I think this rating fits based on the fact that the book was essentially a personal collection of notes that were never published. It is important to keep this in mind before reading it. The book describes most of the key principles of Stoic philosophy - many times. This can be repetitive, but as I said, it was not intended to be a book for the public.

I noticed some unstable arguments and some logical errors, but I can't be too critical - the book does not attempt to prove anything or convince anyone. Also, some parts were unclear or not understandable at all, likely due to the translation or the choice of words and syntax.

Marcus gives the impression of a person who is in a balanced mental state, living harmoniously and accepting whatever life has to give or take away. He is thoughtful and often observes the various inconsistencies of our habits. The ideal way of life is described in detail through his writing, which focuses inwardly, on the rational part of the mind.

Throughout the book, Aurelius presents his beliefs about the issues of life and death. I found it interesting that in these notes there are elements of minimalism, altruism/collectivism, fatalism, and even agnosticism. Indeed, there are so many ideologies, and they are mostly in agreement with each other. Key principles of Eastern philosophy can also be observed. His observations on life, nature, and the universe will certainly make you reflect on the state of things, your attitude, your belief system, and your actions and reactions to almost everything.

For some, "To Himself" may be a self-help book from an earlier era, while for others it may be an intellectual stimulus that provides new questions or topics for reflection. Personally, I found the latter to be true for me as it was interesting to read the thoughts of a person (in his middle age) who loved philosophy.

Despite being an emperor, Aurelius rarely mentions war and the governance of the Roman Empire. He focuses on life in general. Another interesting thing for me was the influence that ancient philosophers such as Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle had on Marcus. This is an element that is present in all these notes. Stoicism is, after all, a philosophy of the ethics of virtue.