Ancient Wisdom for Modern Readers

An entertaining and enlightening anthology of classical Greek and Roman writings on animals-and our vital relationships with them How to Care about Animals is a fascinating menagerie of passages from classical literature about animals and the lives we share with them. Drawing on ancient writers from Aesop to Ovid, classicist and farmer M. D. Usher has gathered a healthy litter of selections that reveal some of the ways Greeks and Romans thought about everything from lions, bears, and wolves to birds, octopuses, and snails-and that might inspire us to rethink our own relationships with our fellow creatures. Presented in lively new translations, with the original texts on facing pages, these pieces are filled with surprises-anticipating but also offering new perspectives on many of our current feelings and ideas about animals. Here, Porphyry makes a compelling argument for vegetarianism and asserts that the just treatment of animals makes us better people; Pliny the Elder praises the virtuosity of songbirds and the virtuousness of elephants; Plutarch has one of Circe's pigs from the Odyssey make a serio-comic case for the dignity of the beasts of the field; Aristotle puts the study of animals on par with anthropology; we read timeless Aesopian fables, including "The Hen That Laid the Golden Egg" and "The Fox and the Grapes"; and there is much, much more. A Noah's Ark of a book, How to Care about Animals is guaranteed to charm and inspire anyone who loves animals. M. D. Usher is the Lyman-Roberts Professor of Classical Languages and Literature and a member of the Department of Geography and Geosciences at the University of Vermont. With his wife, he also built, owns, and operates Works & Days Farm, which produces lamb, eggs, and maple syrup in Shoreham, Vermont. His books include How to Be a Farmer: An Ancient Guide to Life on the Land and How to Say No: An Ancient Guide to the Art of Cynicism (both Princeton). "Today, scientists are still debating about consciousness, sentience, and emotions in animals. These writings by ancient Greeks and Romans clearly show that many of them believed that animals could both think and feel emotions. How to Care about Animals is essential reading for people interested in our relationship with animals."-Temple Grandin, New York Times bestselling author of Visual Thinking: The Hidden Gifts of People Who Think in Pictures, Patterns, and Abstractions "A surprising and delightful collection that displays the breadth and depth of concern for and knowledge about animals in ancient times."-Peter Singer, author of Animal Liberation "How to Care about Animals is a perfect little treasury. This collection of Greek and Roman animal vignettes is a welcome and valuable window into understanding human-animal relationships in antiquity with lessons for our own time."-Adrienne Mayor, author of Flying Snakes and Griffin Claws: And Other Classical Myths, Historical Oddities, and Scientific Curiosities

A modern translation of the ancient Roman poet Ovid's Remedies for Love-a witty and irreverent work about how to fall out of love Breakups are the worst. On one scale devised by psychiatrists, only a spouse's death was ranked as more stressful than a marital split. Is there any treatment for a breakup? The ancient Roman poet Ovid thought so. Having become famous for teaching the art of seduction in The Art of Love, he then wrote Remedies for Love (Remedia Amoris), which presents thirty-eight frank and witty strategies for coping with unrequited love, falling out of love, ending a relationship, and healing a broken heart. How to Get Over a Breakup presents an unabashedly modern prose translation of Ovid's lighthearted and provocative work, complete with a lively introduction and the original Latin on facing pages. Ovid's advice-which he illustrates with ingenious interpretations of classical mythology-ranges from the practical, psychologically astute, and profound to the ironic, deliberately offensive, and bizarre. Some advice is conventional-such as staying busy, not spending time alone, and avoiding places associated with an ex. Some is off-color, such as having sex until you're sick of it. And some is simply and delightfully weird-such as becoming a lawyer and not eating arugula. Whether his advice is good or bad, entertaining or outrageous, How to Get Over a Breakup reveals an Ovid who sounds startlingly modern. Michael Fontaine is professor of classics at Cornell University. His books include three other volumes in the Ancient Wisdom for Modern Readers series, How to Grieve, How to Tell a Joke, and How to Drink (all Princeton). "By turns distinctly Roman and strikingly relatable, How to Get Over a Breakup offers the brokenhearted lover advice ranging from the useful to the hilariously unreasonable. Fontaine's translation captures the playful philosophy of Ovid's original, managing to be fast-paced, chatty, and contemporary without losing any of its first-century flavor."-Honor Cargill-Martin, author of Messalina: A Story of Empire, Slander, and Adultery "Capturing the spirit and fun of Ancient Rome's most mischievous poet, Fontaine's translation is full of color and verve."-Daisy Dunn, author of The Shadow of Vesuvius: A Life of Pliny "Michael Fontaine's translation of Ovid's Remedies for Love is lively, modern, hilarious, smart, and bold. Fontaine carefully gauges where Ovid is teasing or being serious, and Ovid's voice as a 'gleeful provocateur' comes through on these pages."-Jinyu Liu, Emory University "A pleasure to read, Michael Fontaine's excellent new translation of Ovid's Remedies for Love truly brings the ancient text back to life. Most of all, it lets the universality of the psychological experience of 'love lost' shine through for contemporary readers, making Ovid's work accessible to students, lovers of classical antiquity-and anyone in need of breakup advice!"-Chiara Thumiger, University of Kiel, Germany "[Fontaine's] translation…is excellent. It strikes just the right light and humorous tone... a very amusing and well-written volume, accessible both to those with knowledge of Latin and the Classics and those with none. It skilfully demonstrates how Ovid's Remedia Amoris is as thought provoking and relevant today as it was some 2,000 years ago"---Marion Gibbs, Classics for All

A vivid new translation of selections from an inspiring guide to self-transformation through kindness by an eighth-century Buddhist monk Written by the medieval Indian Buddhist monk Shantideva, The Bodhicaryavatara is one of the most beloved and frequently taught works in Buddhism and a favorite of the Dalai Lama. An inspiring and powerful poem that uses a gripping, first-person, confessional voice, it is the most systematic work of ethical thought in the Indo-Tibetan Buddhist tradition. And its invaluable insights, exhortations, and encouragements about how we can relieve suffering by becoming more caring and compassionate are universal. In How to Be Caring, philosopher and Buddhist scholar Jay Garfield presents a lively new translation of selected verses from Shantideva's text that capture its powerful lessons for all of us. The result is the clearest, most concise, and most accessible introduction to this masterful Buddhist guidebook about how we can change the world by changing ourselves. Focusing on the life of a bodhisattva, a person committed to attaining awakening for the benefit of all beings, Shantideva argues that the first step to reducing suffering and making the world better is to conquer our own psychopathologies. Urging us to remember that we won't live forever and therefore need to think about what is most important, the work seeks to inspire us and teach us how to be more generous, thoughtful, polite, patient, committed, and self-aware. Featuring an introduction and the original Tibetan text on facing pages, this dazzling volume is filled with wisdom that still speaks directly to readers today. Shantideva was an eighth-century Buddhist monk who taught at Nalanda University, which was in the present-day state of Bihar in Eastern India. According to legend, he recited How to Lead an Awakened Life to a huge assembly of students and scholars at the school, then rose into the air, flew from the lecture hall, and vanished into space, never to be seen again but leaving behind in his room a copy of the text. Jay L. Garfield is the Doris Silbert Professor in the Humanities and professor of philosophy and Buddhist studies at Smith College and a visiting professor of Buddhist philosophy at Harvard Divinity School. His books include How to Lose Yourself: An Ancient Guide to Letting Go (Princeton), Losing Ourselves: Learning to Live without a Self (Princeton), and Buddhist Ethics: A Philosophical Exploration. "How to Be Caring brings Shantideva's classic to life, showing how it serves as a precious and practical guide to a meaningful life-for anyone-in our world today."-Guy Newland, author of A Buddhist Grief Observed

James S. Romm is the author of Dying Every Day: Seneca at the Court of Nero and Ghost on the Throne: The Death of Alexander the Great and the War for Crown and Empire (both Knopf). He has written essays and reviews for the Wall Street Journal, the New York Review of Books, and the New Yorker website, among other publications. He is the James H. Ottaway Jr. Professor of Classics at Bard College and lives in Barrytown, New York. Timeless wisdom on death and dying from the celebrated Stoic philosopher Seneca "It takes an entire lifetime to learn how to die," wrote the Roman Stoic philosopher Seneca (c. 4 BC–65 AD). He counseled readers to "study death always," and took his own advice, returning to the subject again and again in all his writings, yet he never treated it in a complete work. How to Die gathers in one volume, for the first time, Seneca's remarkable meditations on death and dying. Edited and translated by James S. Romm, How to Die reveals a provocative thinker and dazzling writer who speaks with a startling frankness about the need to accept death or even, under certain conditions, to seek it out. Seneca believed that life is only a journey toward death and that one must rehearse for death throughout life. Here, he tells us how to practice for death, how to die well, and how to understand the role of a good death in a good life. He stresses the universality of death, its importance as life's final rite of passage, and its ability to liberate us from pain, slavery, or political oppression. Featuring beautifully rendered new translations, How to Die also includes an enlightening introduction, notes, the original Latin texts, and an epilogue presenting Tacitus's description of Seneca's grim suicide. "A sharp introductory primer on Stoicism. . . . Very finely translated."---Brendan Boyle, Wall Street Journal "Seneca, the Roman emperor Nero's chief adviser, discussed death and how to prepare for it way back in the mid-1st century. . . . This new book, a synthesis of his writings on the subject . . . remains as timely today as ever."---Sarah Murdoch, Toronto Star "James Romm takes us up close to death with Seneca for his guide. Don't be afraid, be prepared-be very prepared."-Mary Beard, author of SPQR: A History of Ancient Rome "Beautifully translated by James Romm, Seneca speaks to us so directly about the fraught and difficult subject of death that we may find ourselves forgetting to breathe."-Francine Prose "This well-chosen collection of Seneca's writings on death demonstrates James Romm's gift for making the people and ideas of antiquity vivid for general readers. The introduction is graceful, the translations are accurate and readable, the annotations are nicely judged, and the epilogue featuring Tacitus's account of Seneca's suicide is indispensable."-Robert A. Kaster, Princeton University

Josiah Osgood is professor and chair of classics at Georgetown University and the author of many books on Roman history, including How to Be a Bad Emperor: An Ancient Guide to Truly Terrible Leaders (Princeton). He lives in Washington, DC. An energetic new translation of an ancient Roman masterpiece about a failed coup led by a corrupt and charismatic politician In 63 BC, frustrated by his failure to be elected leader of the Roman Republic, the aristocrat Catiline tried to topple its elected government. Backed by corrupt elites and poor, alienated Romans, he fled Rome while his associates plotted to burn the city and murder its leading politicians. The attempted coup culminated with the unmasking of the conspirators in the Senate, a stormy debate that led to their execution, and the defeat of Catiline and his legions in battle. In How to Stop a Conspiracy, Josiah Osgood presents a brisk, modern new translation of the definitive account of these events, Sallust's The War with Catiline-a brief, powerful book that has influenced how generations of readers, including America's founders, have thought about coups and political conspiracies. In a taut, jaw-dropping narrative, Sallust pleasurably combines juicy details about Catiline and his louche associates with highly quotable moral judgments and a wrenching description of the widespread social misery they exploited. Along the way, we get unforgettable portraits of the bitter and haunted Catiline, who was sympathetic to the plight of Romans yet willing to destroy Rome; his archenemy Cicero, who thwarts the conspiracy; and Julius Caesar, who defends the conspirators and is accused of being one of them. Complete with an introduction that discusses how The War with Catiline has shaped and continues to shape our understanding of how republics live and die, and featuring the original Latin on facing pages, this volume makes Sallust's gripping history more accessible than ever before. "An awesome book about the Catiline conspiracy."---Rep. Jamie Raskin, Axios ""[A] cautionary warning for our own volatile and perilous political moment. ... Osgood's clear, engaging translation of Sallust's The War Against Catiline brings vital aid from the past to the present.""---Emily Katz Anhalt, Arts Fuse "Rings uncomfortably familiar"---Mark Danner, New York Review of Books "An engaging and highly readable translation of Sallust's War with Catiline. Josiah Osgood does a terrific job of introducing the narrative and underscoring the ways in which it remains useful to think with today."-Kathryn Tempest, author of Brutus: The Noble Conspirator "How to Stop a Conspiracy is excellent in all respects-from Josiah Osgood's fluid translation of Sallust's War with Catiline to the lucid introduction. Osgood takes a step back from this classic text, and casts a tangle of thorny facts and inferences into a compelling historical narrative that is immediately accessible to the general reader. At every turn, there are (unfortunately) contemporary resonances, especially in U.S. politics."-Corey Brennan, author of Sabina Augusta: An Imperial Journey

Philip Freeman is the author of more than twenty books on the ancient world, including the Cicero translations How to Be a Friend, How to Grow Old, and How to Run a Country (all Princeton). He holds the Fletcher Jones Chair as a Professor of Humanities at Pepperdine University and lives in Malibu, California. A vivid and accessible new translation of Cicero's influential writings on the Stoic idea of the divine Most ancient Romans were deeply religious and their world was overflowing with gods-from Jupiter, Minerva, and Mars to countless local divinities, household gods, and ancestral spirits. One of the most influential Roman perspectives on religion came from a nonreligious belief system that is finding new adherents even today: Stoicism. How did the Stoics think about religion? In How to Think about God, Philip Freeman presents vivid new translations of Cicero's On the Nature of the Gods and The Dream of Scipio. In these brief works, Cicero offers a Stoic view of belief, divinity, and human immortality, giving eloquent expression to the religious ideas of one of the most popular schools of Roman and Greek philosophy. On the Nature of the Gods and The Dream of Scipio are Cicero's best-known and most important writings on religion, and they have profoundly shaped Christian and non-Christian thought for more than two thousand years, influencing such luminaries as Augustine, Thomas Aquinas, Dante, and Thomas Jefferson. These works reveal many of the religious aspects of Stoicism, including an understanding of the universe as a materialistic yet continuous and living whole in which both the gods and a supreme God are essential elements. Featuring an introduction, suggestions for further reading, and the original Latin on facing pages, How to Think about God is a compelling guide to the Stoic view of the divine. "The translation is worthy of praise. It is smooth and colloquial, allowing easy access to rather difficult and technical Latin texts. . . . [Freeman's] approach breathes new life into two Latin texts that deserve more readers."---Ailsa Hunt, Classical Review "A good summary of the religious thoughts of the Stoics. . . . Philip Freeman's introduction and translation are models of their kind."---Harry Mount, Catholic Herald "This small volume by Philip Freeman is an accomplishment and welcomed publication."---Nelu Zugravu, Classica et Christiana "How to Think about God should be essential reading for anyone interested in ancient belief. Cicero's On the Nature of the Gods shows how the Stoics argued for the existence of a provident deity, laying the foundations for Christianity, while his Dream of Scipio, one of the most celebrated mystical passages in antiquity, offers perspective on earthly troubles through a profound, moving, and consoling vision of the place of human life in the cosmos. Freeman's translations allow modern readers to experience the grandeur of this vision, which still inspires awe."-Donald Robertson, author of How to Think Like a Roman Emperor: The Stoic Philosophy of Marcus Aurelius "From Stoic arguments for pantheism to the music of the heavenly spheres, this fine volume of the incomparable Cicero offers a fascinating exploration of ancient philosophical thinking about the divinity of the universe and the immortality of the soul."-John Sellars, author of Hellenistic Philosophy

Josiah Osgood is professor and chair of classics at Georgetown University and the author of many books, including Rome and the Making of a World State, 150 BCE–20 BCE. He lives in Washington, DC. What would Caligula do? What the worst Roman emperors can teach us about how not to lead If recent history has taught us anything, it's that sometimes the best guide to leadership is the negative example. But that insight is hardly new. Nearly 2,000 years ago, Suetonius wrote Lives of the Caesars, perhaps the greatest negative leadership book of all time. He was ideally suited to write about terrible political leaders; after all, he was also the author of Famous Prostitutes and Words of Insult, both sadly lost. In How to Be a Bad Emperor, Josiah Osgood provides crisp new translations of Suetonius's briskly paced, darkly comic biographies of the Roman emperors Julius Caesar, Tiberius, Caligula, and Nero. Entertaining and shocking, the stories of these ancient anti-role models show how power inflames leaders' worst tendencies, causing almost incalculable damage. Complete with an introduction and the original Latin on facing pages, How to Be a Bad Emperor is both a gleeful romp through some of the nastiest bits of Roman history and a perceptive account of leadership gone monstrously awry. We meet Caesar, using his aunt's funeral to brag about his descent from gods and kings-and hiding his bald head with a comb-over and a laurel crown; Tiberius, neglecting public affairs in favor of wine, perverse sex, tortures, and executions; the insomniac sadist Caligula, flaunting his skill at cruel put-downs; and the matricide Nero, indulging his mania for public performance. In a world bristling with strongmen eager to cast themselves as the Caesars of our day, How to Be a Bad Emperor is a delightfully enlightening guide to the dangers of power without character. "A gleeful new compendium of dastardly highlights from Suetonius' The Lives of Caesars . . . Horribly fascinating." "[How to Be a Bad Emperor is] a look at some of the worst emperors from history and how they failed. I am a big believer in learning from cautionary tales, and while of course many of the stories from ancient Rome are extreme, there is plenty to take note of here."---Ryan Holiday, Reading List Newsletter "How to Be A Bad Emperor deftly demonstrates what tendencies make a poor leader and exposes fatal character flaws along with a good dose of humour. It's a rollicking, funny, and educational eyeopener on Roman leadership, and a great introduction for newcomers to Suetonius' work. A must-read for anyone interested in Roman History."---Sandra Alvarez, Ancient History Magazine "Fun and instructive."---Brook Manville, Forbes.com "[How to Be a Bad Emperor] cleverly reproduces the choicest bits of Suetonius's writings."---Adrian Woolridge, Bloomberg Opinion "[In How to Be a Bad Emperor], Osgood has provided an important reminder of the delicacy of systems, and how once they are overturned, the citizenry will be eagerly and easily trammeled by power hungry narcissists."---Mary Spencer, New Criterion "A deft introduction to the world and mindset of the Caesars." "How to Be a Bad Emperor is an exuberant, witty, and incisive critique of four power-hungry egomaniacal Roman emperors. . . . Superbly translated."---Antonio Battagliotti, Open History "An accessible translation. . . .there is no doubt that this volume is a timely product in our era of rising authoritarianism across the globe."---Mallory Monaco Caterine, Polis "If you're fascinated by the Roman emperors-and who isn't?-you'll enjoy this clever and expertly translated set of selections from the granddaddy of all Caesar watchers, Suetonius."-Barry Strauss, author of Ten Caesars: Roman Emperors from Augustus to Constantine "In the present crisis of leadership, How to Be a Bad Emperor is quite delicious. What continues to make Suetonius's rogues' gallery of Roman rulers worthwhile as well as entertaining is what

An enriching collection of classical writings about how ancient Romans made-and thought about-money Ancient Romans liked money. But how did they make a living and sometimes even become rich? The Roman economy was dominated by agriculture, but it was surprisingly modern in many ways: the Romans had companies with CEOs, shareholders, and detailed contracts regulated by meticulous laws; systems of banking and taxation; and a wide range of occupations, from merchant and doctor to architect and teacher. The Romans also enjoyed a relatively open society, where some could start from the bottom, work, invest, and grow rich. How to Make Money gathers a wide variety of ancient writings that show how Romans thought about, made, invested, spent, lost, and gave away money. The Roman elite idealized farming and service to the state but treated many other occupations with suspicion or contempt, from money lending to wage labor. But whatever their attitudes, pecunia made the Roman world go round. In the Satyricon, Trimalchio brags about his wealth. Seneca accumulated a fortune-but taught that money can't buy happiness. Eumachia inherited a brick factory from her father, married well, and turned to philanthropy after she was widowed. How to Make Money also takes up some of the most troubling aspects of the Roman economy, slavery and prostitution, which the elite deemed unrespectable but often profited from. Featuring lively new translations, an illuminating introduction, and the original Latin and Greek texts on facing pages, How to Make Money offers a revealing look at the Roman worlds of work and money. Luca Grillo is the Eli J. and Helen Shaheen Collegiate Professor of Classics at the University of Notre Dame. He is the author of several books, including The Art of Caesar's "Bellum Civile," and the coeditor of The Cambridge Companion to the Writings of Julius Caesar. "Accessible, informative, and entertaining, How to Make Money explains how the Romans went about the business of getting and spending their wealth. Ranging from the super-rich to the lowest artisan, Luca Grillo's book gives the reader firsthand access to the financial acumen that drove the Roman Empire."-Jerry Toner, author of Popular Culture in Ancient Rome "How to Make Money is filled with insights and wit. In a language that is our own, Luca Grillo brilliantly reveals Roman aspirations and worries about wealth and earning a living."-Sitta von Reden, author of Money in Classical Antiquity "The Romans already knew the difference between a good investment and a bad one. Engagingly presented, How to Make Money brims with useful information."-Christopher B. Krebs, author of A Most Dangerous Book "How to Make Money is a treasure trove of information about Roman culture and society, presented with sparkling verve. With this series of lively translations, Luca Grillo offers an unflinching portrait of an economic landscape in which protestations of concern for the common good were often little more than a fig leaf to conceal larger dynamics of greed and exploitation."-Marden Fitzpatrick Nichols, author of Author and Audience in Vitruvius' "De architectura" "Grillo's thoughtful selections and lucid translations are accompanied by the original Greek and Latin texts as well as his informative commentary. . . . I never thought I'd be able to combine my career in Latin with my growing interest in finance and investing. Then again, I never thought I'd be interested in the difference between a 401(k) and a 403(b)."---Daniel Gallagher, Wall Street Journal

Philip Freeman is the editor and translator of How to Win an Election: An Ancient Guide for Modern Politicians (Princeton) and the author of Oh My Gods: A Modern Retelling of Greek and Roman Myths, Alexander the Great, and Julius Caesar (all Simon & Schuster). He received his PhD from Harvard University and holds the Qualley Chair of Classical Languages at Luther College in Decorah, Iowa. Timeless political wisdom from ancient history's greatest statesman Marcus Cicero, Rome's greatest statesman and orator, was elected to the Roman Republic's highest office at a time when his beloved country was threatened by power-hungry politicians, dire economic troubles, foreign turmoil, and political parties that refused to work together. Sound familiar? Cicero's letters, speeches, and other writings are filled with timeless wisdom and practical insight about how to solve these and other problems of leadership and politics. How to Run a Country collects the best of these writings to provide an entertaining, common sense guide for modern leaders and citizens. This brief book, a sequel to How to Win an Election, gathers Cicero's most perceptive thoughts on topics such as leadership, corruption, the balance of power, taxes, war, immigration, and the importance of compromise. These writings have influenced great leaders-including America's Founding Fathers-for two thousand years, and they are just as instructive today as when they were first written. Organized by topic and featuring lively new translations, the book also includes an introduction, headnotes, a glossary, suggestions for further reading, and an appendix containing the original Latin texts. The result is an enlightening introduction to some of the most enduring political wisdom of all time. "Edited by Philip Freeman, How to Run a Country is a brief introduction to Cicero's political philosophy. . . . [I]t contains--in English and Latin--fragments from Cicero's books and speeches, as well as letters to friends and colleagues. . . . [Cicero's] views on war and immigration will strike many readers as modern and sane."---Richard King, Australian "[A] delightful little book."---John Wilson, Christianity Today "[Freeman's] book is a collection of tidbits, of course, but if it sends its readers on a journey into Cicero's world it will have achieved Freeman's main purpose: the creation of citizen-readers who are a little bit more thoughtful about politics than they were before."---Brett Evans, Inside Story "Freeman frees the material from its context, selecting excerpts whose content is thought provoking on its own terms, and which demonstrate Cicero's outlook as a thinker in general. Freeman's book is an entry-point, an introduction; while it is simply too short . . . to provide much traction for students in a typical college course, I certainly hope it will be successful in introducing Cicero to a wider audience."---Joanna Kenty, Bryn Mawr Classical Review "Organized by topic and featuring lively new translations, the book also includes an introduction, head notes, a glossary, and suggestions for further reading. The result is an enlightening introduction to some of the most enduring political wisdom of all time." "Cicero's insights are as valid as they were 2,000 years ago and his advice could be beneficially applied perennially by speakers and rulers today."---Alexander Adams, Alexanderadamsart "How to Win an Election was a delight-and How to Run a Country is even better. Cicero's acute observations about how to govern will resonate with everyone who recognizes that the tribalism, ideological extremism, and coarsened culture of politics today urgently need to change."-Norman J. Ornstein, coauthor of It's Even Worse Than It Looks "Cicero's words live forever. In these carefully chosen and well-translated selections on leadership, classicist Philip Freeman offers an astute introduction to one of history's noblest minds."-Barry Strauss, author of Masters of Command: A

"A New York Times Book Review Editor's Choice (8/5/2012)" Philip Freeman is the author of many books, including Oh My Gods: A Modern Retelling of Greek and Roman Myths, Alexander the Great, and Julius Caesar (all Simon & Schuster). He received his PhD from Harvard University and holds the Qualley Chair of Classical Languages at Luther College in Decorah, Iowa. A primer on campaigning in ancient Rome that reads like a strategy memo from a modern political consultant How to Win an Election is an ancient Roman guide for campaigning that is as up-to-date as tomorrow's headlines. In 64 BC when idealist Marcus Cicero, Rome's greatest orator, ran for consul (the highest office in the Republic), his practical brother Quintus decided he needed some no-nonsense advice on running a successful campaign. What follows in his short letter are timeless bits of political wisdom, from the importance of promising everything to everybody and reminding voters about the sexual scandals of your opponents to being a chameleon, putting on a good show for the masses, and constantly surrounding yourself with rabid supporters. Presented here in a lively and colorful new translation, with the Latin text on facing pages, this unashamedly pragmatic primer on the humble art of personal politicking is dead-on (Cicero won)-and as relevant today as when it was written. A little-known classic in the spirit of Machiavelli's Prince, How to Win an Election is required reading for politicians and everyone who enjoys watching them try to manipulate their way into office. "Were he alive today, no doubt, Quintus would be making big bucks as a political consultant. . . . Speaking to us from a distance of more than two millenniums, Quintus Cicero's words are incisive and revelatory: They remind us that, when it comes to that strange beast known as politics, human nature hasn't changed very much since then. The past, that's right, isn't even past."---Nick Owchar, Los Angeles Times "How to Win an Election . . . is a timely new edition for the US 2012 campaign. . . . Most reviewers of How to Win an Election have been struck by its modernity."---Mary Beard, New York Review of Books "Two thousand years ago, Quintus Tullius Cicero gave his elder brother, Marcus, an unusually frank guide to winning votes--and, on the principle that democracy's brutal essentials have changed little over the centuries, Princeton University Press has now brought out How to Win an Election. . . . [The book] shows that a campaigner's concerns have remained just as constant as the debate about whether any democracy is ever democratic enough."---Peter Stothard, Wall Street Journal "Just in time for the primaries and the big showdown in November comes the wisdom of the ancients, in this case from Quintus Tullius Cicero, younger brother of Marcus, the greatest ancient Roman orator--perhaps the greatest of all time--who, more than two thousand years ago, ran for the highest office in the Roman Republic." "The pamphlet of Quintus Cicero is filled with savvy political soundbites, still relevant today. . . . Some things never change." "[Quintus Cicero's] How to Win an Election is a quick, punchy, and thoroughly entertaining read, cleanly translated by Philip Freeman, chairman of the classics department at Luther College."---John Kass, Chicago Tribune "The advice holds up. These candidates must have classics scholars on staff, because a close read of Cicero reveals they're following his counsel."---David Weigel, Slate "Besides the fact that this small book contains such time-worn advice as 'promise everything to everybody' to the value of being a social chameleon, I learned that sexual scandals were fodder for upending an opponent's political campaign even as far back as 64 B.C. Well, as they say, mutatione rerum magis, tanto magis stetisse ('the more things change, the more they stay the same'), or something like that."---Guardian.co.uk's, GrrlScientist "I just hope my opponent in the next campaign

An entertaining and enlightening collection of ancient writings about the philosophers who advocated simple living and rejected unthinking conformity. The Cynics were ancient Greek philosophers who stood athwart the flood of society's material excess, unexamined conventions, and even norms of politeness and thundered "No!" Diogenes, the most famous Cynic, wasn't shy about literally extending his middle finger to the world, expressing mock surprise that "most people go crazy over a finger." When asked why he was called Diogenes the Dog, he replied "because I fawn on those who give, I bark at those who don't, and I bite scoundrels." How to Say No is a delightful collection of brief ancient writings about Cynicism that captures all the outrageousness, wit, and wisdom of its remarkable cast of characters-from Diogenes in the fourth century BCE to the column-stander Symeon Stylites in late antiquity. With their "less is more" approach to life, the Cynics speak urgently to our world of climate change, economic uncertainty, and psychic malaise. Although the Cynics weren't writers, their memorable utterances and behavior were recorded by their admirers and detractors, and M. D. Usher offers fresh new translations of appealing selections from this body of writing-ranging from street sermons and repartee to biography and snapshots of Cynics in action. Complete with introductions to the volume and each selection as well as the original Greek and Latin on facing pages, this lively book demonstrates why the Cynics still retain their power to surprise us and make us laugh, and to make us think and question how we live.

An engaging new translation of a timeless masterpiece about coping with the death of a loved one. In 45 BCE, the Roman statesman Cicero fell to pieces when his beloved daughter, Tullia, died from complications of childbirth. But from the depths of despair, Cicero fought his way back. In an effort to cope with his loss, he wrote a consolation speech-not for others, as had always been done, but for himself. And it worked. “Cicero's Consolation” was something new in literature, equal parts philosophy and motivational speech. Drawing on the full range of Greek philosophy and Roman history, Cicero convinced himself that death and loss are part of life, and that if others have survived them, we can, too; resilience, endurance, and fortitude are the way forward. Lost in antiquity, “Cicero's Consolation” was recreated in the Renaissance from hints in Cicero's other writings and the Greek and Latin consolatory tradition. The resulting masterpiece-translated here for the first time in 250 years-is infused throughout with Cicero's thought and spirit. Complete with the original Latin on facing pages and an inviting introduction, Michael Fontaine's engaging translation makes this searching exploration of grief available to readers once again.

Robert A. Kaster is professor emeritus of classics and Kennedy Foundation Professor Emeritus of Latin at Princeton University. His books include The Appian Way: Ghost Road, Queen of Roads and (with Martha C. Nussbaum) Seneca: Anger, Mercy, Revenge. How ancient Stoicism can help teach us to treat others-and ourselves-more fairly and mercifully There are times when we've all felt that we haven't been treated as we deserve-that we've been misjudged, shortchanged, or given a raw deal. And, at one time or another, other people have probably felt that we've treated them just as unfairly. How to Do the Right Thing draws on the principles of ancient Stoicism as articulated by the Roman statesman and philosopher Seneca to help readers better navigate one of the most important practical questions of daily life-how to do right by others. Starting from the virtue of magnanimity-the opposite of small-mindedness-How to Do the Right Thing draws together lessons from Seneca's writings that stress the importance of calm and clear thinking, of judging oneself fairly before judging others, and of cutting people slack, with a bias toward mercy-all delivered in crisp and lively new translations, and with the original Latin on facing pages. "Kaster creates a meaningful and original tapestry of Senecan thought. . . . His translations are precise, stylistically appealing, and incredibly clever in reproducing the readability and affective impact of the original-a model to emulate. He allows himself the freedom to give Seneca an English voice that speaks to modern readers."---Jula Wildberger, Bryn Mawr Classical Review "Drawing widely on Seneca's Dialogues (i.e. essays) and his 120 Moral Epistles, [Kaster] discusses the question of fairness under five headings, each with a brief introduction…all beautifully elucidated."---Susan S. Meyer, Classics For All "Excellent."---David Lorimer, Paradigm Explorer "Robert Kaster's translations are wonderful, the selections exciting, and, as always, it is a pleasure to be put smack in the middle of Seneca's coaxing, cajoling, and coaching."-Nancy Sherman, author of Stoic Wisdom: Ancient Lessons in Modern Resilience

Jeffrey Beneker is professor of classics at the University of Wisconsin–Madison and the author of The Passionate Statesman: Eros and Politics in Plutarch's "Lives." He lives in Madison, Wisconsin. Timeless advice on how to be a successful leader in any field The ancient biographer and essayist Plutarch thought deeply about the leadership qualities of the eminent Greeks and Romans he profiled in his famous-and massive-Lives, including politicians and generals such as Pericles, Alexander the Great, Julius Caesar, and Mark Antony. Luckily for us, Plutarch distilled what he learned about wise leadership in a handful of essays, which are filled with essential lessons for experienced and aspiring leaders in any field today. In How to Be a Leader, Jeffrey Beneker presents the most important of these essays in lively new translations accompanied by an enlightening introduction, informative notes, and the original Greek on facing pages. In "To an Uneducated Leader," "How to Be a Good Leader," and "Should an Old Man Engage in Politics?" Plutarch explains the characteristics of successful leaders, from being guided by reason and exercising self-control to being free from envy and the love of power, illustrating his points with memorable examples drawn from legendary Greco-Roman lives. He also explains how to train for leadership, persuade and deal with colleagues, manage one's career, and much more. Writing at the height of the Roman Empire, Plutarch suggested that people should pursue positions of leadership only if they are motivated by "judgment and reason"-not "rashly inspired by the vain pursuit of glory, a sense of rivalry, or a lack of other meaningful activities." His wise counsel remains as relevant as ever. "Nuggets of wisdom for the budding leader . . . glimmer through an anthology that sometimes feels like a mashup of Polonius's TED talk to Laertes and the epistolary musings of an aging historian."---Jonathan W. Jordan, Wall Street Journal "[How to Be a Leader is] one of the best leadership books I've read in a very long time-and not surprisingly, it was written a very long time ago. There's a reason Plutarch has been a favorite of thinkers and doers since the days of Ancient Rome. He's insightful. He's funny. He's a great story teller. He wasn't just a writer either, but like the best historians and philosophers, a practitioner of what he talked about. Highly recommend."---Ryan Holiday, Ryan Holiday Reading List Newsletter "In How to Be a Leader, Beneker provides fresh translations of Plutarch's three most important political essays . . . Beneker's book delivers on its promises. With regard to its aim-making the practical wisdom of the ancient world accessible for modern life-the book is a success."---Thierry V. Oppeneer, Bryn Mawr Classical Review "It is refreshing to see such public-facing editions undertaken by noted scholars."---Kristine M. Trego, Classical Review "Jeffrey Beneker's is a fresh, clear and accurate translation. . . . we cannot help but saying that the excellent material and graphical conditions of its printing make this book a definite "keeper" in any bibliophile's library."---Stefan Teodor, Classica et Christiana "In the modern age, people who try to tell us how to be good leaders usually end up telling us only about themselves. Through new translations of three concise essays from Plutarch, Jeffrey Beneker guides us toward far better advice about the wisdom, stoicism, and selflessness found in true leaders."-Tom Nichols, author of The Death of Expertise "These writings of Plutarch are surprisingly relevant to political life in twenty-first-century democracies and deserve to be better known. How to Be a Leader brings these works to modern readers in an accessible way."-Timothy Duff, University of Reading

James M. May is professor of classics, the Kenneth O. Bjork Distinguished Professor, and former provost and dean at St. Olaf College. An award-winning teacher, he is a widely recognized expert on Cicero and classical rhetoric and has written and edited many books on these topics. He lives in Northfield, Minnesota. Timeless techniques of effective public speaking from ancient Rome's greatest orator All of us are faced countless times with the challenge of persuading others, whether we're trying to win a trivial argument with a friend or convince our coworkers about an important decision. Instead of relying on untrained instinct-and often floundering or failing as a result-we'd win more arguments if we learned the timeless art of verbal persuasion, rhetoric. How to Win an Argument gathers the rhetorical wisdom of Cicero, ancient Rome's greatest orator, from across his works and combines it with passages from his legal and political speeches to show his powerful techniques in action. The result is an enlightening and entertaining practical introduction to the secrets of persuasive speaking and writing-including strategies that are just as effective in today's offices, schools, courts, and political debates as they were in the Roman forum. How to Win an Argument addresses proof based on rational argumentation, character, and emotion; the parts of a speech; the plain, middle, and grand styles; how to persuade no matter what audience or circumstances you face; and more. Cicero's words are presented in lively translations, with illuminating introductions; the book also features a brief biography of Cicero, a glossary, suggestions for further reading, and an appendix of the original Latin texts. Astonishingly relevant, this unique anthology of Cicero's rhetorical and oratorical wisdom will be enjoyed by anyone who ever needs to win arguments and influence people-in other words, all of us. "Drawing on his extensive experience as a scholar and teacher of classical rhetoric, May (classics, St. Olaf College) brings together excerpts from Cicero's extensive contribution to rhetorical theory and practice to examine the theme 'how to win an argument.' One cannot find a better guide than Cicero. . . . A delightful and accessible foray into an enduring, relevant art." "This is a highly recommended book for anyone teaching Cicero, those who would enjoy the excellent anthology of extracts, and anyone after an absolute bargain."---Adrian Spooner, Classics for All "Cicero's insights are as valid as they were 2,000 years ago and his advice could be beneficially applied perennially by speakers and rulers today."---Alexander Adams, Alexanderadamsart "How to Win an Argument would serve well in the maelstrom of our current political environment, should anybody have the patience and humility to abide by its tenets."---Tracy Lee Simmons, City Journal "The book is indeed a classic on the art of persuasion."---Swami Shantachittananda, Prabuddha Bharata "How to Win an Argument provides a very good, user-friendly overview of ancient rhetoric-clearly and thoughtfully arranged, well translated, and with excellent brief introductory essays. It also admirably links ancient and modern practice. James May's extensive expertise is reflected throughout."-Ann Vasaly, Boston University "Presented with magisterial expertise, this book introduces the core principles of public speaking in a nutshell. James May's writing is clear and charming, and his book should appeal to a wide audience, including students, teachers, and general readers."-Robert N. Gaines, The University of Alabama

Timeless wisdom about how to be healthy in body and mind from one of the greatest physicians of the ancient world The second-century Greek physician Galen-the most famous doctor in antiquity after Hippocrates-is a central figure in Western medicine. A talented doctor, surgeon, writer, philosopher, teacher, pharmacologist, and inventor, Galen attended the court of Marcus Aurelius, living through outbreaks of plague (likely smallpox) that devastated the Roman Empire. He also served as physician for professional gladiators, boasting that only two fighters died during his first year (his predecessor had lost sixteen). In writings that provided the foundation of Western medicine up to the nineteenth century, Galen created a unified account of health and disease. In How to Be Healthy, practicing physician and classical historian Katherine Van Schaik presents a collection of Galen's enduring insights about how we can take care of our bodies and minds, prevent disease, and reach a healthy old age. Although we now know that many of Galen's ideas about physiology are wrong, How to Be Healthy shows that much of his advice remains sound. In these selections from his writings, presented in fresh translations, Galen discusses the art of medicine, exercise and diet, the mind-body connection, the difficulty of applying general medical principles to individuals, and much more. Featuring an introduction, brief commentaries that connect ancient medical practices to modern ones, and the original Greek on facing pages, How to Be Healthy offers an entertaining and enlightening new perspective on the age-old pursuit of wellness, from the importance of "the exercise with a small ball" to the benefits of "avoiding distress." Katherine D. Van Schaik completed a PhD in ancient history at Harvard University while earning an MD with honors at Harvard Medical School. She is a practicing physician and a member of the faculty at Vanderbilt University Medical Center and in the Department of Classical and Mediterranean Studies at Vanderbilt University. "This gem of a book exquisitely distills Galen's surprisingly eye-opening writings on how to be healthy. I'm thankful he's not my physician, but Galen's insights on the nature of health, disease, and the connections between body and mind-some timeless and some comically amiss-are still worth reading two thousand years after he penned them."-Daniel E. Lieberman, author of Exercised: Why Something We Never Evolved to Do Is Healthy and Rewarding "This book excels in revealing how very modern the ancient world was in some respects, and yet how delightfully different in many other ways. . . .[A] most enjoyable book."---David Smith, Classics For All "Dr Van Schaik's book is a valuable contribution. The introduction is very well written and informative, especially for those unfamiliar with Galen and ancient Greek Medicine. It details Galen's early life and medical training, including a graphic description of his appointment, by the chief priest, as physician to the gladiators in Pergamum. It will be particularly useful to medical students and is highly recommended."---Spyros Retsas, British Society for the History of Medicine "[A] fascinating book."---Paul Kane, Jildy Sauce

"One of Michael Dirda's Best Books of 2018" A. A. Long is professor emeritus of classics and affiliated professor of philosophy at the University of California, Berkeley. His many books include Epictetus: A Stoic and Socratic Guide to Life, Stoic Studies, and (with Margaret Graver) Seneca: Letters on Ethics. He lives in Kensington, California. A superb new edition of Epictetus's famed handbook on Stoicism-translated by one of the world's leading authorities on Stoic philosophy Born a slave, the Roman Stoic philosopher Epictetus (c. 55–135 AD) taught that mental freedom is supreme, since it can liberate one anywhere, even in a prison. In How to Be Free, A. A. Long-one of the world's leading authorities on Stoicism and a pioneer in its remarkable contemporary revival-provides a superb new edition of Epictetus's celebrated guide to the Stoic philosophy of life (the Encheiridion) along with a selection of related reflections in his Discourses. Freedom, for Epictetus, is not a human right or a political prerogative but a psychological and ethical achievement, a gift that we alone can bestow on ourselves. We can all be free, but only if we learn to assign paramount value to what we can control (our motivations and reactions), treat what we cannot control with equanimity, and view our circumstances as opportunities to do well and be well, no matter what happens to us through misfortune or the actions of other people. How to Be Free features splendid new translations and the original Greek on facing pages, a compelling introduction that sets Epictetus in context and describes the importance of Stoic freedom today, and an invaluable glossary of key words and concepts. The result is an unmatched introduction to this powerful method of managing emotions and handling life's situations, from the most ordinary to the most demanding. "Princeton University Press's new edition of Epictetus's Encheiridion and selected Discourses, titled How to Be Free: An Ancient Guide to the Stoic Life, is the latest entry in a wave of works, both popular and scholarly, on Stoicism. . . . How to Be Free seeks to bridge the worlds of both kinds of readers. Translated and introduced by Long, a renowned scholar of Stoicism and classics professor at UC Berkeley, the work presents the Greek text and English translation on facing pages. While the original text is, well, Greek to me, Long's translation is sharp and straightforward - qualities always associated with Epictetus's teachings."---Robert Zaretsky, Los Angeles Review of Books "A remarkable insight."---Ryan Holiday, Medium "Anybody who is about to go into a party or pool with people that are likely to try our patience can benefit from reading a couple of paragraphs from this book to reaffirm one's determination to remain stoic in this disheveled wilderness." "Any book that offers Stoic wisdom, whether diluted or updated, translated or condensed into bullet points, is meeting a perennial human need."---Rachel Hadas, Hudson Review "There really isn't anything else out there quite like this book. A. A. Long, one of the most respected scholars of Stoicism, has produced a fresh, accessible translation of Epictetus's famous manual, with an introduction that makes the philosopher's wisdom, and Stoicism more generally, accessible to all. I will recommend this edition to friends, colleagues, and anyone who might benefit from a well-thought-out and provocative philosophy of life."-Massimo Pigliucci, author of How to Be a Stoic "It is hard to think of a book that will make a greater contribution than this one to the growing interest in Stoicism as a way of life. No one can write with more authority on Stoicism than A. A. Long. As a translator, he combines the knowledge of an influential scholar with the grace of a fine English stylist, and his accessible introduction distills a lifetime of learning. How to Be Free hits the mark beautifully."-Brad Inwood, author of

M. D. Usher is the Lyman-Roberts Professor of Classical Languages and Literature at the University of Vermont, where he is a faculty member in the Environmental and Food Systems Programs and the Department of Geography. He and his wife, Caroline, have been farming for more than twenty years and they built, own, and operate Works & Days Farm, which produces lamb, eggs, and maple syrup in Shoreham, Vermont. A delightful anthology of classical Greek and Roman writings celebrating country living-ranging from a philosophy of compost to hymns to the gods of agriculture Whether you farm or garden, live in the country or long to move there, or simply enjoy an occasional rural retreat, you will be delighted by this cornucopia of writings about living and working on the land, harvested from the fertile fields of ancient Greek and Roman literature. An inspiring antidote to the digital age, How to Be a Farmer evokes the beauty and bounty of nature with a rich mixture of philosophy, practical advice, history, and humor. Together, these timeless reflections on what the Greeks called boukolika and the Romans res rusticae provide an entertaining and enlightening guide to a more meaningful and sustainable way of life. In fresh translations by classicist and farmer M. D. Usher, with the original texts on facing pages, Hesiod praises the dignity of labor; Plato describes the rustic simplicity of his ideal republic; Varro dedicates a farming manual to his wife, Fundania ("Mrs. Farmer"); and Vergil idealizes farmers as residents of the Golden Age. In other selections, Horace extols the joys of simple living at his cherished country farm; Pliny the Elder explains why all culture stems from agriculture; Columella praises donkeys and tells how to choose a ram or a dog; Musonius Rufus argues that farming is the best livelihood for a philosopher; and there is much more. Proof that farming is ultimately a state of mind we should all cultivate, How to Be a Farmer will charm anyone who loves nature or its fruits. " I loved the book. I love the Princeton University Press series. I've read a dozen of these now; they're all awesome but I was very excited to see this one."---Ryan Holiday, Daily Stoic podcast "This book is a gem."---Jonathan Self, Country Life "[A]n engaging mixture of history, philosophy, [and] poetry. . . . [T]his suitably sturdy volume is small enough to fit easily into the knapsack or the pocket of the hill-walker or the eco-tourist and would give him plenty of food for thought as he eats his ploughman's lunch."---John Godwin, Journal of Classics Teaching "Plowing through Usher's sparkling, brilliant, funny, and illuminating selections in How to Be a Farmer is no chore. It is a romp! A perfect introduction to the whole range of classical writing on farming."-James C. Scott, author of Against the Grain: A Deep History of the Earliest States "This thought-provoking collection of vignettes about living in the countryside and supporting oneself practically and intellectually there, away from urban politics, crowds, and commercialism, is an invitation to farming as a state of mind."-Cynthia Damon, translator of Tacitus's Annals (Penguin Classics) "How to Be a Farmer is extremely charming. The selections are well chosen, the translations are crisp and lively, and the whole moves along balancing variety with a subtle but also striking and informative development of ideas. A wonderful volume."-Stephanie Nelson, author of God and the Land: The Metaphysics of Farming in Hesiod and Vergil

Richard Bett is professor of philosophy and classics at Johns Hopkins University. He edited The Cambridge Companion to Ancient Scepticism and has published widely on the subject. He lives in Baltimore, Maryland. How ancient skepticism can help you attain tranquility by learning to suspend judgment Along with Stoicism and Epicureanism, Skepticism is one of the three major schools of ancient Greek philosophy that claim to offer a way of living as well as thinking. How to Keep an Open Mind provides an unmatched introduction to skepticism by presenting a fresh, modern translation of key passages from the writings of Sextus Empiricus, the only Greek skeptic whose works have survived. While content in daily life to go along with things as they appear to be, Sextus advocated-and provided a set of techniques to achieve-a radical suspension of judgment about the way things really are, believing that such nonjudging can be useful for challenging the unfounded dogmatism of others and may help one achieve a state of calm and tranquility. In an introduction, Richard Bett makes the case that the most important lesson we can draw from Sextus's brand of skepticism today may be an ability to see what can be said on the other side of any issue, leading to a greater open-mindedness. Complete with the original Greek on facing pages, How to Keep an Open Mind offers a compelling antidote to the closed-minded dogmatism of today's polarized world. "[How to Keep an Open Mind] gives a modern audience an accessible introduction to the school of thought, and shows us a better way to think about skepticism in a radically polarized world."---Steven Gambardella, The Sophist (Medium) "In a world overflowing with information, 'What should I believe?' can be a daunting question. The ancient philosopher Sextus Empiricus addresses this issue, asking, what if the pressure to form beliefs is itself a major source of distress and turmoil in our lives? This accessible, engaging translation of key parts of Sextus's most famous work shows how to achieve a more tranquil life by suspending judgment and keeping an open mind."-Christiana Olfert, Tufts University "This excellent volume offers a timely introduction to ancient skepticism, which argues that much of our anguish and conflict is the product of dogmatism and that only an open mind can lead to tranquility. This is surely a message for our times."-John Sellars, author of The Pocket Stoic

A vivid and accessible new translation of essential selections from Boethius's Consolation of Philosophy-a moving classic about facing life's worst events with courage and hope What do you do when your life has fallen apart? Fifteen hundred years ago, a Roman nobleman named Boethius (ca. 480–524 CE) asked this question as he was sitting in a prison cell waiting to die, accused-probably unjustly-of treason. Boethius had been a rich and powerful man with all a person could want in life, but now he had lost everything. Shaken, he wondered how such terrible misfortune could have happened to him and why life was so unfair. When Philosophy herself appears in his cell and confronts Boethius, the conversation that follows between the two on the nature of evil and why humans suffer is as powerful and inspiring today as it was to its first readers. In How to Cope, Philip Freeman presents a lively modern translation of essential selections from Boethius's classic, complete with an introduction and the original Latin on facing pages. This translation vividly captures Boethius's journey from bitterness and anger to reconciliation and peace, showing how ancient philosophy, especially Stoicism, can help readers deal with adversity in their own lives. The book reveals the qualities that have made The Consolation of Philosophy one of the most popular and influential works of classical and world literature, and an inspiration to countless writers, including Thomas Aquinas, Dante, and Chaucer. Boethius (ca. 480–524 CE) was a Roman philosopher and statesman who lived under the rule of the Ostrogoths after the fall of the Western Roman Empire. Accused of treason, he was imprisoned around 523 and tortured and executed in 524. He wrote The Consolation of Philosophy while in prison awaiting his fate. Philip Freeman is the author of more than thirty books on the ancient world, including Julian: Rome's Last Pagan Emperor and Searching for Sappho: The Lost Songs and World of the First Woman Poet. His other books include six previous volumes in Princeton's Ancient Wisdom for Modern Readers series, How to Tell a Story, How to Think about God, How to Be a Friend, How to Grow Old, How to Run a Country, and How to Win an Election. He holds the Fletcher Jones Chair in Humanities at Pepperdine University. "A very welcome new selection of a philosophical must-read in an excellent new English translation. Gentle and amazingly relevant today, this is a handy volume to keep by the bedside."-Tom Hodgkinson, founder and editor of The Idler "It is commonplace to say that philosophy is one of the most useless of human activities. This new translation of Boethius by Philip Freeman gives the lie to such nonsense. Read it, reflect on it, practice it. It will change your life for the better."-Massimo Pigliucci, author of How to Be a Stoic: Using Ancient Philosophy to Live a Modern Life "Wisdom for the ages. . . . [and] a clear introduction to a way of finding faith in cosmic concord during times of strife."

A new translation of the Buddha's teachings on mindfulness-and how it can help us to be less controlled by our emotions To feel is to suffer. But do we have to suffer as much as we do? Twenty-five hundred years ago, the Buddha discovered that practices of mindfully observing our feelings and emotions can help us gain some distance from them. In How to Feel, Maria Heim provides new translations of essential early Buddhist teachings on mindfulness meditation and connects them to recent findings in psychology and neuroscience. A superb meditation manual and insightful exploration of psychology, the book also provides a brief introduction to Buddhism and features the original Pali-language texts on facing pages. Drawing from the Samyutta Nikaya, an early canonical collection, How to Feel introduces Buddhist practices of mindfulness. Using them, we can watch feelings come and go like winds passing through the sky. We can observe what causes our negative emotions and learn to shift our attention to other things. We can see where emotions lead us and learn to redirect them. We will still feel, but, with practice, emotions will have less control over us. Just as they did in ancient India, the teachings in How to Feel offer today's readers radically new and more enlightened ways to experience emotions. The Buddha (the "Awakened One") is the title achieved by Siddhattha Gotama, who lived and taught in north India 2,500 years ago. As a young man he renounced his privileged life to seek an end to suffering and achieved a breakthrough by closely examining his experience. He taught his methods to others, founding the tradition we now call Buddhism. Maria Heim is the George Lyman Crosby 1896 & Stanley Warfield Crosby Professor in Religion at Amherst College. She is the author of Words for the Heart: A Treasury of Emotions from Classical India and one of the translators of How to Lose Yourself: An Ancient Guide to Letting Go (both Princeton). "How to Feel offers a truly integrated path to well-being. Profoundly insightful, this empowering guide provides a pragmatic understanding of suffering's roots and equips readers with an actionable exploration of their own experience, creating a powerful bridge between ancient wisdom and contemporary application."-Judson Brewer MD, PhD, New York Times bestselling author of Unwinding Anxiety

A delicious feast of ancient Greek and Roman writings on living well by eating well Today, we're stuffed with dietary recommendations from every direction. Social media, advertising, food packaging, diet books, doctors-all have advice on what, how much, and when to eat. This would have been no surprise to ancient Greeks and Romans. Their doctors were intensely interested in food, offered highly prescriptive dietary advice, and developed detailed systems to categorize foods and their health effects. How to Eat is a delectable anthology of Greco-Roman writings on how to eat, exercise, sleep, bathe, and manage your sex life for optimal health. It also gathers ancient opinions on specific foods of all sorts, from how to deploy onions to cure baldness and cabbage to get sober to whether lentils are healthy and why arugula increases your sex drive. With lively new translations by Claire Bubb, and the original Greek and Latin texts on facing pages, How to Eat features voices from medicine, philosophy, natural history, agriculture, and cooking, including Hippocrates, Pliny the Elder, Galen, Seneca, Plutarch, and Cato. While medicine and science have obviously changed enormously since the classical world, and some Greco-Roman beliefs about diet now appear hilariously off the mark, How to Eat reveals that much of their advice still resonates-and all of it is fascinating. Claire Bubb is assistant professor at the Institute for the Study of the Ancient World at New York University. She is the author of Dissection in Classical Antiquity. "How to Eat distills practical advice from the greatest thinkers of antiquity. It's like having Hippocrates, Seneca, and Plutarch on speed dial ready to offer guidance on everything from seasonal eating to self-care. Scholarly yet accessible and highly informative, How to Eat is masterfully translated and sure to inspire your menu for years to come."-Francine Segan, author of The Philosopher's Kitchen: Recipes from Ancient Greece and Rome for the Modern Cook "Clear and engaging while remaining faithful to the original languages, Bubb offers a delectable course of translated selections from the ancient world that are bound to resonate with modern readers, who will discover many points of connection and divergence between ancient and current approaches to health and diet."-John F. Donahue, author of Food and Drink in Antiquity "An entertaining and insightful survey of the ways in which conventional dietary wisdom in every age is a combination of the perennial and the faddish, the sensible and the ludicrous."---Julian Baggini, Wall Street Journal "A delightful as well as a fascinating read, made all the more enjoyable by the clarity of the translation."---Peter Jones, Classics for All "Timely and fascinating."---John Godwin, The Journal of Classics Teaching

Lively new translations of two classical works that offer wise advice about how to resist temptation How to Have Willpower brings together two profound ancient meditations on how to overcome pressures that encourage us to act against our own best interests-Plutarch's essay On Dysopia or How to Resist Pressure and Prudentius's poetic allegory Psychomachia or How to Slay Your Demons. Challenging the idea that humans are helpless victims of vice, these works-introduced and presented in vivid, accessible new prose translations by Michael Fontaine, with the original Latin and Greek texts on facing pages-emphasize the power of personal choice and the possibility of personal growth, as they offer insights and practical advice about resisting temptation. In the spirit of the best ancient self-help writing, Plutarch, a pagan Greek philosopher and historian, offers a set of practical recommendations and steps we can take to resist pressure and to stop saying "yes" against our better judgment. And in a delightfully different work, Prudentius, a Latin Christian poet, dramatizes the necessity to actively fight temptation through the story of an epic battle within the human soul between fierce warrior women representing our virtues and vices. Plutarch and Prudentius insist that we allow pressure or temptations to get the best of us. But they also agree that we can do something about it. And their wisdom can help. Michael Fontaine is professor of classics at Cornell University. His books include four other volumes in the Ancient Wisdom for Modern Readers series, How to Drink, How to Grieve, How to Tell a Joke, and How to Get Over a Breakup (all Princeton). "How to Have Willpower provides a timely glimpse into ancient advice for moving toward virtue and avoiding vice. The book offers some much-needed wisdom for our modern age of excess."-Laurie Santos, host of The Happiness Lab podcast "Self-control is on ongoing struggle for almost everyone, yet it's one of the most important keys to success. How to Have Willpower wonderfully reveals ancient wisdom about self-control that still resonates today. Beautifully written and full of insights, this book will inspire anyone curious about how to increase self-mastery."-Roy F. Baumeister, New York Times bestselling coauthor of Willpower: Rediscovering the Greatest Human Strength "Fascinating and so useful. . . . How To Have Willpower is an important work, perhaps Fontaine's best, that deserves to be both studied and discussed. One hopes that it will not only reintroduce these forgotten writings of Plutarch and Prudentius to a new generation of readers, but also reignite the old debate between the merits of faith and reason."---George Thomas, Quintus Curtius "[A] gem."---Jeannette Cooperman, The Common Reader "Millennia before the Clocky alarm or smartphone screen timers, philosophers grappled with the same question: How can we live with intention and follow through?. . . . ​In How to Have Willpower, two writers, separated by centuries, remind us that the temptation to give in-whether to dessert, distraction or gossip-is an age-old story."---Michael Luca, Wall Street Journal

A delightful Aztec work that has much to teach us about the value of giving thanks-to our contemporaries, our elders, and our ancestors Centuries before anyone ever thought of keeping a gratitude journal, the Aztecs understood the profound value of being grateful. For generations, specially trained Aztec public speakers presented traditional dialogues at marriages, births, funerals, government ceremonies, and other important occasions. In these dialogues, people of different generations are imagined speaking to each other with mutual respect and gratitude across time, encouraging listeners to be grateful to their contemporaries, elders, and ancestors, as well as the divine, and reminding the living what they owe to future generations. In the late 1500s, one of these Aztec speakers, Pablo of Texcoco, recorded a collection of these dialogues, now known as the Bancroft Dialogues. In How to Be Grateful, Nahuatl- or Aztec-language specialist Frances Karttunen and Camilla Townsend, Cundhill History Prize–winning author of Fifth Sun: A New History of the Aztecs, present this fascinating work in an accessible translation that also features the original Nahuatl text on facing pages. Although Pablo lived under Spanish rule, his parents, grandparents, and elderly teachers recalled the world before the Europeans arrived, and his dialogues, which delight in colorful metaphors and wry humor, offer remarkable insights into preconquest Aztec society, philosophy, and language. Pablo's dialogues tell readers they will be loved and honored today and by future generations if they repay those who have helped them-the living, the dead, and the divine. The living should pay these debts by helping their people and ensuring their future-by "paying it forward" as we say today. Pablo of Texcoco was an Indigenous descendant of the Aztecs who lived in the central valley of Mexico in the second half of the sixteenth century. He was trained in the Nahua or Aztec art of rhetoric in the powerful city-state of Texcoco, which has been called the "Athens" of preconquest Mesoamerica because of its beautiful architecture and gardens and because of its people's reputation for a love of poetic songs. Frances Karttunen retired as Senior University Research Scientist at the Linguistics Research Center at the University of Texas at Austin, where she established the Early Mesoamerican Languages Project. Her books include The Art of Nahuatl Speech: The Bancroft Dialogues. Camilla Townsend is the Board of Governors Distinguished Professor of History at Rutgers University. Her books include the Cundhill History Prize–winning Fifth Sun: A New History of the Aztecs. "This Aztec sage reminds us not to take for granted the hundreds of good things (both big and small) in our lives. I'm so grateful for this timeless wisdom and am still feeling a lingering happiness from reading this book."-A. J. Jacobs, New York Times bestselling author of Thanks a Thousand: A Gratitude Journey "With an engaging introduction and accessible translation by two impeccable experts, How to Be Grateful shows how the oratorical skill and sophistication of the sixteenth-century Nahuas impresses contemporary readers just as it enraptured the early friars and other Europeans who encountered them. In addition to verbal artistry and charming vignettes, this text provides insight into Aztec political and social organization, gender roles, and religion."-Louise M. Burkhart, author of Staging Christ's Passion in Eighteenth-Century Nahua Mexico

Philip Freeman is the editor and translator of How to Grow Old, How to Win an Election, and How to Run a Country (all Princeton). He is the author of many books, including Searching for Sappho (Norton) and Oh My Gods: A Modern Retelling of Greek and Roman Myths (Simon & Schuster). He holds the Fletcher Jones Chair of Western Culture at Pepperdine University and lives in Malibu, California. A splendid new translation of one of the greatest books on friendship ever written In a world where social media, online relationships, and relentless self-absorption threaten the very idea of deep and lasting friendships, the search for true friends is more important than ever. In this short book, which is one of the greatest ever written on the subject, the famous Roman politician and philosopher Cicero offers a compelling guide to finding, keeping, and appreciating friends. With wit and wisdom, Cicero shows us not only how to build friendships but also why they must be a key part of our lives. For, as Cicero says, life without friends is not worth living. Filled with timeless advice and insights, Cicero's heartfelt and moving classic-written in 44 BC and originally titled De Amicitia-has inspired readers for more than two thousand years, from St. Augustine and Dante to Thomas Jefferson and John Adams. Presented here in a lively new translation with the original Latin on facing pages and an inviting introduction, How to Be a Friend explores how to choose the right friends, how to avoid the pitfalls of friendship, and how to live with friends in good times and bad. Cicero also praises what he sees as the deepest kind of friendship-one in which two people find in each other "another self" or a kindred soul. An honest and eloquent guide to finding and treasuring true friends, How to Be a Friend speaks as powerfully today as when it was first written. "[A]stutely translated . . . . We learn that friendship is, in the end, an art form."---Tracy Lee Simmons, City Journal "Originally written in 44 BC, the advice in this book is as timely as ever, perhaps even more so in view of the changing nature of friendship to include the online dimension." "Cicero's indispensable dialogue, presented here in a lively new translation, is one of the most important treatments of friendship in the ancient world-and not only the ancient world. Cicero balances a poignant picture of the deep love of genuine friends with a shrewd analysis of practical and political relationships. This work illuminates friendship today and highlights the changes that, like everything with a history, it has undergone with time."-Alexander Nehamas, author of On Friendship "This splendid new translation puts Cicero's dialogue on friendship-one of the great works of literature-into fluent, contemporary English. In an era of hollow social media 'friendships,' these mature thoughts on how to separate friends from flatterers are timely and welcome."-Michael Fontaine, Cornell University

Johanna Hanink is associate professor of classics at Brown University. Her books include The Classical Debt: Greek Antiquity in an Era of Austerity. She lives in Rhode Island. Twitter @johannahan An accessible modern translation of essential speeches from Thucydides's History that takes readers to the heart of his profound insights on diplomacy, foreign policy, and war Why do nations go to war? What are citizens willing to die for? What justifies foreign invasion? And does might always make right? For nearly 2,500 years, students, politicians, political thinkers, and military leaders have read the eloquent and shrewd speeches in Thucydides's History of the Peloponnesian War for profound insights into military conflict, diplomacy, and the behavior of people and countries in times of crisis. How to Think about War presents the most influential and compelling of these speeches in an elegant new translation by classicist Johanna Hanink, accompanied by an enlightening introduction, informative headnotes, and the original Greek on facing pages. The result is an ideally accessible introduction to Thucydides's long and challenging History. Thucydides intended his account of the clash between classical Greece's mightiest powers-Athens and Sparta-to be a "possession for all time." Today, it remains a foundational work for the study not only of ancient history but also contemporary politics and international relations. How to Think about War features speeches that have earned the History its celebrated status-all of those delivered before the Athenian Assembly, as well as Pericles's funeral oration and the notoriously ruthless "Melian Dialogue." Organized by key debates, these complex speeches reveal the recklessness, cruelty, and realpolitik of Athenian warfighting and imperialism. The first English-language collection of speeches from Thucydides in nearly half a century, How to Think about War takes readers straight to the heart of this timeless thinker. "How to Think About War will have a broad appeal to academics in the fields of classics, history, and political science, as well as to professional foreign policy analysts, political thinkers, and military strategists . . . . Hanink has produced a noteworthy resource that introduces the reader to the principal debates in warfare and foreign policy, both ancient and modern."---Nicholas D. Cross, Bryn Mawr Classical Review "[In How to Think About War] we find shrewd observations on current events (in this case, the Peloponnesian War) matched with a taste for strategic prudence in dealing with adversaries. These insights illuminate some of the history that Santayana supposed we're prone to repeat through ignorance."---Tracy Lee Simmons, City Journal "[An] innovative translation. . . . With How to Think about War, students . . . see key speeches set chronologically and in contrast to one another, avoiding an entirely one-dimensional takeaway . . . Hanink's translation provides a worthwhile addition to the ongoing dialogue inspired by Thucydides."---MAJ Kerney M. Perlik, US Army War College Quarterly "[Hanink's] vivid translations and thoughtful notes furnish a delightful entry point for one wishing to wrestle with some of the most studied, and still relevant, passages of Greek literature. [Her] rendition of Thucydides' notoriously difficult prose is effective and will appeal to the Thucydidean neophyte."---Matthew Sears, Classical Review "This slim, elegant book punches well above its weight, with striking, lucid translations of key speeches from Thucydides's History of the Peloponnesian War. The artfully curated ancient texts within these pages speak with prescience and complexity to the precarious moment in which we now live. Johanna Hanink's How to Think about War is essential reading for anyone who wishes to know how great military powers fall, democracies implode, and empires end."-Bryan Doerries, author of The Theater of War: What An

A vibrant new translation of Seneca's "On the Shortness of Life," a pointed reminder to make the most of our time. Who doesn't worry sometimes that smart phones, the Internet, and TV are robbing us of time and preventing us from having a life? How can we make the most of our time on earth? In the first century AD, the Stoic philosopher Seneca the Younger offered one of the most famous answers to that question in his essay "On the Shortness of Life", a work that has more to teach us today than ever before. In “How to Have a Life”, James Romm presents a vibrant new translation of Seneca's brilliant essay, plus two Senecan letters on the same theme, complete with the original Latin on facing pages and an inviting introduction. With devastating satiric wit, skillfully captured in this translation, Seneca lampoons the ways we squander our time and fail to realize how precious it is. We don't allow people to steal our money, yet we allow them to plunder our time, or else we give it away ourselves in useless, idle pursuits. Seneca also describes how we can make better use of our brief days and years. In the process, he argues, we can make our lives longer, or even everlasting, because to live a real life is to attain a kind of immortality. A counterweight to the time-sucking distractions of the modern world, “How to Have a Life” offers priceless wisdom about making our time, and our lives, count.

Michael Fontaine is professor of classics and associate vice provost of undergraduate education at Cornell University. His books include Funny Words in Plautine Comedy and The Oxford Handbook of Greek and Roman Comedy. A spirited new translation of a forgotten classic, shot through with timeless wisdom Is there an art to drinking alcohol? Can drinking ever be a virtue? The Renaissance humanist and neoclassical poet Vincent Obsopoeus (ca. 1498–1539) thought so. In the winelands of sixteenth-century Germany, he witnessed the birth of a poisonous new culture of bingeing, hazing, peer pressure, and competitive drinking. Alarmed, and inspired by the Roman poet Ovid's Art of Love, he wrote The Art of Drinking (De Arte Bibendi) (1536), a how-to manual for drinking with pleasure and discrimination. In How to Drink, Michael Fontaine offers the first proper English translation of Obsopoeus's text, rendering his poetry into spirited, contemporary prose and uncorking a forgotten classic that will appeal to drinkers of all kinds and (legal) ages. Arguing that moderation, not abstinence, is the key to lasting sobriety, and that drinking can be a virtue if it is done with rules and limits, Obsopoeus teaches us how to manage our drinking, how to win friends at social gatherings, and how to give a proper toast. But he also says that drinking to excess on occasion is okay-and he even tells us how to win drinking games, citing extensive personal experience. Complete with the original Latin on facing pages, this sparkling work is as intoxicating today as when it was first published. "It is always good to find a new book on the shelves that regards wine with both pleasure and common sense, including a good deal about manners and drunkenness. . . . [How to Drink is] an enjoyable read and . . . makes good, genial sense at a time when wine is now being taken far too seriously as a subject to be put under a microscope rather than be sloshed into a glass."---John Mariani, Forbes "[How to Drink is] a fetching translation . . . I recommend it, as much for its hints about drinking 'sustainably and with discrimination' as for its wry warnings about excess."---Roger Kimball, Spectator US "[A] lively modern rendition . . . [How to Drink] mashes up a How to Win Friends and Influence People Under the Influence sort of self-help book, a snapshot of a binge-drinking culture 500 years ago and a personal airing of grievances through the lens of one entertaining, wildly self-contradictory and extremely cantankerous tutor."---Ben O'Donnell, WineSpectator.com "If you can escape the world for a couple of days, bring this delightful book with you and cue up your Pandora 'Circa 1500' playlist . . . a balance of elegance and boisterousness."---Lana Bortolot, Forbes "Fontaine has done a good job in resurrecting an amusing enough oeuvre for those who enjoy exploring such highways and byways."---Peter Jones, Classics for All "[How to Drink] serves as relevant social commentary for today, railing, with wit and humor, against toxic masculinity and overindulgence while providing advice on how to win drinking games. It's a great addition to your bartending library."---Matt Kettman, Santa Barbara Independent "I found this book fascinating . . . I recommend How to Drink for anyone who enjoys history, the social aspects of alcohol, and the fact that some things never seem to change through the ages!" "I adored this quirky little book. It's half a millennium old and relevant. It's vulnerably human, capricious, mercurial, inconsistent, wise, ridiculous, passionate and poetic. It's unintentionally hilarious."---Tamlyn Currin, jancisrobinson.com "[How to Drink] is a witty, entertaining and well produced book, whose editor/translator is clearly well-matched to the subject-matter: in Fontaine's capable hands, Obsopoeus is anything but an acquired taste."---Gary Vos, The Journal of Classics Teaching "This is a fun little book; it is also a scholarly edition

How you can learn to focus like a monk without living like one Distraction isn't a new problem. We're also not the first to complain about how hard it is to concentrate. Early Christian monks beat us to it. They had given up everything to focus on God, yet they still struggled to keep the demons of distraction at bay. But rather than surrender to the meandering of their minds, they developed powerful strategies to improve their attention and engagement. How to Focus is an inviting collection of their strikingly relatable insights and advice-frank, funny, sympathetic, and psychologically sophisticated. This wisdom is drawn from John Cassian's fifth-century CE Collationes, one of the most influential manuals for monks from late antiquity. The Collationes follow Cassian and his friend Germanus as they travel around Egypt, asking a series of sage monks how they can make their minds stronger. In response, these monks offer a range of techniques for increasing focus, including setting goals, training the body, managing the memory, using mantras, taking breaks, consulting others-and, most of all, being honest about yourself. As Cassian and Germanus eventually realize, we can't escape distraction-but we can learn how to confront it and, eventually, to concentrate. Featuring an engaging new translation by Jamie Kreiner and the original Latin on facing pages, How to Focus can help even the least monkish of us to train our attention on what matters most. Jamie Kreiner is professor of history at the University of Georgia and the author of The Wandering Mind: What Medieval Monks Tell Us About Distraction. "The human brain has not changed much in fifteen hundred years, and modern readers sorely need the wisdom, comfort, and practical advice of John Cassian and his desert hermit colleagues. Kreiner's lively translation brings these monks alongside us as friends and disarms us with advice on how to face the destructive mental habits and deep spiritual longing that lie beneath our addictions to pinging phones and glowing screens."-Molly Worthen, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill "Jamie Kreiner's vivid translation invites modern readers into a timeless conversation on the very human challenge of distraction. How to Focus contains a wealth of sage advice that is as helpful and reassuring today as it was centuries ago. It's a must-read for anyone who struggles to focus on their goals-that is, everyone."-Danièle Cybulskie, author of How to Live Like a Monk: Medieval Wisdom for Modern Life "Timely and inspiring."

Michael Fontaine is professor of classics at Cornell University. His books include How to Drink: A Classical Guide to the Art of Imbibing (Princeton) and The Oxford Handbook of Greek and Roman Comedy. Timeless advice about how to use humor to win over any audience Can jokes win a hostile room, a hopeless argument, or even an election? You bet they can, according to Cicero, and he knew what he was talking about. One of Rome's greatest politicians, speakers, and lawyers, Cicero was also reputedly one of antiquity's funniest people. After he was elected commander-in-chief and head of state, his enemies even started calling him "the stand-up Consul." How to Tell a Joke provides a lively new translation of Cicero's essential writing on humor alongside that of the later Roman orator and educator Quintilian. The result is a timeless practical guide to how a well-timed joke can win over any audience. As powerful as jokes can be, they are also hugely risky. The line between a witty joke and an offensive one isn't always clear. Cross it and you'll look like a clown, or worse. Here, Cicero and Quintilian explore every aspect of telling jokes-while avoiding costly mistakes. Presenting the sections on humor in Cicero's On the Ideal Orator and Quintilian's The Education of the Orator, complete with an enlightening introduction and the original Latin on facing pages, How to Tell a Joke examines the risks and rewards of humor and analyzes basic types that readers can use to write their own jokes. Filled with insight, wit, and examples, including more than a few lawyer jokes, How to Tell a Joke will appeal to anyone interested in humor or the art of public speaking. "Elegant. . . . Fontaine calls Cicero's 'On the Ideal Orator' a 'masterpiece' and Quintilian's 'The Education of the Orator' 'a master textbook on public speaking.' Neither is an understatement."---Joseph Epstein, Wall Street Journal "Michael Fontaine's lively new translation of Cicero's ancient text on humor, How to Tell a Joke, amuses as well as instructs."---Linda B. Glaser, Cornell Chronicle "[How to Tell a Joke] will make you happier, it will make you better read, and, I'm pretty confident, it will make you laugh."---Ben Potter, Classical Wisdom "Wonderful translations. . . . [Fontaine's] translations make the Latin very accessible to the modern reader who might not have any skill in translation at all. This modern translation also makes the language of Cicero and Quintilian come alive to the reader. . . .it gives you a glimpse of the Roman sense of humour, barbs, quips and the workings of extraordinary jurists in a court playing to a captive audience. . . . [A] wonderful book."---Dr. LF Ivings, Journal of Classics Teaching "Though I had some quibbles with the Latin translation, largely because I don't read Latin, I agreed with the two-millennium-old rules on humor. Or maybe it's 'two millennia.' I should probably learn some Latin."-Joel Stein, humorist and author of In Defense of Elitism "This book is a delight! Humor can be one of the hardest things to translate, but How to Tell a Joke makes the jokes and insights of two of antiquity's finest writers on humor accessible to a modern audience. Bravo!"-Julia D. Hejduk, Baylor University "Providing highly readable, lively, and fresh translations of Cicero and Quintilian's classic writings on humor, How to Tell a Joke also features a crisp introduction that shows the relevance of their ideas for appreciating humor in the twenty-first century."-Luca Grillo, University of Notre Dame

Explore the nature of love in this charming new translation of selections from Plato's great dramatic work, the Symposium What is love? In poetry, songs, fiction, movies, psychology, and philosophy, love has been described, admired, lamented, and dissected in endless ways. Is love based on physical attraction? Does it bring out our better selves? How does it relate to sex? Is love divine? Plato's Symposium is one of the oldest, most influential, and most profound explorations of such questions-it is even the source of the idea of "Platonic love." How to Talk about Love introduces and presents the key passages and central ideas of Plato's philosophical dialogue in a lively and highly readable new translation, which also features the original Greek on facing pages. The Symposium is set at a fictional drinking party during which prominent Athenians engage in a friendly competition by delivering improvised speeches in praise of Eros, the Greek god of love and sex. The aristocrat Phaedrus, the legal expert Pausanias, the physician Eryximachus, the comic playwright Aristophanes, and the tragic poet Agathon-each by turn celebrates different aspects of love before Socrates proposes not to praise love but to tell the truth about it. In the final speech, the politician and libertine Alcibiades argues that Socrates himself is the epitome of love. Deftly capturing the essence and spirit of Plato's masterpiece, How to Talk about Love makes the Symposium more accessible and enjoyable than ever before. Armand D'Angour is professor of classics at Jesus College, University of Oxford. He is the editor and translator of How to Innovate: An Ancient Guide to Creative Thinking (Princeton), Socrates in Love, and The Greeks and the New. "In How to Talk about Love, D'Angour presents a marvelous translation of Plato's classic text. He faithfully conveys the tone and content of the work, as well as the personalities of the various speakers, and renders nearly impossible passages into a lively, accessible style."-Susan Sauvé Meyer, editor and translator of How to Flourish: An Ancient Guide to Living Well "With modern romance on its last legs, D'Angour revisits Plato's Symposium, mining the philosopher's masterwork for timeless, indispensable insights into love, sex, and attraction." "Immensely readable. . . the nuances of the different characters' tones are beautifully captured. . .This book distills the essence of Plato and is a delight for those both familiar with the material and those who are not."---Philip Womack, The Spectator "How to Talk About Love is a good rendering of the Symposium and a worthy addition to Princeton's series of Ancient Wisdom for Modern Readers. D'Angour acts as a careful, knowledgeable guide whose aim is to communicate clearly the text and some of the longstanding questions and theories attached to it."---John Moss, Times Literary Supplement

Armand D'Angour is professor of classics and a fellow of Jesus College at the University of Oxford. He is the author of Socrates in Love: The Making of a Philosopher and The Greeks and the New: Novelty in Ancient Greek Imagination and Experience. He has lectured widely on innovation at business schools and he managed a family manufacturing business before becoming a classics professor. He lives in London. Twitter @ArmandDAngour What we can learn about fostering innovation and creative thinking from some of the most inventive people of all times-the ancient Greeks When it comes to innovation and creative thinking, we are still catching up with the ancient Greeks. Between 800 and 300 BCE, they changed the world with astonishing inventions-democracy, the alphabet, philosophy, logic, rhetoric, mathematical proof, rational medicine, coins, architectural canons, drama, lifelike sculpture, and competitive athletics. None of this happened by accident. Recognizing the power of the new and trying to understand and promote the conditions that make it possible, the Greeks were the first to write about innovation and even the first to record a word for forging something new. In short, the Greeks "invented" innovation itself-and they still have a great deal to teach us about it. How to Innovate is an engaging and entertaining introduction to key ideas about-and examples of-innovation and creative thinking from ancient Greece. Armand D'Angour provides lively new translations of selections from Aristotle, Diodorus, and Athenaeus, with the original Greek text on facing pages. These writings illuminate and illustrate timeless principles of creating something new-borrowing or adapting existing ideas or things, cross-fertilizing disparate elements, or criticizing and disrupting current conditions. From the true story of Archimedes's famous "Eureka!" moment, to Aristotle's thoughts on physical change and political innovation, to accounts of how disruption and competition drove invention in Greek warfare and the visual arts, How to Innovate is filled with valuable insights about how change happens-and how to bring it about. " If you want to be more innovative, you should live and work close to innovative people. D'Angour shows us we've known the benefits for a very long time. We shouldn't be surprised to find insights so modern in texts so ancient. . . .We can, however, be grateful to D'Angour for the refreshing reminder."---Joel J. Miller, Circe Institute "There is an unfathomable mystery at the heart of innovation. But the ancient Greeks knew how to analyze it better than anyone, and this book explains its principles with novel and unprecedented clarity. Anyone interested in innovating should read it."-Satoshi Nakamoto, cryptocurrency innovator "Drawing on Aristotle and other Greek writers, Armand D'Angour reveals the keys to curiosity, creativity, and discovery. How to Innovate is filled with insights that will inspire visionaries and creators of all kinds."-Adrienne Mayor, author of Gods and Robots: Myths, Machines, and Ancient Dreams of Technology

Philip Freeman is the editor and translator of How to Win an Election: An Ancient Guide for Modern Politicians and How to Run a Country: An Ancient Guide for Modern Leaders (both Princeton). He is the author of many books, including Oh My Gods: A Modern Retelling of Greek and Roman Myths, Alexander the Great, and Julius Caesar (all Simon & Schuster). He holds the Orlando W. Qualley Chair of Classical Languages at Luther College in Decorah, Iowa. Timeless wisdom on growing old gracefully from one of ancient Rome's greatest philosophers Worried that old age will inevitably mean losing your libido, your health, and possibly your marbles too? Well, Cicero has some good news for you. In How to Grow Old, the great Roman orator and statesman eloquently describes how you can make the second half of life the best part of all-and why you might discover that reading and gardening are actually far more pleasurable than sex ever was. Filled with timeless wisdom and practical guidance, Cicero's brief, charming classic-written in 44 BC and originally titled On Old Age-has delighted and inspired readers, from Saint Augustine to Thomas Jefferson, for more than two thousand years. Presented here in a lively new translation with an informative new introduction and the original Latin on facing pages, the book directly addresses the greatest fears of growing older and persuasively argues why these worries are greatly exaggerated-or altogether mistaken. Montaigne said Cicero's book "gives one an appetite for growing old." The American founding father John Adams read it repeatedly in his later years. And today its lessons are more relevant than ever in a world obsessed with the futile pursuit of youth. "Provides useful tips on how to age well."---Wan Lixin, Shanghai Daily "[A] covetable little translation."---Karen Shook, Times Higher Education "A lively translation of a splendid work."-Stephen Harrison, University of Oxford "The more people who read Cicero, the better the world will be."-Anthony Corbeill, University of Kansas

Philip Freeman is the author of more than twenty books on the ancient world, including the Cicero translations How to Think about God, How to Be a Friend, How to Grow Old, and How to Run a Country (all Princeton). He holds the Fletcher Jones Chair in Humanities at Pepperdine University. An inviting and highly readable new translation of Aristotle's complete Poetics-the first and best introduction to the art of writing and understanding stories Aristotle's Poetics is the most important book ever written for writers and readers of stories-whether novels, short fiction, plays, screenplays, or nonfiction. Aristotle was the first to identify the keys to plot, character, audience perception, tragic pleasure, and dozens of other critical points of good storytelling. Despite being written more than 2,000 years ago, the Poetics remains essential reading for anyone who wants to learn how to write a captivating story-or understand how such stories work and achieve their psychological effects. Yet for all its influence, the Poetics is too little read because it comes down to us in a form that is often difficult to follow, and even the best translations are geared more to specialists than to general readers who simply want to grasp Aristotle's profound and practical insights. In How to Tell a Story, Philip Freeman presents the most readable translation of the Poetics yet produced, making this indispensable handbook more accessible, engaging, and useful than ever before. In addition to its inviting and reliable translation, a commentary on each section, and the original Greek on facing pages, this edition of the Poetics features unique bullet points, chapter headings, and section numbers to help guide readers through Aristotle's unmatched introduction to the art of writing and reading stories. "A lively new translation geared for maximum utility, featuring a short introduction, pithy but invented section titles ("A Brief Note on Bad Plots") and basic endnotes."---Timothy Farrington, Wall Street Journal "[Freeman's] smooth translation…[organizes] Aristotle's arguments with bullet points and section heads. . . . There is pleasure in returning to Aristotle. . . . [his] precepts can fuel your understanding of what writing should be."---Noor Qasim, New York Times Book Review " [The book] presents Aristotle's brilliant ideas in a more modern guise, and makes them more engaging."---Viktor Zavŕel, Graeco-Latina Bruensia "The remarkable insights of Aristotle's Poetics are unknown to too many writers today. This fluid new translation of his masterwork provides an accessible and reliable guide to Aristotle's art of storytelling and should help redeem his original and counterintuitive ideas on literature from their long popular neglect."-Angus Fletcher, author of Wonderworks: The 25 Most Powerful Inventions in the History of Literature

James Romm is the editor and translator of Seneca's How to Keep Your Cool and How to Die (both Princeton) and the author of Dying Every Day: Seneca at the Court of Nero. He has written for the Wall Street Journal, the New York Review of Books, and the London Review of Books, among other publications. He is the James H. Ottaway Jr. Professor of Classics at Bard College and lives in Barrytown, New York. Timeless wisdom on generosity and gratitude from the great Stoic philosopher Seneca To give and receive well may be the most human thing you can do-but it is also the closest you can come to divinity. So argues the great Roman Stoic thinker Seneca (c. 4 BCE–65 CE) in his longest and most searching moral treatise, "On Benefits" (De Beneficiis). James Romm's splendid new translation of essential selections from this work conveys the heart of Seneca's argument that generosity and gratitude are among the most important of all virtues. For Seneca, the impulse to give to others lies at the very foundation of society; without it, we are helpless creatures, worse than wild beasts. But generosity did not arise randomly or by chance. Seneca sees it as part of our desire to emulate the gods, whose creation of the earth and heavens stands as the greatest gift of all. Seneca's soaring prose captures his wonder at that gift, and expresses a profound sense of gratitude that will inspire today's readers. Complete with an enlightening introduction and the original Latin on facing pages, How to Give is a timeless guide to the profound significance of true generosity. "In a helpful running commentary that accompanies his vigorous translation, [James] Romm glosses Seneca to mean that the best gifts are given anonymously and received gratefully. . . . For the stoically inclined, a fine vade mecum come donation time." "Engaging. . . . [Seneca] has seldom seemed wiser."---Steven Donoghue, Open Letters "[Romm] is very helpful in his introduction . . . [and his] short summations show a clear mastery of his material."---Ray Morris, Classics for All "Thoughtful advice. . . . How to Give is as much about receiving as it is about giving."---John J. Miller, National Review "This new translation of Seneca the Younger's De Beneficiis has insights for both givers and receivers, confirming that the questions surrounding philanthropy-and how to receive as well as to give graciously-are of enduring importance."---Austin Detwiler, Philanthropy Daily "Seneca's 'On Benefits' carefully differentiates between the individualism of the market and the foundational 'fellowship' fostered by gift giving and good deeds. James Romm's lucidly translated selection from this classic work is both a valuable addition to the history of gift exchange and a reminder that all human dealings are attended by matters of ethics and belief."-Lewis Hyde, author of The Gift: How the Creative Spirit Transforms the World "With intelligent selections that are translated with exceptional grace and lucidity, How to Give presents, for today's readers, Seneca's thoughts on an issue of perennial interest: the true nature of generosity and gratitude and the best ways to behave generously and gratefully."-Robert A. Kaster, professor emeritus, Princeton University "Seneca's writings are chock-full of still-useful reflections and advice of universal application. This attractive and accessible translation of key excerpts from his 'On Benefits' makes for a fine book."-M. D. Usher, University of Vermont

An irresistible anthology of ancient Greek writings that explore queer desire and love Eros, limb-loosening, whirls me about again, that bittersweet, implacable creature. -Sappho The idea of sexual fluidity may seem new, but it is at least as old as the ancient Greeks, who wrote about queer experiences with remarkable frankness, wit, and insight. How to Be Queer is an infatuating collection of these writings about desire, love, and lust between men, between women, and between humans and gods, in lucid and lively new translations. Filled with enthralling stories, this anthology invites readers of all sexualities and identities to explore writings that describe many kinds of erotic encounters and feelings, and that envision a playful and passionate approach to sexuality as part of a rich and fulfilling life. How to Be Queer starts with Homer's Iliad and moves through lyric poetry, tragedy, comedy, philosophy, and biography, drawing on a wide range of authors, including Sappho, Plato, Anacreon, Pindar, Theognis, Aristophanes, and Xenophon. It features both beautiful poetry and thought-provoking prose, emotional outpourings and humorous anecdotes. From Homer's story of the relationship between Achilles and Patroclus, one of the most intense between men in world literature, to Sappho's lyrics on the pleasures and pains of loving women, these writings show the many meanings of what the Greeks called eros. Complete with brief introductions to the selections, and with the original Greek on facing pages, How to Be Queer reveals what the Greeks knew long ago-that the erotic and queer are a source of life and a cause for celebration. Sarah Nooter is professor of classics and theater and performance studies at the University of Chicago. She is the author of Greek Poetry in the Age of Ephemerality, The Mortal Voice in the Tragedies of Aeschylus, and When Heroes Sing: Sophocles and the Shifting Soundscape of Tragedy. "A wonderful, wise, witty, and joyful survey of queerness in the ancient world that reminds us how-two thousand years and more before us-our ancestors often had clearer, less guilt-ridden, confused, prurient, and prudish attitudes to the rainbow of sexualities that we wrongly think unique to our age. An absolute must-read!"-Stephen Fry "This valuable and timely collection provides an engaging and approachable introduction to queer sexuality in ancient Greece. With accessible translations of the key texts, Sarah Nooter bridges past and present to offer up something like a self-help version of classical texts for modern sexual life. Timely and compelling, How to Be Queer demonstrates the historical rootedness of what's often touted as a modern phenomenon."-Emily Hauser, author of How Women Became Poets: A Gender History of Greek Literature "Sarah Nooter's How to Be Queer is a magnificent celebration of queer love and sexuality in all its complicated, wondrous forms. It also acts as a kind of time and ideas machine, allowing queer readers to capture a reflection of themselves in the ancient world, deliciously blurring and loosening time and identity boundaries."-Luke Edward Hall, illustrator of 300,000 Kisses: Tales of Queer Love from the Ancient World " How to be Queer is an elegantly presented book, evoking thoughtful consideration of queerness and sexuality. With a constant return to modernity . . . a simple point is enforced; we are not all that different from the ancient world . . . [it] makes for a delightful reading experience, and can be enjoyed by anybody, no matter their identity."---Jaiden Griffin, Redbrick "Delightfully provocative. . . . smartly-chosen and cleverly-organized. . . . Nooter's translations from the Greek are impressively both faithful to the original and comprehensible and pleasant to read for the language-less"---Daniel Libatique, Bryn Mawr Classical Review

James Romm is the editor and translator of Seneca's How to Die: An Ancient Guide to the End of Life (Princeton) and the author of Dying Every Day: Seneca at the Court of Nero (Knopf). He has written for the New York Review of Books and the Wall Street Journal, among other publications. He is the James H. Ottaway Jr. Professor of Classics at Bard College and lives in Barrytown, New York. Timeless wisdom on controlling anger in personal life and politics from the Roman Stoic philosopher and statesman Seneca In his essay "On Anger" (De Ira), the Roman Stoic thinker Seneca (c. 4 BC–65 AD) argues that anger is the most destructive passion: "No plague has cost the human race more dear." This was proved by his own life, which he barely preserved under one wrathful emperor, Caligula, and lost under a second, Nero. This splendid new translation of essential selections from "On Anger," presented with an enlightening introduction and the original Latin on facing pages, offers readers a timeless guide to avoiding and managing anger. It vividly illustrates why the emotion is so dangerous and why controlling it would bring vast benefits to individuals and society. Drawing on his great arsenal of rhetoric, including historical examples (especially from Caligula's horrific reign), anecdotes, quips, and soaring flights of eloquence, Seneca builds his case against anger with mounting intensity. Like a fire-and-brimstone preacher, he paints a grim picture of the moral perils to which anger exposes us, tracing nearly all the world's evils to this one toxic source. But he then uplifts us with a beatific vision of the alternate path, a path of forgiveness and compassion that resonates with Christian and Buddhist ethics. Seneca's thoughts on anger have never been more relevant than today, when uncivil discourse has increasingly infected public debate. Whether seeking personal growth or political renewal, readers will find, in Seneca's wisdom, a valuable antidote to the ills of an angry age. "This is a well-produced, stimulating book and a worthy addition to an excellent series."---Ray Morris, Classics for All "This is wisdom down the ages." "Few have written more eloquently and profoundly on the perils of anger than Seneca and few have translated him better than James Romm."-Ryan Holiday, coauthor of The Daily Stoic: 366 Meditations on Wisdom, Perseverance, and the Art of Living "How to Keep Your Cool presents one of Seneca's most timely essays in an attractive format that is sure to appeal to readers. James Romm's excellent translation is more readable than any other."-A. A. Long, author of Epictetus: A Stoic and Socratic Guide to Life

An entertaining and enlightening collection of ancient Roman writings about home design and decoration The idea that our homes can communicate professional as well as personal identities may seem as new as the work-from-home revolution. But it was second nature to the ancient Romans, for whom the home was in many ways the center of public and private life. Roman authors saw infinite practical and symbolic value in houses, and they have much to say about them. How to Make a Home presents some of the best Roman writings on houses-from buying and selling to designing and decorating. Edited and elegantly translated by Marden Fitzpatrick Nichols, How to Make a Home gathers selections by Cicero, Vitruvius, Seneca, and others, with the original Latin or Greek on facing pages. These writings reveal the pleasures and pitfalls of the Roman practice of making one's home a cornerstone of self-expression. While the ideal home enshrined Roman virtues and could make a career, lavish building projects could lead to financial ruin and moral condemnation. These authors memorably describe such travails as deceptive staging, decorators run amok, know-it-all owners, unsupervised contractors, and buyer's remorse. Along the way, they also explain why simplicity is bliss, privacy is for nobodies, a neglected house is a sign of a neglected soul, and much more. A unique and charming introduction to Roman domestic architecture and its cultural significance, How to Make a Home reveals that the obsession with house and home has a long and fascinating history. Marden Fitzpatrick Nichols is Provost's Distinguished Associate Professor and Chair of Classics at Georgetown University and the author of Author and Audience in Vitruvius' "De architectura." "While making clear that modern readers should leave their notions of comfort and style at the door, How to Make a Home wonderfully illustrates the larger connection between Roman homes and ours today."-T. Corey Brennan, author of The Fasces: A History of Ancient Rome's Most Dangerous Political Symbol "In this delightful introduction to Roman townhouses and villas, Marden Fitzpatrick Nichols offers lively insights from a variety of ancient authors-Vitruvius, Cicero, and Pliny the Younger among them. Readers will easily engage with the concerns of Roman home owners, many of which are so familiar today."-Elaine K. Gazda, University of Michigan "Most enjoyable."---Peter Jones, Classics for All "Marden Fitzpatrick Nichols comes to the rescue with a beautifully conceived handbook of little-known classical sources on domestic architecture. . . . With witty chapter titles such as 'Don't Be Upstaged by Your House' and 'Unless You Have Deep Pockets, the Big City Is a Death Trap,' [Nichols] . . . guides us through a series of Roman writers with subjects as varied as interior decoration, new construction, infrastructure and real estate."---Cammy Brothers, Wall Street Journal

Stephen Harrison is Professor of Latin Literature at the University of Oxford, where he is also a fellow of Corpus Christi College. His books include The Cambridge Companion to Horace. He lives in Oxford. What the Roman poet Horace can teach us about how to live a life of contentment What are the secrets to a contented life? One of Rome's greatest and most influential poets, Horace (65–8 BCE) has been cherished by readers for more than two thousand years not only for his wit, style, and reflections on Roman society, but also for his wisdom about how to live a good life-above all else, a life of contentment in a world of materialistic excess and personal pressures. In How to Be Content, Stephen Harrison, a leading authority on the poet, provides fresh, contemporary translations of poems from across Horace's works that continue to offer important lessons about the good life, friendship, love, and death. Living during the reign of Rome's first emperor, Horace drew on Greek and Roman philosophy, especially Stoicism and Epicureanism, to write poems that reflect on how to live a thoughtful and moderate life amid mindless overconsumption, how to achieve and maintain true love and friendship, and how to face disaster and death with patience and courage. From memorable counsel on the pointlessness of worrying about the future to valuable advice about living in the moment, these poems, by the man who famously advised us to carpe diem, or "harvest the day," continue to provide brilliant meditations on perennial human problems. Featuring translations of, and commentary on, complete poems from Horace's Odes, Satires, Epistles, and Epodes, accompanied by the original Latin, How to Be Content is both an ideal introduction to Horace and a compelling book of timeless wisdom. "This book is a delight. . . . This should be in the pocket of every lover of Latin literature, and especially of Horace."---Peter Jones, Classics for All "Fantastic . . . a long and wonderfully informed conversation with [Horace]."---Steve Donoghue, Open Letters "[A]n elegant little volume."---Ron Charles, Washington Post "[How to Be Content] shines a light on the philosophical core of the great poet's [Horace] writing. . . . Stephen Harrison translates excerpts beautifully in modern English."---Steven Gambardella, The Sophist "Horace is an unparalleled source of inspiring life advice from the ancient world. This engaging guide to his wisdom succeeds by showing the interconnectedness and continuing relevance of his key themes, including the brevity of life and the importance of being content with one's material and emotional lot."-Jennifer Ferriss-Hill, author of Horace's "Ars Poetica": Family, Friendship, and the Art of Living

Inviting new translations of classical Buddhist texts about why the self is an illusion-and why giving it up can free us from suffering From self-realization and self-promotion to self-help and the selfie, the modern world encourages us to be self-obsessed. We are even told that finding ourselves is the key to happiness. Better to lose yourself! More than 2,500 years ago, the Buddha argued that the self is an illusion-and that our belief in it is the cause of most, if not all, of our suffering. How to Lose Yourself presents lively, accessible, and expert new translations of ancient Buddhist writings about the central, unique, and powerful Buddhist teaching of "no-self." Drawn from three important Buddhist traditions, these essential Indian, Tibetan, and Chinese writings provide a rich sampling of the ways Buddhist philosophers have understood the idea that we are selfless persons-and why this insight is so therapeutic. When we let go of the self, we are awakened to the presence of all things as they truly are, and we let go of the anxiety, fear, greed, and hatred that are the source of all suffering. Complete with an introduction and headnotes to each selection, and the original texts on facing pages, How to Lose Yourself is a concise guide to a transformative idea. Jay L. Garfield is the Doris Silbert Professor of Philosophy and Buddhist Studies at Smith College and a visiting professor of Buddhist philosophy at Harvard Divinity School. He is the author of Losing Ourselves: Learning to Live without a Self (Princeton). Maria Heim is the George Lyman Crosby 1896 & Stanley Warfield Crosby Professor in Religion at Amherst College. She is the author of Words for the Heart: A Treasury of Emotions from Classical India (Princeton). Robert H. Sharf is the D. H. Chen Distinguished Professor of Buddhist Studies in the Department of East Asian Languages and Cultures at the University of California, Berkeley, where he chairs the Numata Center for Buddhist Studies. He is the author of Coming to Terms with Chinese Buddhism. "In this important and rich book, Jay Garfield, Maria Heim, and Robert Sharf have translated and framed core Buddhist texts on why dismantling notions of the self is at the very heart of Buddhism. But this book is not only for Buddhists. It is a revolutionary collection about liberating ourselves from the grip of selfishness and realizing our true personhood."-Roshi Joan Halifax, Zen Buddhist teacher and author of Being with Dying "How to Lose Yourself is a wonderful book exploring the different ways Buddhist teachings help us to understand ourselves as well as our non-self. The translations make for an enjoyable read and reveal how to let go so that we can lead a wise and compassionate life."-Martine Batchelor, meditation teacher and author of The Spirit of the Buddha "This excellent selection of classical Asian texts with introductions by leading scholars offers the best entry point to appreciating the Buddhist teaching of 'no-self.'"-Evan Thompson, author of Why I Am Not a Buddhist "Engaging and significant."---David Lorimer, Paradigm Explorer

Susan Sauvé Meyer is professor of philosophy at the University of Pennsylvania and a specialist in Greek and Roman philosophy. Her books include Ancient Ethics: An Introduction and Aristotle on Moral Responsibility. More than 100,000 people around the world have enrolled in her open-access online courses on ancient philosophy. Aristotle's essential guide to human flourishing-the Nicomachean Ethics-in a lively new abridged translation Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics is one of the greatest guides to human flourishing ever written, but its length and style have left many readers languishing. How to Flourish is a carefully abridged version of the entire work in a highly readable and colloquial new translation by Susan Sauvé Meyer that makes Aristotle's timeless insights about how to lead a good life more engaging and accessible than ever before. For Aristotle, flourishing involves becoming a good person through practice, and having a life of the mind. To that end, he draws vivid portraits of virtuous and vicious characters and offers sound practical advice about everything from eating and drinking to managing money, controlling anger, getting along with others, and telling jokes. He also distinguishes different kinds of wisdom that are essential to flourishing and offers an unusual perspective on how to appreciate our place in the universe and our relation to the divine. Omitting Aristotle's digressions and repetitions and overly technical passages, How to Flourish provides connecting commentary that allows readers to follow the continuous line of his thought; it also features the original Greek on facing pages. The result is an inviting and lively version of an essential work about how to flourish and lead a good life. "As approachable, humane and personal an Aristotle as one could hope for. . . a triumph."---Peter Jones, Classics For All "This is a splendid introduction to Aristotle's conception of happiness, in his own words. The translation is at once elegant, readable, and precise, and Susan Sauvé Meyer's crisp prefatory explanations highlight and clarify the essence of Aristotle's argument at each stage. The abbreviated text lets Aristotle's train of thought stand out clearly, and the omitted parts-digressions and the like-are briefly summarized. It is a remarkable achievement."-David Konstan, author of The Origin of Sin: Greece and Rome, Early Judaism and Christianity