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Short books to read when you’re overwhelmed

Understanding the World's Greatest Philosopher

Aristotle

'John Sellars excels at writing short books for a general audience on ancient philosophy. . . A great way into one of the greatest philosophers of all time' Nigel Warburton, Five Books 
 
Why has Aristotle had such an astounding influence on the world? What are his key ideas? What can he still teach us today? 
 
The Lyceum in Athens, now a ruin, has a claim to be the most significant place in human history. It is the site of Aristotle's school. Here the philosopher taught and discussed the answers to the deepest mysteries of the human condition, and changed the way we think. 
 
Today, it can be difficult to fully comprehend the staggering influence of Aristotle's lessons. Yet his observations about the world around him and his reflections on the nature of knowledge laid the foundations for all empirical science. His study of rational thought formed the basis of formal logic, the cornerstone of philosophical investigation. His examination of Greek city-states gave us political science, while his analysis of drama remains a mainstay of literature courses around the world. 
 
Acclaimed philosopher John Sellars takes us on a journey through Aristotle's thought, vividly bringing to life his key ideas, and demonstrating that the famous philosopher's capacity for curiosity continues to offer us all a vision of more fulfilled lives. The lessons of Aristotle, he shows, still have much to teach us today.

As Sellars says in this delightful little book, we should all aspire to know at least something about Aristotle's ideas and how they have shaped the way we think. I know he lived over two thousand years ago, but given just how much the greatest philosopher in history has influenced almost every aspect of human thought to this day, I fully agree. And this book does that job admirably.

Aristotle: Understanding the World's Greatest Philosopher is the latest book by John Sellars, who excels at writing short books for a general audience on ancient philosophy. For those of us not yet brave enough to embark on the Nicomachean Ethics, this 144-page book is a great way into one of the greatest philosophers of all time

Everyone should desire to know about Aristotle because his philosophy is a crucial foundation for ethics, science, logic, politics and aesthetics in the western tradition. This short book is a brilliantly clear introduction to the whole range of his thought.

Robert Eaglestone, author of Truth and Wonder: a Literary Introduction to Plato and Aristotle

John Sellars is a Reader in philosophy at Royal Holloway, University of London, a visiting Research Fellow at King's College London and a Member of Wolfson College, Oxford. He is the author of Lessons in Stoicism and The Fourfold Remedy. His books have been translated into over a dozen languages.

There is in Athens a rather plain ruin; a simple courtyard lined with fragments of wall. Yet, this little patch of land has a claim to be the most significant place in human history. It is the Lyceum, site of Aristotle's school: here the philosopher wandered, discussing his life's work with students, proposing answers to the mysteries of the human condition. 
 
Today, it can be difficult to fully comprehend the staggering influence of these lessons. Aristotle's observations about the world around him and his reflections on the nature of knowledge laid the foundations for all empirical science. His study of rational thought formed the basis of formal logic, the cornerstone of philosophical investigation. His examination of Greek city-states gave us political science, while his analysis of drama remains a mainstay of literature courses around the world. 
 
In lucid prose, acclaimed philosopher John Sellars takes us on a journey through Aristotle's thought, vividly bringing to life the key ideas, and demonstrating that the famous philosopher's capacity for curiosity continues to offer us all a vision of more fulfilled lives. Aristotle has lessons still to teach.

Epicurus and the Art of Happiness

The Fourfold Remedy

What do we really need in order to live a happy life? An Epicurean antidote to anxiety 
 
Over two thousand years ago the Greek philosopher Epicurus offered a seemingly simple answer: all we really want is pleasure. 
 
Today we tend to associate the word 'Epicurean' with the enjoyment of fine food and wine and decadent self-indulgence. But, as philosopher John Sellars shows, these things are a world away from the vision of a pleasant life developed by Epicurus and his followers who were more concerned with mental pleasures and avoiding pain. Their goal, in short, was a life of tranquillity. 
 
In this uplifting and elegant book, Sellars walks us through the history of Epicureanism from a private garden on the edge of ancient Athens to the streets of Rome, showing us how it can help us think anew about joy, friendship, nature and being alive in the world.

Not only an excellent introduction to the history of Epicurean philosophy, but also a helpful guide to facing the manifold anxieties of modern life

Many have sought therapeutic remedies for anxiety and insomnia as well as advice on how to feel happier. Some ancient Mediterranean answers to such psychological issues can be found in John Sellars's little book. . . Epicureanism can ease contemporary worries, Sellars believes; in some ways it resembles cognitive behavioural therapy

In this brief and eloquent book, John Sellars takes us through the basic arguments of Epicureanism with wonderful clarity, distilling the essence of an ancient philosophy that speaks with increasing urgency to our troubled times. It is an exemplary guide, and I recommend it enthusiastically to readers of all ages and all walks of life.

David Konstan, Professor of Classics, New York University

What do we really need in order to live a happy life? Over two thousand years ago the Greek philosopher Epicurus offered a seemingly simple answer: pleasure. All we really want is pleasure. 
 
Today we tend to associate the word 'Epicurean' with the enjoyment of fine food and wine and decadent self-indulgence. But, as philosopher John Sellars shows, these things are a world away from the vision of a pleasant life developed by Epicurus and his followers, who were more concerned with mental pleasures and avoiding pain. Their goal, in short, was a life of tranquillity. 
 
In vivid, elegant prose, Sellars walks us through the history of Epicureanism from a private garden on the edge of ancient Athens to the streets of ancient Rome, to explore a completely different way of thinking about the pleasures of friendship, our place in the world and the meaning of death. Inspiring and illuminating, The Fourfold Remedy draws on ancient wisdom that feels remarkably relevant today, offering a new way of thinking about what truly matters in our lives.

What Ancient Philosophers Teach Us about How to Live

Lessons in Stoicism

'Excellent. . . Sellars gives a lucid, easy-to-follow account of what Stoicism as a way of life amounts to, and how you might start to put it into practice' Nigel Warburton 
 
How can Stoicism inspire us to lead more enjoyable lives? 
 
In the past few years, Stoicism has been making a comeback. But what exactly did the Stoics believe? In Lessons in Stoicism, philosopher John Sellars weaves together the key ideas of the three great Roman Stoics -- Seneca, Epictetus and Marcus Aurelius -- with snapshots of their fascinating lives, to show us how their ideas can help us today. 
 
In vivid prose, Sellars shows how the works of these three Stoics have inspired readers ever since, speaking as they do to some of the perennial issues that face anyone trying to navigate their way through life. Their works, fundamentally, are about how to live -- how to understand one's place in the world, how to cope when things don't go well, how to manage one's emotions and how to behave towards others. 
 
Consoling and inspiring, Lessons in Stoicism is a deeply thoughtful guide to the philosophy of a good life.

Lessons in Stoicism distils key Stoic tenets, insofar as they can help contemporary readers, into under 100 small pages. Sellars achieves the task he sets himself admirably. In elegant, economical prose, he urges us to become better, happier people by focusing on rational decision-making

An enlightening explanation of how Stoic philosophy can help us in our lives. . . It can put us in control of our feelings, help us in adversity and guide us in our relationships with others. Sellars is ideally placed to offer these lessons in Stoicism as teacher, scholar and as a founding member of the group that teaches living like a Stoic for a week

Expertly and vividly John Sellars presents lessons in Stoicism that are strikingly relevant to modern life. From the great Roman Stoic authors he distills teaching on managing emotions, dealing with adversity, facing death, and making the best use of every hour and situation. This is a book that excellently shows why Stoicism is the philosophy for our time. I recommend it with enthusiasm

Professor A. A. Long, author of Epictetus: How to be Free

Excellent. . . Sellars gives a lucid, easy-to-follow account of what Stoicism as a way of life amounts to, and how you might start to put it into practice. . . To cover so much ground without merely skimming the surface requires real skill as a writer

Nigel Warburton, author of A Little History of Philosophy

What aspects of your life do you really control? What do you do when you cannot guarantee that things will turn out in your favour? And what can Stoicism teach us about how to live together? 
 
In the past few years, Stoicism has been making a comeback. But what exactly did the Stoics believe? In Lessons in Stoicism, philosopher John Sellars weaves together the key ideas of the three great Roman Stoics - Seneca, Epictetus and Marcus Aurelius - with snapshots of their fascinating lives, to show us how their ideas can help us today. 
 
In vivid prose, Sellars shows how the works of these three Stoics have inspired readers ever since, speaking as they do to some of the perennial issues that face anyone trying to navigate their way through life. Their works, fundamentally, are about how to live - how to understand one's place in the world, how to cope when things don't go well, how to manage one's emotions and how to behave towards others. 
 
Consoling and inspiring, Lessons in Stoicism is a deeply thoughtful guide to the philosophy of a valuable life.

John Sellars

We all know what it means to be ‘stoical’: to have a stiff upper lip, to hide or suppress one’s emotions, to be indifferent to the outside world. Many people might reasonably think that this doesn’t sound like a good way to live. Who would want to feel nothing? 
 
But what exactly is the difference between being 'stoic' and being a 'Stoic'? Are Stoics just naïve optimists? And is Stoicism really only for men? 
 
Stoicism Is Not What You Think offers an invigorating corrective to one of philosophy’s most popular and most misunderstood traditions. Here philosopher John Sellars debunks all the major myths and misconceptions foisted on Stoicism by critics – and sometimes admirers too – and firmly puts them to rest. With vivid examples and fresh interpretations of ancient Stoics, from Marcus Aurelius to Epictetus to Seneca, Sellars shows why Stoicism is not only perennially relevant but essential for navigating the complexities of modern life.

John Sellars

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