‘The inestimable Tom Hodgkinson once again contributes to our collective calm with this perfectly judged collection of philosophy.’ Emma Thompson

‘A great guide to philosophy and big ideas... it made me laugh out loud. It’s such a cheerful book, I read it in one go (well... two) and emerged refreshed and nourished.’ Dominic West

‘He knows that play is one of the best teachers, and this treatise on Stoicism is illuminating, engaging, informative and highly accessible.’ Irvine Welsh

There’s more to Stoicism than shrugging your shoulders and getting on with it, as Tom Hodgkinson discovers in this witty and enlightening book. Stoicism is an enduring and ancient philosophy that can help you with everything from love and politics to money and spirituality. The Stoics were celebrated by the Romans, they influenced Christianity and even Shakespeare admired them. Today, both therapists and politicians will profess adherence to the Stoic creed. The “serenity prayer” is a Stoic statement. The Beatles’ “Let it Be” is a Stoic song.

Tom Hodgkinson, author of bestselling How to Be Idle, goes back to the original philosophical texts and looks at the greatest Stoics in history – including Seneca, Cicero, Epictetus, Marcus Aurelius and St Augustine – to see if they can help us find fulfilment. He discovers that Stoicism is much stranger and more radical than you’d think. With witty reflections on everything from ethics, grammar, rhetoric, education, friendship and the importance of occasionally letting your hair down, Tom Hodgkinson shares his genuinely funny and brilliant guide to the Stoic life.