Book Report
Stoicism prescribes some useful tools in the ever-present challenge baked into life as a human being: The delicate art of becoming, and remaining, reasonably content.
Ancient History
Before I read A Guide to the Good life, I was quite skeptical of claims like that. I looked askance at Stoicism:
First, because it’s an ancient philosophy and even the smartest and most prescient of iron age people were plainly wrong about almost everything (e.g., the most basic-ass science); and
Second, because Stoicism seemed to me, like Libertarianism, a tool for the “pull yourself up by your bootstraps” crowd to justify the existence of power and wealth, disproportionately, in the hands of a privileged few.
That was a less than nuanced perspective.
I was cognizant of my simplistic understanding of Stoicism. And I generally decline to reject, summarily, obviously well-thought out ideas. So I long ago placed Stoicism on my list of ideas to investigate.
Then, two events pulled Stoicism from the back, and up to the front burner of my mind. I had drinks with my friend and law school classmate, Sean, who’s a convincing advocate for Stoic ideas (both in word and in deed). Shortly after that meeting, and quite serendipitously it seems, my favorite public intellectual, Sam Harris, recommended A Guide to the Good Life during a podcast conversation he had with William B. Irvine, the author.
So here we are.
Stoic Truths
It’s true, yes, that Stoicism has become popular in recent years among Silicon Valley tech bros which, standing alone, should give pause to any thoughtful would-be adopter. (One imagines a brawny dickhead named Brock tumbling out of his Model S in Palo Alto, and pausing before entering Starbucks just long enough to tell the homeless guy out front that he’ll be alright if he just “leans into” his problems and applies some “grit.”)
It’s also true that Stoicism-related ideas, much like Libertarian ideas, appeal suspiciously, and almost exclusively, to (mostly white and mostly male) individuals who already enjoy relatively high social status.
It’s true, finally, that Stoicism is exceedingly susceptible to cooption by powerful people in their relentless quest to find a moral justification for having so much while so many have so little.
Still, I Was Wrong
Acknowledging where I’ve been wrong is generally an unpleasant experience. But it’s also a healthy experience for those of us who are committed more to good ideas and truth than we are to bad ideas and comforting lies. Fact is, before I read A Guide to the Good Life, my understanding of Stoicism - even its basics - was incomplete. My conception of the philosophy was marred in some ways by stereotypes and misunderstanding.
Yes, there is much in Stoic philosophy that’s ripe for misuse by the shittiest among us, and it deserves criticism on that basis. The philosophy, moreover, really is an iron age philosophy, born of pre-Enlightenment minds. Some Stoic ideas are of questionable value while others deserve nothing less than full-on mockery.
More than anything else, I object, vigorously, to any public policy that premises, in any way, citizens’ access to resources on the idea that citizens will be, or should be, virtuous. Stoicism (at least as it manifests in modern tech bro self-help books) seems to be so premised. Stoicism, like neo-Libertarian individualism, is not a substitute for sound public policy.
Still, we’d do ourselves a disservice were we unthinkingly to throw all of Stoicism’s babies out with the filthy bathwater of iron age ignorance and neo-Libertarian senselessness.
A Guide to the Good Life presents the value that Stoicism offers in a package that’s as witty and concise as it is edifying. Critically, the author’s take on the philosophy stands on the solid footing of scientific reality - it doesn’t require the reader to accept any ancient, implausible metaphysical claims.
The book is also very practical. It’s less a philosophy textbook than it is a user manual. There certainly is some history and theory in there. Primarily, though, the author makes a convincing argument that:
There’s practical value in developing and honing an explicit philosophy of life, and then conducting oneself in a manner consistent with that philosophy.
There’s practical value in striving to be virtuous.
Stoicism isn’t necessarily about being “stoic.” Rather, it’s a cluster of mental techniques and perspectives on life which, if practiced, can help individuals experience fewer unpleasant emotions and behave virtuously.
Stoicism is as relevant in 2020 CE as it was in 10 CE.
Recommended
The author makes a strong case that there’s value is at least some Stoic techniques and perspectives.
In my view, the Stoic technique most worth practicing is negative visualization, which is, essentially, intentional cognitive reframing. Certainly, one need not study Stoicism to learn the value of techniques like that. Still, one would be hard pressed to find a more simple, comprehensive, and context driven description of those techniques than that logged on the pages of this book.
At a minimum, A Guide to the Good Life will be enjoyable to anyone with an open mind and an interest in distinguishing pseudo, pop-Stoicism from authentic Stoic principles. And in the meantime, the reader just might garner some useful ideas about getting happier, and staying that way longer. I know I did.
Enjoy.
