Seneca - On the Shortness of Life: Adapted for the Contemporary Reader cover art

Seneca - On the Shortness of Life: Adapted for the Contemporary Reader

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Seneca - On the Shortness of Life: Adapted for the Contemporary Reader

By: Lucius Seneca, James Harris
Narrated by: Scott R. Smith
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About this listen

De Brevitate Vitae (frequently referred to as On the Shortness of Life in English) is a moral essay written by Seneca the Younger, a Roman Stoic philosopher, to his father-in-law Paulinus. The philosopher brings up many Stoic principles on the nature of time, namely that men waste much of it in meaningless pursuits. According to the essay, nature gives man enough time to do what is really important and the individual must allot it properly. In general, time can be best used in the study of philosophy, according to Seneca.

This essay has been carefully adapted into a contemporary form.

©2016 James Harris (P)2016 James Harris Ethics & Morality Personal Development Personal Success Philosophy Political Science Politics & Government Stoicism Classics

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Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

“They lose the day in expectation of the night, and the night in fear of the dawn.”

Any additional comments?

Recommend having a notepad on standby - to capture key points or quotes

Timeless, thoughtful & quote rich

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Easy listening. Great translation. Very modern English. Highly recommended introduction to the works of one of the greatest philosophers of all time. Time is the theme. Life is short. This essay is worth ten modern time management books.

Great translation. Very modern English.

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I was put onto Seneca by a friend and really enjoyed sticking a toe in the waters of Roman philosophy!

The narrator was good, and the most important takeaway was its continued relevance in the 21st century.

The updated language really helped get the messages across.

Short but powerful stuff

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This was a captivating book with lots to consider, and the narrative was excellent. I highly recommend it!

excellent narration

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Ever fresh, ever relevant. The contemporary adaptation makes it even more accessible to the modern listener.

Phenomenal

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