporary summary and exploration of Stoic philosophy, explaining the fundamental ideas and attitudes of Stoicism clearly early on, before moving on to discuss more specific aspects/situations through the lens of the Stoic mindset. This book is more accurately understood as a collected series of papers, written by the author on a number of topics, both effectively introducing the tenants of Stoic philosophy for the novice or unacquainted reader, while also discussing tangentially-related topics in an interesting, thoughtful way, while constantly looking back to the Stoic principles set forth and introduced at the start of the book by such thinkers as Epictetus, Marcus Aurelius, and other Roman Stoics of the classical age. This review will briefly assess and summarize each chapter the book contains, evaluate the book as whole, and consider its effectiveness as an introduction to, and defense of, the principles of Stoic philosophy. Chapter 1 of Ferraiolo's book provides the reader with an overview of Stoicism, summarizing its main ideas, explaining and defending the efficacy of Stoic methods, and demonstrating how, some 2000 years after they were conceived, they remain effective (for, as Ferraiolo notes, human nature has not changed that much in that time) (p. 4). Ferraiolo also introduces the IDEA method, as a means of applying Stoicism's principles: (I)dentify the problem, (D)istinguish what can be changed, (E)xert effort, and (A)ccept the rest (13). Moving from general explanation of what Stoicism is to more specific applications of Stoic philosophy to everyday life, Chapter 2 focuses on the phenomenon of anxiety, a feeling experienced by many in the world today. By considering it in light of the understanding of the Roman Stoics, Ferraiolo analyzes the suffering anxiety causes and prescribes a means of treatment, based on reasonable reflection and awareness of one's own feelings and attitudes. With the IDEA method in hand, one can relinquish "irrational attachments to any external conditions that do not conform to the dictates of the will" (p. 17). These ideas, Ferraiolo concludes, some two millennia old, remain an effective means of overcoming anxiety and refocusing one's attitudes, up until the present day. Chapter 3, entitled "Stoic Simplicity", narrows the focus of Chapter 1 to describe the attitude one must adopt in order to enjoy the good, undemanding life, while Chapter 4 spreads the focus further, to the world at large, and all the situations/causes which lead to the human experience of worry or anxiety: terrorism, nuclear war, (pandemics), etc. Ferraiolo reminds us of the Stoic's reasoning that such things, being beyond our power to control, cease to be of concern to us (for what will be, will be). Therefore, the true sage "suffers no harm, and lives free of fear and perturbation" (p. 36). Chapter 5 discusses the purpose of living according to Stoic principles in light of determinism, a worldview that would render the Stoic life pointless: if we live in a predetermined world, and if the world's events are beyond our control, then one's actions are futile and meaningless, whether one is a Stoic or not. Ferraiolo responds by combining the points of the previous two chapters: one's attitude towards life, and the peace one feels by accepting the world as it is. By doing each of these, the Stoic will be "unhindered and free, finding fault with nothing and no one, suffering no enemies, and coming to no harm" (p. 39). Chapter 6 then continues this discussion, but this time bearing in mind the question of the existence of God: whether the will of God, or the necessary predetermined unfolding of the universe, the outcome remains the same, as does the Stoic's acceptance of whatever might come to pass. Chapter 7 discusses the life of the Stoic among one's fellow human beings; ideas discussed earlier in Chapter 2, including performance anxiety (one among many anxieties mentioned), but also jealousy and grudges, are covered here as well. Ferraiolo argues that, from the Stoic perspective, it is irrational to trouble one's self with anything that does not concern one's own will, and the actions and feelings of other people are frequently among these things beyond our control. Chapter 8 moves on to a new topic, discussing death as nothing to fear, and offers an account of death and its relation to life, arguing that death is a misfortune only to those who received an earlier, unearned benefit (existence, or life itself). Seen this way, death becomes merely a "propitious misfortune" (p. 71). In Chapter 9, "The Roman Buddha", Ferraiolo discusses the life and teachings of Epictetus in detail, after having referenced his thoughts throughout all of the book's preceding chapters. This particular chapter contextualizes his ideas and approach to life by describing the events and conditions through/with which he lived. Ferraiolo also contrasts Epictetus' thought with the teachings of the Buddha, to show their universal application: through the similarities shared by both Stoicism and Buddhism, he notes, such ideas have been followed and embraced around the world, across the Roman empire, Asia, and beyond. As a result, this chapter would have made an effective conclusion for the book, showing the effectiveness of the Stoic approach to life across time and around the world. While Ferraiolo's book has been focused on a specific topic up until Chapter 9, his book takes an abrupt shift with Chapter 10, with a commentary on the 2007 film No Country for Old Men. While this chapter discusses the character, Anton Chigurh, as a metaphor for uncontrollable cosmic events, against which our individual lives are played out, this chapter is very different in its focus and seems rather out of place after the coherent themes binding together the first nine chapters. Unfortunately, this trend continues for the following five chapters, as the questions concerning the soul, the existence of God, and the multiverse are all discussed in detail. While Ferraiolo continues to make references to the Stoics and their thoughts, for each of these discussions, Stoicism itself is no longer the point of focus in these chapters. Indeed, having earlier discussed the irrelevance of the existence of an omnipotent God (or a predetermined universe, or a multiverse in which every possible outcome is actualized), it seems somewhat unusual (and unnecessary) to spend so much time discussing any of these ideas. (While the chapters being discussed now are all quite engaging and would be of interest to read on their own, in the context of this book, they stray far from the topic the reader expects. If these chapters were removed, the book would be more focused/coherent, and improved as a result.) Thankfully, the final chapter of the book returns to Stoicism once again, and like the earlier chapters, on anxiety, our choice of action, etc., seeks to look at a specific, relevant issue through its lens. The topic is suicide, and using the deaths of Socrates and Cato as examples Ferraiolo puts forth a compelling, rational argument for suicide as a final, rational act of self-determination, in response to one's circumstances. However, the book abruptly ends with this discussion; Ferraiolo offers no final reflection, nor does he revisit the IDEA method and discuss its relevant to the topic of suicide (or apply it to some of the earlier discussions, in retrospect). A chapter in which the IDEA method is specifically used to evaluate some of the later discussions might have been a better inclusion than the chapters on the soul, the multiverse, and the question of God's existence. Also, a Stoic reflection on some of the more irrational aspects of human life, such as art, music, and humour, might have made for interesting discussion (following after Justin E.H. Smith's Irrationality (2019), reviewed earlier this year, which reflected on our human tendency to over-emphasize the value of the rational--and our inevitable tendency to be irrational in spite of ourselves--thus denying a fundamental part of our experience as human beings). An acknowledgement of, or a response to, this might have made for relevant discussion in place of the less-relevant sections. Overall, Ferraiolo's book offers a concise explanation of the principles of Stoic philosophy, accessible for the contemporary reader. He not only presents these ideas in a clear, engaging way, but he also pushes these ideas beyond generalities, and explores related topics-in-depth (suicide, anxiety, the question of the correct course of action, and the fear of death, among them). The book is let down by its abrupt turning away from this investigation in its final third. That said, Ferraiolo's individual chapters are also well-structured, he consistently makes his point clear at the start of each chapter, and he never ventures beyond the perimeters he establishes at the start of each chapter. The opening chapter, which introduces Stoicism and the IDEA method, along with the later, more in-depth discussions, are successful, as a result of this. References Ferraiolo, W. A Life Worth Living: Meditations on God, Death and Stoicism, O-Books, 2020. Smith, J.E.H. Irrationality: A History of the Dark Side of Reason, Princeton University Press, 2019. Word count: 1570 (1516 not counting title, references, etc.) Matthew Allen Newland, PhD Adjunct Faculty, Humanities Department State University of New York at Jefferson ~ Matthew Allen Newland, Ph.D., LinkedIn

A Life Worth Living: Meditations on God, Death and Stoicism William Ferraiolo. O-books, $19.95 (192p) ISBN 978-1-78904-304-4 Ferraiolo (Meditations on Self-Discipline and Failure), philosophy professor at San Joaquin Delta College in Stockton, Calif., argues that stoicism can help negotiate most modern ills in this wide-ranging, quirky work. To make the case, he presents the ancient Greek school of thought through the writings and reflections of slave Epictetus and emperor Marcus Aurelius, encouraging readers to take up stoicism as a life plan for peace and tranquility regardless of one’s circumstances. Centered on cultivating virtue and living in harmony with reason—and being indifferent to the twists and turns of pleasure and pain—stoics, Ferraiolo writes, take the world as it comes and do not seek to govern what is not within their power. This, Ferraiolo argues, is the only means of staying sane in a world that is so often out of control. Straightforward, practical, and level-headed (as one might expect from a stoic), Ferraiolo’s counsel is convincing. Most intriguing are his discussions about how stoicism does not require belief in a deity and about suicide being a perfectly moral choice to make in the face of a life not worth living. Unfortunately, the text often wanders off topic, with chapters featuring the author’s musings about, for instance, Cormac McCarthy’s No Country for Old Men, multiverse theory, and the “problem of evil.” Despite this, those interested in using philosophy for self-help will enjoy Ferraiolo’s ode to stoicism. (Feb.) ~ Publishers Weekly, Internet

It took me a few tries to get into this book. I've read the works of Marcus Aurelius as well as Ryan Holiday's writings on stoicism, so this wasn't unfamiliar territory to me. For a first-time reader, it might be a little dense. But all in all, it's a motivating work that makes practical applications of ancient wisdom. Definitely one for the stoicism bookshelf. Thanks to the publishers and NetGalley for a digital ARC for the purpose of an unbiased review. ~ June, Goodreads

Stoicism is the new old self help. Like Bullet Coffee. Taking something classic and putting a fresh churn (haha) on it. I'm a fan of the classic philosophers, though I like Aristotle, they all have something to offer. Author Ferraiolo does a creative justice in helping the reader feel confident and perhaps bolder while reading this history and Ferraiolo's take on the great Stoics. ~ Laura Freed (Bookseller), NetGalley

“It's my great pleasure to recommend another excellent book by professor William Ferraiolo, professor of philosophy at San Joaquin Delta College. This book will both challenge you to become your best self, and face the vissisitudes of life with greater equanimity and come to terms with those events outside of our control that should lead us inward to the things we really do have control over. His use of a mnemonic device "the IDEA method" reminds me of Admiral Stockdale's use of these devices to recall Epictetus' Enchirodon when he was held prisoner in Hanoi, it is an excellent work and will impart these valuable principles to a new generation of students, soldiers, and statesmen living in an uncertain world with difficulties and challenges that far exceed those our ancestors ever encountered. Learning and living these principles impart valuable lessons for people of all ages, and William's very lyrical writing facilitates that process by demonstrating his own lifelong commitment to the philosophy his book discusses. I find the book worthy of the stoic art and its ancient lineage, it comes from very long tradition of bringing out the very best in others. I believe this work should be required reading for every young man and woman in ROTC and military school, for those suffering anxiety, for those traumatized and weary facing the challenges of life, it is a salve for the wounded mind and a notable gift from a Stoic philosopher of considerable caliber. It is rare to find accessible philosophy books on campus, as a professional I can say with clarity that normally, they are very dense; Thankfully William's prose is a joy to read, it's accessiblity only adds to it's message, and his writing lays out a structured program of stoic exercises that learners of all ages can put into practice and attempt to master to bring out the very best in themselves. This book is a must have for those facing a hard life; the quality of a stoic book is judged by asking does it help us face life with greater poise, equanimity, focusing on our own excellence and understanding how to do that? William's book helps and it provides this timeless wisdom to a new generation." ~ Richard Page, LinkedIn

New Book Alert: A Life Worth Living: Meditations on God, Death, and Stoicism by William Ferraiolo; In Depth Look At Using Stoicism in Times of Trouble By Julie Sara Porter Bookworm Reviews In William Ferraiolo's previous book Meditations on Self-Discipline and Failure, he introduced the Reader to the concept of Stoicism, a philosophy in which followers practiced reason, rational behavior, and control over emotion. The book offered little paragraphs of advice on various situations. Ferraiolo's follow up, A Life Worth Living: Meditations on God, Death, and Stoicism is a more in depth look, at using Stoicism during times of great stress. Ferraiolo goes into great detail on how Stoics can face the issues that plague them. The introduction makes clear what this book is made for. In a master of understatement, Ferraiolo’s intro states “The world is a rough place and no one gets out alive…..We are entitled to have precisely none of it. None of us had to be born.” The important thing to remember is Socrates’ philosophy of “the unexamined life is not worth living.” One way to examine life is with a sense of detachment and looking at the way your emotions and how you react to the world. Unlike the previous book, Ferraiolo doesn't resort to short homilies that offer brief insights. Instead each chapter is a more detailed look at current issues and how Stoicism can be practiced when faced with him. One method that Ferraiolo introduces in his book is the IDEA Method, four steps to practice Stoicism. It stands for: I: Identify the real issue-What is really concerning us? When we are mad about something, what is the root cause of our anger? D: Distinguish “Internal” from “External”-What is beyond our control-external and what is within our power to change-internal. Is the problem something we can fix, can it be fixed by someone else, by both or neither? E: Exert Effort Only Where It Can Be Effective-If the problem is internal what can and should be done to fix it? Is it necessary for example to obtain so many material goods when everything falls away? Do we have a good work-life balance? A: Accept the Rest Amor Fati-If the problem is external, what are the results and how do we accept it? Even if it is internal, have we done everything we possibly could? How do we react at the results with calm and acceptance or with rage and tears? One of the big issues that plague us in modern society is mental health. While Ferraiolo doesn't dismiss conventional treatment like therapy and medication, he advises the Reader to look at the issues that surround the anxiety. Concerns about another person's health and well-being lie within that person and not within others surrounding them. Anxieties about death are not necessary because no matter what happens, we are all going to die. When someone is concerned about failure, their anxieties may trouble them so much that their fear becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. The book also discusses the obsession with the needs of the external world such as money, material goods, or constant adulation. Simplicity is living your life without the excesses of the external and appreciating what one has instead of obtaining too much. Stoicism is also a philosophy that admits free will and is less dependent on the will of a higher deity. While many of the Stoics believed in a God of some form, they knew that their behaviors were in their control. Even modern Stoics can match their behaviors to their current beliefs. Many practicing Buddhists can find comparisons between their belief and Stoicisms. Like Epictetus the Slave who practiced a life of simplicity, Prince Siddhartha Gautama walked away from his royal life that shielded him from illness, old age, poverty, and death. Buddhists and Stoics share a calmness in the face of suffering and a life of simplicity. Agnosticism is also a belief system that is joined with Stoicism. Stoics and Agnostics both realize that they know nothing, so they often question the world around them. Ferraiolo counters the thought that Agnostics are inherently weak. On the contrary, he writes that it takes a lot of strength to question and accept that we may not fully know how the Universe works. Ferraiolo finds Stoicism everywhere even in popular culture. He devotes one whole chapter to Anton Chigurh the sinister hit man from the film, No Country for Old Men. Chigurh has no back story, no motivation. He just is who he is, death incarnate. He is stoic in his behavior and demeanor using a flip of a coin to determine who lives and dies. Ferraiolo cites three examples from the film which illustrates his method of killing. One character says “The coin has no say. It's (Chigurh) who decides.” Chigurh is someone who is completely detached from his emotion to the point that he accepts life and death equally. Among the big questions philosopher ask is how can evil exist especially if there is a benevolent God. Along with that question is whether we have Free Will. Morals are the principles in which people live according to spiritual practice, laws, and personal beliefs. The ideal that we are responsible for our behavior and the emotions that occur reflects our principles and how we choose to live. With Stoics the question often is not what happened, but how did I choose to act upon it. In Roman times, Stoics often chose death over dishonor by suicide. While in modern times, suicide is not a favorable action, one can replace that behavior with an acceptance of death. That's why people sign DNRs or make their last wishes known. Some choose to die rather than suffer in illness. The stoic mindset towards death is to face it as you would life with a calm acceptance. As before, Ferraiolo shows that Stoicism is not a philosophy for everybody. Humans are by consequence emotional creatures and Stoicism runs counter to that. Instead, it tells us how we can face illness and suffering with change but also acceptance when we can't change it. ~ Julie Sara Porter, Online: http://juliesaraporterbookworm.blogspot.com/2019/08/new-book-alert-life-worth-living.html

https://medium.com/@jdrolle/book-review-a-life-worth-living-c13f25f00ae8 From the Stoics to Contemporaries, A Life Worth Living delivers philosophy to the masses In full disclosure, the author asked me to read this book. As I paged through the beginning pages I found myself smiling and feeling good. Rarely do I read a book written by an academician, in this case, philosopher, that is written simple enough to be understood by persons outside of the discipline –and A Life Worth Living is. What I like about the book is that it is well researched, synthesized, and written. I like to read in large blocks and read the first half of the book first. My favorite quote is found near the 100-page mark: Let us be prepared to explore, investigate, and respect wise counsel wherever we may find it, irrespective of cultural, historical, or geographical origins. . . We may find connections uniting us at greater depths than we had previously fathomed. When I came back to finish the remainder of the book, I was totally lost. I did not understand many of the stories and metaphors. I did not understand the context or relevance of much of the material to the first half of the book. In fairness to the author, the book is a series of essays, however, the final essays on God, life, death, and suicide confused this reader. I am giving the book my highest rating because I enjoy a challenge. I like to read and understand but it also pushes me intellectually to ponder the meaning of words and thoughts. Also, I am grateful that the work is in the public domain and not in some scholastic journal, many of which are never read by the masses. A Life Worth Living is worth reading! ~ JoAnn Rolle, Medium

In these chaotic times I always look for fresh perspectives to help reframe my and my patient's worldview. In this case the philosophy may not be fresh, but the perspective certainly is. Dr. Ferraiolo makes Stoicism tangible as he offers meditations on its applicability to anxiety, grief, relationships, and God. This wisdom mixed in with enjoyable examinations on No Country for Old Men and other asides makes this work something I'll return to again and again. ~ Ryan Engelstad, host of The Best Medicine Podcast

William Ferraiolo’s new book, A Life Worth Living: Meditations on God, Death, and Stoicism, represents an essential contribution to all who struggle with living a meaningful life. The counsel and alternative perspectives offered are practical, pragmatic, and comforting. Life has a way of delivering hardship of one form or another to all, but the suffering that typically follows is often unnecessary. Using Ferraiolo’s guidance, one gains the frame of reference that minimizes the hardships in life while maximizing the many wonderful and miraculous opportunities that come from living. I have highly recommended Ferraiolo’s earlier book, Meditations on Self-Discipline and Failure, but I think his new work is even better. Don’t miss a chance to gain a new personal freedom—be sure to read A Life Worth Living: Meditations on God, Death, and Stoicism! ~ Eldon Taylor, Ph.D, New York Times bestselling author of Choices and Illusions, host of the Provocative Enlightenment Radio Show

I loved this book, A Life Worth Living: Meditations on God, Death, and Stoicism, a no nonsense read depicting just what it takes to apply Stoicism in life fearlessly. Powerful and empowering! ~ George Bradley, author of A Better Human: The Stoic Heart, Mind, and Soul

How should we live?” “What is a good life?” These questions are as relevant today as they were in Ancient Greece or the cosmopolis of the Roman Empire. The rapid pace of change in contemporary life leaves all of us struggling to make sense of who we are, and how to be happy. William Ferraiolo’s new book, A Life Worth Living: Meditations on God, Death, and Stoicism, is a serious contribution to the contemporary struggle to answer timeless questions. Rigorous but accessible, Ferraiolo’s essays will challenge both the professional philosopher as well as persons from all walks of life who think seriously about the value of their lives. Like his earlier work, Meditations on Self-Discipline: Stoic Exercise for Mental Fitness, Ferraiolo’s new work represents a successful attempt to adapt classical Stoic Philosophy to the 21st Century in an accessible idiom unique to all his work. ~ Dr. Barry F. Vaughan, Philosopher, Mesa College

I am the host of a podcast named Stoic Mettle, which focuses on making the philosophy of Stoicism accessible to laymen. I had William on my podcast to discuss his book, Meditations on Self Discipline and Failure. In a space where so many people are keen to show off their intellectual prowess, babbling on about esoteric ideas, I was pleasantly surprised by William's down to earth way of approaching the subject. It was a refreshing way of thinking about old ideas. The podcast we did together was well received by my audience, and is still one of my most downloaded shows as well as a personal favorite of mine. People who are interested in Stoicism should read his new book, A Life Worth Living: Meditations on God, Death, and Stoicism. ~ Scott Hebert, host of the Stoic Mettle Podcast

Bill Ferraiolo's new book, A Life Worth Living: Meditations on God, Death, and Stoicism, like his two previous volumes, is an earnest, erudite, yet accessible celebration of classical wisdom and common sense, with renewed emphasis on the path to equanimity in the face of the inevitable. Those of us who are about to die salute him! ~ Phil Hutcheon, author of Nobody Roots for Goliath and Where Triples Go To Die