Marcus Aurelius – Meditations: Adapted for the Contemporary Reader
Original price was: $19.99.$17.99Current price is: $17.99.
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 to allow for easy reading. ✓
ENJOY
From the Publisher
Human Authored is a project of the Authors Guild that allows an author to certify that their book is created by a human. “Human Authored” means that the text of the book was written by a human and not generated by AI.
JAMES HARRIS
The original creator of the first modern, and best-selling version of: Meditations in 2016.
Born in London, England, 1986. James possesses a strong imagination, a keen perception for mathematics, and loves his native language of English, all of which were acquired through his family members.
His mother imparted her creativity as a trained artist graduating from the Chiswick Polytechnic, which also derived from his grandmother, who worked at the College of Arms creating heraldry for aristocrats and royalty.
His uncle: a classically trained pianist, organist, councillor, alderman, founder of a church, and engineer working for The Ministry of Defence, gave great depth to his love of language and I.T. skills, and was an immense archetype of a godly spirit.
His father: an RAF officer and Red Cross centre manager; his grandfather: a Royal Navy inspector; and his great-grandfather: a British Army officer, have contributed to a love of logic and orderliness.
James studied electrical engineering in college, and achieved his BA (Hons) in Business & Finance; all the while in his spare time he stripped engines and shipped them internationally. He created an app for the iPhone in 2012, became an IT engineer for Fujitsu, and then trained as an accountant at PwC London. His entry scores were in the top one percent of the world for mathematics, logic, pattern, and spatial recognition. He then worked as a financial auditor at Goldman Sachs on the FX & EM desks.
Yet his passion for words, historic texts, and a need for reconciliation, led him to rewrite classics in the evenings; this was so he could understand them better and to make them coherent and accessible to the modern reader.
His ancestry dating back in England to the times of the Roman Empire, made him feel he had a spiritual and genetic connection to the great emperor Marcus Aurelius, and so, he read and rewrote The Meditations in 2016 which became a best seller and still is today. This, as a consequence, has touched many lives, reopened and led the world to discuss Stoicism.
Several years later, almost every notable person has mentioned Stoicism at one time or another, which has also led to a proliferation of those seeking to emulate the work of James Harris; however, it will forever stand that his edition was the first of its kind.
Much of James’ work centres around philosophy, strategy, tactics, warfare and action; yet there is much more to come beyond being an author; when the time is right, the moves will proceed, and their execution will be precise.
Publisher : CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform (November 7, 2016)
Language : English
Paperback : 211 pages
ISBN-10 : 1539952290
ISBN-13 : 978-1539952299
Item Weight : 9.6 ounces
Dimensions : 5.06 x 0.48 x 7.81 inches
12 reviews for Marcus Aurelius – Meditations: Adapted for the Contemporary Reader
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Original price was: $19.99.$17.99Current price is: $17.99.
Angela –
Language that was resonating with me more…
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.
Mohammad Q. –
Fantastic Read
The book itself is great and very insightful, by far one of my favorite reads. A fun fact about this book is that it was never meant to be a book for other readers, but it was actually a private journal/ diary written by Marcus Aurelius himself
Doy Virginia –
Much more accessible to a modern reader
I’ve always been interested in Roman history. And one of the wonders of books, is that you can pick one up and read the thoughts of someone who lived 2000 years ago.I do not think I need to add to the many comments here praising the wisdom of Marcus Aurelius. I do want to say that it’s great to have his ideas presented in a more “accessible” way for modern readers.I have a copy of “The Great Books” circa 1950 of “Meditations”. And while purists may feel that having it EXACTLY in the way it was written, they also need to realize that “getting the thought across” needs to evolve. And that can be done without destroying the original thought.I’m a pretty well-read person. But reading the “classic” translations of this (and other) authors can be daunting. In the case of my “classic” copy of Meditations, I increasing found all those “thee’s” and “thou’s” and “wheretofore’s ” off-putting. I greatly appreciate the work of James Harris in modifying this archaic usage. It makes it much easier for people today to understand.And for “Latin purists” out there—even in Marcus’s time, his manner of speech and writing was considered “high-flown” and getting a bit long in the tooth. The Latin of the 2nd century was already changing, and in the next two centuries would change even more. (That’s how French, Spanish, and Italian became the languages that they are today).The book is nicely bound with a heavy black cover. I also liked that it was well-wrapped and shipped in a box, instead of just some padded shipping envelope.
Will Smith –
Good Book
Good Book
Dan & Jaz –
Life advice from a Roman
A truly gifted man with major life experience.This book lays out his views on what life is, what other people mean to you, and how to govern your responses. He has a clear, concise code that he lived by. Anyone could gain from reading this modest length book.
Dilan C. –
A Transformative Journey Through Stoicism
I recently picked up Marcus Aurelius’s Meditations, and it has truly been a game-changer for me. This philosophy book is like having a wise mentor at your fingertips, offering profound insights that really make you stop and think. Each page serves up a feast of ideas that challenge your perspective on life, encouraging you to embrace resilience and mindfulness.Aurelius’s thoughts on acceptance and personal responsibility have helped me shift my viewpoint dramatically. He provides practical wisdom that teaches you how to navigate life’s ups and downs with grace. I’ve discovered valuable tricks for cultivating happiness on my own terms, such as focusing on what I can control and letting go of what I can’t.This book isn’t just an intellectual exercise; it’s a guide for living a more fulfilled life. If you’re seeking food for thought that inspires reflection and growth, I can’t recommend it enough. Dive in, and you might just find a new way to approach the world! 📚✨
David Hoppe –
Great condition
Almost looks new considering it’s used.
Amazon Customer –
What can you say about an already wonderful classic. Great read
Ricardo –
Inspiring and motivating book at a good price
Antonio Villavicencio –
Excelente libro!! De los mejores que he leído en mi vida y la traducción me parece adecuada, no es tan difícil de seguir como las traducciones en inglés antiguo de las versiones gratuitas
Excellent –
Fast delivery
Ton Van Haeren –
Thank you!!