The One Book Everyone Should Read
Reading is one of the most powerful exercises on the planet, as it’s an opportunity to get inside the mind of some of the most intelligent individuals to grace this earth. And as Leo Tolstoy explains about those who don’t read,
“I cannot understand how some people can live without communicating with the wisest people who ever lived on earth.”
Learning from the world's best is an honor, and one so few take advantage of. But you can improve your life by reading just a couple of books a year.
But with thousands of them out there, it can be difficult to distinguish what books will be best for you. And I can’t give you that answer. We’re all going through our own situations and have certain things we’re trying to improve on, so there isn’t a right answer.
But I do believe that there is one book that everyone that every individual should read, and that's Meditations by Marcus Aurelius.
What’s unique about Meditations is it wasn't meant to be a book. It’s made up of the daily passages, letters, and words of wisdom written by Marcus to himself each morning and night. They were the guiding principles by which he was trying to live by.
And Meditations allow us to get inside the mind of one of the most influential people to ever grace this earth.
And over 2,000 years later, the advice, practices, and ideas in Meditations are more relevant than ever before, with the book centered around three disciplines:
- The discipline of perception → Having absolute objectivity
- The discipline of action → Doing right to ourselves and others
- The discipline of will → Attitude to things not within our control
And through these major themes and disciplines, Marcus offers advice and strategies to handle the struggles we’re going through daily.
And below are some of my favorite quotes, practices, and themes from the book to give you a little more insight.
- Premeditation of evil
When you wake up in the morning, tell yourself: The people I deal with today will be meddling, ungrateful, arrogant, dishonest, jealous and surly. They are like this because they cannot tell good from evil. But I have seen the beauty of good, and the ugliness of evil, and have recognized that the wrongdoer has a nature related to my own — not of the same blood or birth, but the same mind, and possessing a share of the divine. And so none of them can hurt me. No one can implicate me in ugliness. Nor can I feel angry at my relative, or hate him. We were born to work together like feet, hands and eyes, like the two rows of teeth, upper and lower. To obstruct each other is unnatural. To feel anger at someone, to turn your back on him: these are obstructions.” 2.1
The world is unpredictable, yet we expect things to constantly go our way. It’s irrational and a perfect way to set ourselves up for frustration and anger.
But a great way to reduce negative emotions is to expect things to go bad. A practice the stoics called the Premeditatio Malorum, “the premeditation of evil,” or “the premeditation of future adversity.”
When you tell yourself you’ll encounter a bad driver, a rude customer, or an unfortunate event, you won’t be as surprised when that event does take place.
And as Seneca wrote, “That which has been long expected is more gentle when it arrives.” So expect misfortune to be thrown at you. Not because life is against you, but because it’s a fee of being human.
2. You determine what harms you
“Choose not to be harmed-and you won’t feel harmed. Don’t feel harmed — and you haven't been” — 4.7
“Nothing that goes on in anyone else’s mind can harm you. Nor can shifts and changes in the world around you. Then where is harm to be found? In your capacity to see. Stop doing that and everything will be fine” — 4.39
“You don’t have to turn this into something. It doesn’t have to upset you. Things can’t shape our decisions by themselves.” — 6.52
“External things are not the problem. It’s your assessment of them. Which you can erase right now.” — 8.47
Perception is everything. An event, a person, or a thing can not harm you, only your perception and attachment to the event can.
Marcus Aurelius and the Stoics explained that nothing in life is “good” or “bad.” Everything is neutral and indifferent. Things become “bad” when we attach an emotional label to them. When we allow it to harm and affect us.
For example, a car crash is not a bad thing, it becomes bad when you view it as harmful. It’s an event and nothing more. You make it more than what it is by letting it affect you more than it has to. And that is all determined by how you perceive the event.
3. Is this essential?
“ ‘If you seek tranquility, do less.’ Or do what’s essential… because most of what we say and do is not essential. If you can eliminate it, you’ll have more time, and more tranquility. Ask yourself at every moment, ‘Is this necessary’” — 4.24
Our time on this earth is short. So why would you spend it worrying about things that don’t matter or doing trivial, unimportant tasks?
If you only get 4,000 weeks on this earth, why not spend it doing what is important and fulfilling to you? Spending time with friends and loved ones. Working toward your purpose. Taking care of your health. Helping move this world forward.
Our time is finite, so use it like you don’t have much left.
4. Everything is a fortune
“It’s unfortunate that this has happened. No it’s fortunate that this has happened and I’ve remained unharmed by it — not shattered by the present or frightened of the future… So remember this principle when something threatens to cause you pain: the thing itself was no misfortune at all; to endure it and prevail is a great fortune.” — 4.49a
Getting fired or getting in an argument with your partner are not misfortunes, they’re exactly the opposite. But it’s hard to take that perspective. So how can we view something that brings us physical or mental pain as something that is helping us?
By viewing each thing, good and bad, as an opportunity to learn and grow.
Getting fired is an opportunity to face some adversity and find a new career path or job.
Getting into an argument is an opportunity to practice patience, accept responsibility, or strengthen your relationship, but only if you try to.
They only turn into misfortunes if you let them. It’s all in how you see things.
5. Accept what happens
“To love only what happens, what was destined. No greater harmony.” — 7.57
“The impediment to action advances action. What stands in the way becomes the way.” — 5.20
The stoics had a key concept that they lived by called Amor Fati, “a love of one’s fate.” It’s to accept and love everything that happens to you because it’s good for you. And without it all, the good and the bad, you wouldn’t be half the person you are today.
So accept the hardships, the struggle, and the obstacles in your life. Accept that they happened and work with them, not against them.
Now if you enjoyed or got some value from those themes, ideas, and quotes, Marcus Aurelius offers many more in Meditations and I highly encourage you to check it out.
Thank you for reading and let me know what book recommendations you have in the comments below.
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Keep Chasing Greatness.
