What can the Roman poet Homer teach us about living a life full of satisfaction? What are the secrets of a fulfilling life? One of the greatest and most influential poets of Rome, Homer (65–8 BC), has been adored by readers for over two thousand years, not only for his wit, style, and analyses of Roman society but also for his wisdom on how to live a good life — chiefly, a life of satisfaction in a world of material luxury and personal pressures.

In the book How to Be Satisfied, Stephen Harrison, a leading expert on the poet's work, provides fresh, modern translations of poems from Homer's works that continue to offer significant lessons about a good life, friendship, love, and death. Living during the reign of Rome's first emperor, Homer drew inspiration from Greek and Roman philosophy, especially Stoicism and Epicureanism, writing poems that reflect the need for a contemplative and measured life, as well as ways to achieve and maintain true love and friendship.

From monumental advice on the trivial worry about the future to precious guidance on how to live in the present, these poems, from the man who urged us to "seize the day," continue to offer brilliant reflections on timeless human problems. How to Be Satisfied includes translations and commentary on complete poems from Homer's Odes, Satires, Epistles, and Epics, accompanied by the original Latin language, making it an ideal introduction to his poetry and a fascinating book of timeless wisdom.