Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Augustus never intended his collection of personal writings to be published, but it has become the foremost work of Stoic philosophy and advice to survive from ancient times.
Described by President Bill Clinton as his favorite book and carried by Secretary of Defense and Marine Corps General James Mattis on deployments throughout his career, the Meditations provides a unique insight on life and leadership from the most powerful man in the world, written in plain language without condescension.
Drawn from his own life and experience, and the teachings of philosophers and mentors he valued, Marcus intended his writings to serve him privately in his earnest attempt to thoughtfully and deliberately craft a life of virtue, honor, and harmony, and thus to attain true happiness: to carve off the rough and imperfect parts of his character and to become, as far as possible, a man perfectly fitted for his purpose in the universe. This was a task which contemporary and later reports suggest he accomplished admirably and elegantly: his reputation as a truly good man endures to this day.
Having lost none of its relevance in the intervening centuries, his wisdom can help any reader achieve the same goal: to think, live, and act in complete agreement with nature.
