Meditations

Why I'd hand it to you

Marcus Aurelius was a Roman emperor, and these are his private notes to himself, never meant for publication. Again and again he reminds himself to stay calm, do his duty, treat people fairly and accept what he can't control. Nearly two thousand years later, it still speaks to anyone carrying responsibility. Pick your translation carefully; the Gregory Hays version is modern and easy to read. Know that it isn't a structured book. It repeats itself constantly and has no narrative, which frustrates some readers. It works best read a few entries at a time, not straight through.

— Matt Jordan