The Meditations Paperback - 1983
by Marcus Aurelius; G. M. Grube (Translator)
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Reader reviews for The Meditations
Review summary
Readers largely regard Marcus Aurelius’s Meditations as a cornerstone of Stoic wisdom—an intimate, aphoristic manual for living with self-discipline, clarity, and humility. Many praise its humane voice and surprising modernity, noting how its counsel on mortality, focus, and inner calm remains applicable to today’s distractions and anxieties. The book’s status as a private journal by a Roman emperor adds poignancy and authority, and its quotability makes it a text people revisit slowly or in small doses. Common critiques highlight repetitiveness, occasional dryness, and a lack of systematic argument, with impact often hinging on translation (Hays and Hammond frequently recommended). A minority question its determinism or the irony of imperial privilege, while some dismiss it as overrated; nevertheless, the prevailing view deems it enduring, practical, and thought-provoking.
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From the publisher
First edition identification
Widely known as Meditations today, Marcus Aurelius initially compiled the twelve books that make up the work as private journals. The books were originally written in Ancient (Medieval) Greek by the title (ta eis heauton) which translates to "That which is to Himself".
The earliest reference to the work is from Herodian in the 3rd century, who mentions Marcus Aurelius' literary legacy, and there are later references from Arethas of Caesarea in the 10th century and John Tzetzes in the 12th century. The book was first divided into twelve books by the Suda lexicon published in the 10th century. The text is based mainly on two manuscripts: the Codex Palatinus (P) and the Codex Vaticanus (A), which was printed by Wilhelm Xylander in 1558.
The modern history of Meditations dates from the issue of the first printed edition (editio princeps) by Wilhelm Xylander, which appeared in Latin in 1558 or 1559. The original manuscript from which it was printed is now lost, so this text has become one of the two principal sources of all modern texts. First English translation was made in 1634 by Meric Casaubon.
Meditations has always been an extremely popular text and it continues to help and inspire readers today.
Details
- Title The Meditations
- Author Marcus Aurelius; G. M. Grube (Translator)
- Binding Paperback
- Edition [ Edition: Repri
- Pages 176
- Volumes 1
- Language ENG
- Publisher Hackett Publishing Company, Indianapolis
- Publication date 1983-12
- ISBN 9780915145799 / 0915145790
- Weight 0.46 lbs (0.21 kg)
- Dimensions 8.5 x 5.38 x 0.39 in (21.59 x 13.67 x 0.99 cm)
- Reading level 1150
- Category Philosophy
- Library of Congress Catalogue Number 83022722
- Dewey Decimal Code 188
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