About the book
Seneca, the Roman Stoic who lived from about 5 BC to AD 65, addressed the title essay to his father-in-law Paulinus. Its argument is that people squander much of their time on meaningless pursuits, while nature gives each person enough for what truly matters if that time is allotted with care. Time is best spent, he holds, in the present moment and in the pursuit of an intentional, purposeful life. This selection is drawn from C.D.N. Costa's Penguin Classics translation of the Dialogues and Letters and adds two further essays, On Tranquility of Mind and Consolation to Helvia, on reason, morality and the art of living.
Mark Manson described it as a brief meditation on death and on what gives life its worth, and Ryan Holiday called its essays excellent, though he suggests beginning with Seneca's letters.
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This book has 6 recommendations
Ryan Holiday (Founder/Brass Check)
Seneca’s letters are the best place to start, but the essays in On the Shortness of Life are excellent as well.
Maria Popova (Founder/BrainPickings.org)
To remind ourselves of this profound failure, Maria, I, and at least six other guests in this book read and recommend On the Shortness of Life by Seneca.
Nick Janetakis (Founder/NickJanetakis.com)
I remember reading Seneca’s On the Shortness of Life which is filled with epic quotes and insights but one quote stuck with me, which is:
“People are frugal in guarding their personal property; but as soon as it comes to squandering time they are most wasteful of the one thing in which it is right to be stingy.”
This is so true. I’m generally pretty cheap when it comes to spending money but I’m also that guy who will spend 3 days planning out and building a custom desk instead of buying one.
However, after reading that quote, it woke me up to the reality that I’m going to die eventually and if I want to accomplish everything I want to accomplish then I should stop screwing around with my time.
Ola Olusoga (Co-founder/Populum)
Most philosophy books also fit my "favorite" bucket. One in particular that stands out for me is The Shortness of Life by Seneca.
John Craig (Owner/John Craig Media)
This is the book that I recommend to everybody. It's everything you will need to make it in life & business. It is by far a complete business self-motivational book all-in-one. The best thing is that it’s 2,000-year of time-tested wisdom.
Mark Manson (Author)
A short rumination on death and what makes life worth living by probably the most famous stoic philosopher.
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Ryan Holiday, Maria Popova, Nick Janetakis, Ola Olusoga, John Craig, Mark Manson
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