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Marcus Aurelius
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Meditations: A New Translation Paperback – November 21, 2020

by Marcus Aurelius (Author), Gregory Hays (Author)
4.3 out of 5 stars 1,888 ratings
with code RS4LQUPJ if you qualify Terms  with code RS4LQUPJ if you qualify Terms  
Marcus Aurelius Antoninus (a.d. 121–180) succeeded his adoptive father as emperor of Rome in a.d. 161—and Meditations remains one of the greatest works of spiritual and ethical reflection ever written. With a profound understanding of human behavior, Marcus provides insights, wisdom, and practical guidance on everything from living in the world to coping with adversity to interacting with others. Consequently, the Meditations have become required reading for statesmen and philosophers alike, while generations of ordinary readers have responded to the straightforward intimacy of his style. In Gregory Hays’s new translation—the first in a generation—Marcus’s thoughts speak with a new immediacy: never before have they been so directly and powerfully presented.>
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  1. Print length
    125 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publication date
    November 21, 2020
  4. Dimensions
    8.5 x 0.29 x 11 inches
  5. ISBN-13
    979-8569121441
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Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B08NVJBM6V
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Independently published
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ November 21, 2020
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 125 pages
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 979-8569121441
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 12.3 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 8.5 x 0.29 x 11 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.3 out of 5 stars 1,888 ratings

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Marcus Aurelius

Marcus Aurelius

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Marcus Aurelius Antoninus was born to an upper-class Roman family in A.D. 121 and was later adopted by the future emperor Antoninus Pius, whom he succeeded in 161. His reign was marked by a successful campaign against Parthia, but was overshadowed in later years by plague, an abortive revolt in the eastern provinces, and the deaths of friends and family, including his co-emperor Lucius Verus. A student of philosophy from his earliest youth, he was especially influenced by the first-century Stoic thinker Epictetus. His later reputation rests on his Meditations, written during his later years and never meant for formal publication. He died in 180, while campaigning against the barbarian tribes on Rome’s northern frontier.

Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
1,888 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book's insights wise and consider it an essential read. The translation receives mixed feedback, with some finding it excellent while others say it's unreadable. The design of the book receives negative feedback, with one customer describing it as poorly made.

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13 customers mention "Insight"13 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's insights, describing it as a brilliant work by a profound thinker and an essential read, with one customer noting that its private notes and aphorisms are surprisingly familiar.

"...is based on an outdated understanding of the world, the practices advocated are still sound...." Read more

"Great words, cheap printing." Read more

"...His private notes and aphorisms are surprisingly familiar and accessable to this modern reader, no doubt due to the excellent job of the translator...." Read more

"...gem and would be of interest to anyone who likes Roman history, Stoic philosophy, self-improvement, or has an interest in human nature and the human..." Read more

9 customers mention "Readability"9 positive0 negative

Customers find the book excellent to read, with one describing it as an amazing literary gem.

"...The introduction is a worthy and informative read. I enjoyed reading it thoroughly. This translation is highly recommended." Read more

"...The Meditations are an absolutely amazing literary gem and would be of interest to anyone who likes Roman history, Stoic philosophy, self-improvement..." Read more

"...of the pillars of Stoicism, is in my opinion one of the most important books ever written—easily in my top 10 must-read and re-read books of a..." Read more

"Brings worthy perspective to the human experience. Worth reading and re-reading to more fully understand the messages being conveyed. Timeless." Read more

20 customers mention "Translation quality"9 positive11 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the translation of the book, with some finding it excellent while others describe it as unreadable.

"...Easier to understand, but, is it the correct meaning, and do I get the proper understanding? Don't sweat it. This is not going on your final grade...." Read more

"...This translation however is quite challenging and stilted and likely reflects a faithful translation to the language and not the ideas." Read more

"...private notes and aphorisms are surprisingly familiar and accessable to this modern reader, no doubt due to the excellent job of the translator...." Read more

"...The text is also super tiny and crammed onto the pages and just has a generally crappy vibe which is why it is so cheap...." Read more

5 customers mention "Design"0 positive5 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the book's design, with one customer describing it as poorly made and another noting the ugly print.

"...the pages and just has a generally crappy vibe which is why it is so cheap...." Read more

"...But I downloaded it to my Oasis, and it looks like garbage...." Read more

"This thing is gigantic and ugly. I thought I was getting something completely different when it comes to book covers...." Read more

"Between every book starting with the word bOOK and other poor designs, I would choose another version to buy." Read more

A decent sized book... for an 8-foot tall Sasquatch
1 out of 5 stars
A decent sized book... for an 8-foot tall Sasquatch
This review is for this particular print, and not the Greg Hays translation. I was very much looking forward to receiving this book based on positive reviews (which I have not read). When I opened the package I was quite preplexed: Think back to your childhood, and recall the largest coloring book that you owned. Now imagine trying to read that book with a wingspan basically as wide as your shoulders. That is how large this book is. To be fair, the dimensions are listed, but in counterpoint I never thought I'd need to check its size on the off-chance that it was printed on a press previously used for world atlases. I included a picture to show just how ridiculous it is, in the hopes that others are spared this oversized embarrassment of a print run.
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Top reviews from the United States

  • R. M. Holmes
    5.0 out of 5 stars good translation
    Reviewed in the United States on January 6, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    I will be reading this over and over again until the final day of life. Thank you for your service in rendering this version.
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  • Don Smith
    5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best books I've ever read
    Reviewed in the United States on July 6, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    The most powerful man at that time,was also the wisest.
    You seldom encounter kindness,goodness and wisdom together in anyone.
    Especially a Roman emperor.
    I treasure this book.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Joshua E. Winslow
    4.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful underlying work, overly faithful translation
    Reviewed in the United States on March 9, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    I can’t say enough about the philosophical content. While a lot of it is based on an outdated understanding of the world, the practices advocated are still sound. This translation however is quite challenging and stilted and likely reflects a faithful translation to the language and not the ideas.
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  • Itchy and Scratchy
    5.0 out of 5 stars Translation. Hard to know what is precise and accurate.
    Reviewed in the United States on September 12, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    Read from several historians that this translation captures more of the intent and meaning than most. Easier to understand, but, is it the correct meaning, and do I get the proper understanding? Don't sweat it. This is not going on your final grade. It DID allow me to NOT have the issue most deliver where there is something confusion, portions in parentheses or italics to give a literal translation when I do not know the language's syntax. My best example is Italian, noun then adjective. Bibi cafe means 'drink: coffee' and is a popular enough soft drink... but translated into English as "drink coffee" (a verb).
    This guy takes pains to be better at current modern meanings and in a decade or three may be as helpless as those older translations from the proverbial dawn of modernity.
    7 people found this helpful
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  • Stringer Bell
    3.0 out of 5 stars The format is very poor. Find a better version.
    Reviewed in the United States on February 19, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    Great words, cheap printing.
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  • Shang Chi
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent read
    Reviewed in the United States on January 30, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    What more can i say about this book that hasn't been said over the past 2,000 years? It's a brilliant work by a profound thinker. His private notes and aphorisms are surprisingly familiar and accessable to this modern reader, no doubt due to the excellent job of the translator. The introduction is a worthy and informative read. I enjoyed reading it thoroughly. This translation is highly recommended.
    4 people found this helpful
    Helpful
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  • Les Fenderpaul
    5.0 out of 5 stars Manage Your Expectations
    Reviewed in the United States on August 8, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    This is a print-on-demand product. It's about the same paper quality and printing as you'd get if you printed it yourself on a laser. It IS perfectly bound though, which you can't do at home. I think of it more like a workbook that I'm going to take notes in and hilite. Its size makes it comfortable to write in. I wasn't impressed with it, but I'm not disappointed either. And anyone, the obstacle is the way.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Jeff Grundman
    4.0 out of 5 stars Better than it seems
    Reviewed in the United States on February 13, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Here we have Marcus talking to himself. His musings are extremely repetitive, always returning to the same lessons he feels he needs to remind himself of again and again. And yet, I cannot help but believe that I am a better person for having read it. Perhaps I needed these reminders as well.
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Top reviews from other countries

  • santiago
    5.0 out of 5 stars top
    Reviewed in Germany on October 25, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    top
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  • Mao
    5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful
    Reviewed in Italy on November 9, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    Loved It. Every single Word.

    Marcus shows us the right way to be humble in life, how to survive and how to quit raging at yourself
    Report
  • leno lambert borges
    5.0 out of 5 stars A piece of eternity learning
    Reviewed in Brazil on December 20, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Read this two times; always new and a mindset advice.
    My life, habits, and my overview of the world surely change because of this book
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  • michel
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great book, great translation, a must-have
    Reviewed in Canada on May 1, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    This is the electronic transcription of the excellent translation by Gregory Hays that was published in hardcover can still be purchased back in 2002 and it is a gorgeous book, very artistically made on all regards, from choice of fonts, to page colour and jacket, this one is a piece of art that should be in everyone's library.
    The electronic version will provide none of these above advantages, except for the translation, which is absolutely amazing in its simplicity and straightforwardness. I am sure that Marcus Aurelius would have approved! It is also a must-buy for anyone with a kindle.
    As of Marcus Aurelius, he wrote one of the most profound, touching books that was ever produced.
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  • Lucas
    5.0 out of 5 stars A classic.
    Reviewed in Spain on November 12, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    You can’t go wrong
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