Meditations is a series of personal writings by Marcus Aurelius, Roman Emperor from 161 to 180 AD, recording his private notes to himself and ideas on Stoic philosophy.
Marcus Aurelius wrote the 12 books of the Meditations as a source for his own guidance and self-improvement.
These books have been carefully adapted into modern English form to allow for easy listening.
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13 reviews for Amazon.com: Marcus Aurelius – Meditations: Adapted for the Contemporary Reader (Audible Audio Edition): Marcus Aurelius, James Harris, Gregory Allen Siders, James Harris: Books
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Angela –
While the original “Meditations” was written in a dense and sometimes archaic style, Harris’s version aims to translate Aurelius’s thoughts into language that was resonating with me more.
Harris updates the language of Aurelius’s reflections, replacing antiquated terms and structures with contemporary phrasing. This made the text easier to read as the original translation was challenging for me.
The adaptation focuses on clarity, ensuring that Aurelius’s ideas are not only preserved but also clearly communicated. I think this is especially helpful for readers new to Stoicism or philosophy in general.
Harris frames Aurelius’s wisdom within the context of modern life, connecting ancient Stoic principles to contemporary challenges such as stress, uncertainty, and the pursuit of happiness. This makes the teachings of “Meditations” more applicable to the day-to-day lives of readers.
The adaptation tends to be more concise than the original, with Harris sometimes summarizing or paraphrasing longer passages to maintain the flow and accessibility of the text.
I generally appreciate the adaptation for making “Meditations” more approachable without losing the essence of Aurelius’s thoughts. The modernized language and practical examples help me bridge the gap between ancient philosophy and contemporary concerns.
Readers often find that this version allows them to engage with Stoic philosophy in a way that feels relevant and immediately applicable to their own lives.
Jordan –
Fast delivery
A. Alan –
Statistically speaking, you’re not a man if you don’t think about the Roman Empire at least once a day. You don’t need to like, ponder its economics, the hierarchical structure in the domus, or even military tactics. You could just contemplate the indoor plumbing. Or the fashions of the Roman man. Something as simple as “Wait how far out WAS the rubicon?” is enough to qualify.
That said, getting this book is more likely to make you qualify as a man because you’ll be thinking about the empire ALL THE TIME NOW. You’re welcome.
West –
Anyone who has ever read Marcus Aurelius’ Meditations can tell you that the original translation is very hard to read. If you can whiz through Shakespeare with no issues, you’ll likely be okay with it. However it is quite a chore to read … and then re-read … the pages trying to figure out what exactly is being said. So much so that often I can only get through a few pages before I have to stop and take a break.
I was pretty excited to see a more modern translation available … at first I was afraid it might take away from the original message not to have a literal translation from Latin. Then I remembered that even the original translation from Latin was done years after the original text, which also was probably heavily translated into Latin.
Sadly, this is still a chore to read and understand. Maybe a little less so than the original text … but I feel like a much better job could have been done to make it more understandable without losing the original message and intent.
The biggest issue I have with this is the layout. It is terrible. The text fills the entire page from top to bottom and often is an entire block of text with no paragraphs or any kind of pleasing layout. As I got through the first few pages, I wondered which was worse … getting through the very old-fashioned language of the original edition … or getting through the slightly modernized language with the horrible layout of this edition. I may actually prefer the original edition.
It is as if someone printed this book as a word document on their computer and it didn’t quite match the size layout. There’s nothing else to say except it looks unappealing and amateur. As others have said, it also contains pretty obvious grammatical errors .. likely no editor went over this. It seems like a college book report that was done the evening before it was due.
The original copy of the book I had was the one with the black background and closeup of the Aurelius’s head from the horse statue. I think I slightly prefer that to this. It might have been cool to have a copy with annotations at the bottom which gave a brief summary of other people’s history whom Aurelius mentions. I found myself going to the internet to look up Sextus and other figures Aurelius mentions.
The content itself is fairly stunning. There is no doubt Aurelius was ahead of his time … and he seems to be a very disciplined and simple person. I find that it would be difficult to be a ruler of Rome in that day and forgo a lot of the luxuries of that position. At one point Aurelius mentions being happy with a plank and a sheet for a bed and not wearing his ‘outdoor’ clothes in the house.
Other lessons in humility, temperance, pride, anger, emotion, moderation, etc. show the reader an interesting flip side to many of the more interesting leaders of Rome … Caligula and Tiberius’ licentiousness … Nero’s greed … Julius Caesar’s lust of power, etc. I would put this book up there with Machiaveli and Tsun Tzu in terms of applicable life lessons. It is no wonder that Aurelius’ lessons are catching on today.
Overall, this is not the book I had hoped it would be. It has only slightly simplified the original translation … reading this book is still like putting a puzzle together. The layout is terrible and I probably would skip this edition. If you are absolutely stumped by the original translation, it might help you a bit … but don’t expect to pick this up and be able to have an enjoyable read from cover to cover. You’ll still need to work for these lessons.
Pinecone –
Whether you study philosophy or just want to examine another way to look at life, this book is something to read, re-read, and then read again. As you enter a different phases of your life, it takes on different meanings, and it is always useful.
Mikelleher –
Excelente libro!! De los mejores que he leÃdo en mi vida y la traducción me parece adecuada, no es tan difÃcil de seguir como las traducciones en inglés antiguo de las versiones gratuitas
Angela –
An Enduring Guide to Inner Peace: A Review of Marcus Aurelius’s Meditations
“Meditations” by the Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius is not a book in the traditional sense, but a private journal of self-reflection, philosophical exercises, and Stoic principles. Written not for publication but for personal guidance, this remarkable text has transcended two millennia to become one of the most beloved and influential works of philosophy ever written. Far from a dry academic treatise, Meditations offers a profound and intensely practical guide to living a good, meaningful, and tranquil life.
The book’s appeal lies in its raw, unvarnished honesty. We see a man, burdened with the immense responsibility of ruling the Roman Empire, grappling with the same universal struggles that plague us all: anger, frustration, the inevitability of death, the impermanence of things, and the need to find virtue in a chaotic world. Aurelius writes with a quiet urgency, reminding himself to remain calm in the face of adversity, to treat others with kindness and justice, and to focus only on what is within his control—his thoughts, his actions, and his character.
Excellent –
Inspiring and motivating book at a good price
Fredo Astacio –
Good Book
Gerald Alcorn –
Great read ,! Definitely recommend!!!!
Will Smith –
Nicely translated, digestible but not over-simplified. With any translation, the original words and how it was written carry some weight and I think that is maintained. Yes, some of the sentences do seem to run on… there is a stream of consciousness feeling as you read at times, but that is how Marcus Aurelius wrote from what I can tell looking at other translations, and it keeps you engaged and thinking about what you read.
Stoic lessons are meant to be contemplated and reviewed, not memorized as bullet points. I’m not ripping on any other translations, but the handful of reviews that talk about formatting, grammatical errors or poor translation – I do not at all find that to be the case.
WorldTravelr –
This is wisdom that is good for practising living a good life. Being the private thoughts of the Emperor this book gives a perspective that is different from other philosophers of the time.
I recommend this as it is solid, natural and a good way to give yourself some foundations for being a good human, living a good life.
WorldTravelr –
A friend recommended, nice read. Few short pages before bed, or after waking up.