Traditional Stoicism

Recommended Reading List

Basic Stoic Texts:

The surviving Stoic texts are essential reading. The order is a matter of preference. However, I recommend reading the Handbook (Encheiridion) and the Lectures of Musonius Rufus after you have a basic understanding of Stoicism. The translations listed are those I use, and they all include helpful notes.

Seneca

Seneca, L. A. (2015). Letters on Ethics: To Lucilius (M. Graver & A. A. Long, Trans.). University Of Chicago Press.
Seneca, L. A. (2014). Hardship and Happiness (E. Fantham, H. M. Hine, J. Ker, & G. D. Williams, Trans.). University Of Chicago Press.
Seneca, L. A. (2011). On Benefits (M. Griffin & B. Inwood, Trans.). University Of Chicago Press.
Seneca, L. A. (2010). Anger, Mercy, Revenge (R. A. Kaster & M. C. Nussbaum, Trans.). University Of Chicago Press.
Seneca, L. A. (2010). Natural Questions (H. M. Hine, Trans.). University Of Chicago Press.

Epictetus, Discourses and Handbook

Epictetus. (2014). Discourses, Fragments, Handbook (R. Hard, Trans). Oxford University Press.
Epictetus. (2022). The Complete Works: Handbook, Discourses, and Fragments (R. Waterfield, Trans.). University of Chicago Press.

Marcus Aurelius, Meditations

Aurelius, M. (2011). Marcus Aurelius Meditations: With selected correspondence (R. Hard, Trans.). Oxford University Press.
Aurelius, M. (2021). Meditations: The Annotated Edition (R. Waterfield, trans). Basic Books.

Musonius Rufus, Lectures

Rufus, M. (2010). Musonius Rufus: Lectures and Sayings (C. King, Trans.; Revised edition). CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform.

Diogenes Laertius

This is not a Stoic text. However, Diogenes Laertius was a biographer of Greek philosophers during the early third century (CE). His writings contain a great deal of important information about Stoicism. Any version will suffice; this version contains only the portions related to the Stoics.

Seddon, K., & Yonge, C. D. (2007). A Summary of Stoic Philosophy: Zeno of Citium in Diogenes Laertius Book Seven (Revised ed. edition). Lulu.

Cosmopolitanism:

Most modern books about Stoicism focus on our individual rationality, character, and psychological well-being. While this aspect of Stoicism is central to the path of the prokopton, relationships, and responsibilities to our family, community, and fellow human beings can be overlooked or neglected. These books highlight our roles within the Cosmopolis:

Johncock, Will. (2023). Beyond the Individual: Stoic Philosophy on Community and Connection. Pickwick Publications.
Johnson, Brian E. (2014). The Role Ethics of Epictetus: Stoicism in Ordinary Life. Lexington Books

Introductions to Stoicism:

For an easy-to-read introduction to Stoicism, I recommend the following:

Whiting, K., & Konstantakos, L. (2021). Being Better: Stoicism for a World Worth Living In. New World Library.

For an easy-to-read introduction to Stoicism through the life and writing of Seneca, I recommend the following:

Fideler, D. (2021). Breakfast with Seneca: A Stoic Guide to the Art of Living. W. W. Norton & Company.

Keith Seddon’s book was created as a standalone Stoic theory and practice course. It also provides an excellent introduction.

Seddon, K. (2006). Stoic Serenity: A Practical Course on Finding Inner Peace. Lulu.

John Sellars’ excellent book is more academic and not as easy to read as those above. Nevertheless, I highly recommend it to all who are comfortable with its academic approach.

Sellars, J. (2006). Stoicism. University of California Press.

A.A. Long is one of several outstanding modern scholars of Stoicism. This book provides a great introduction to all the Hellenistic schools, which allows the reader to compare them. The section on Stoicism is worth the cost of the book.

Long, A. A. (1974). Hellenistic philosophy; Stoics, Epicureans, Sceptics. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press.

Stoicism as a Way of Life

Brennan, T. (2005). The Stoic Life: emotions, duties, and fate. Oxford University Press.
Buzaré, E. (2011). Stoic Spiritual Exercises. Raleigh, N.C.: lulu.com.
Hadot, P. (1995). Philosophy as a Way of Life: spiritual exercises from Socrates to Foucault. (A. I. Davidson, Ed.). New York: Blackwell.
Hadot, P. (1998). The Inner Citadel: The Meditations of Marcus Aurelius. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press.
Hadot, P. (2002). What Is Ancient Philosophy?(New Ed edition). Cambridge, Mass.: Belknap Press.
Long, A. A. (2002). Epictetus: A Stoic and Socratic Guide to Life. Oxford University Press.
Sellars, J. (2003). The Art of Living: The Stoics on the Nature and Function of Philosophy(2nd edition). Bristol Classical Press.
Sellars, J. (2020). Lessons in Stoicism: What Ancient Philosophers Teach Us about How to Live. Penguin.

Advanced Stoic Commentaries

General Stoic Topics

Boys-Stones, G. (2019). Annaeus Cornutus: Greek Theology, Fragments, and Testimonia (1st edition). SBL Press.
Christensen, J. (2013). An Essay on the Unity of Stoic Philosophy (2nd edition). Museum Tusculanum Press.
Gill, C. (2006). The Structured Self in Hellenistic and Roman Thought. Oxford University Press.
Gould, J. B. (1970). Philosophy of Chrysippus. State University of New York Press.
Graver, M. (2007). Stoicism and Emotion. University of Chicago Press.
Hahm, D. E. (1977). The Origins of Stoic Cosmology. Ohio State University Press.
Inwood, B. (Ed.). (2003). The Cambridge Companion to the Stoics. Cambridge University Press.
Jedan, C. (2009). Stoic Virtues: Chrysippus and the Religious Character of Stoic Ethics. Bloomsbury Academic.
Long, A. A. (1996). Stoic Studies. University of California Press.
Long, A. A. (2002). Epictetus: A Stoic and Socratic Guide to Life. Oxford University Press.
Ramelli, I. (2009). Hierocles the Stoic: Elements of Ethics, Fragments, and Excerpts. Sanderson Books Limited.
Reydams-Schils, G. (2005). The Roman Stoics: Self, Responsibility, and Affection. University Of Chicago Press.
Salles, R. (2009). God and Cosmos in Stoicism. Oxford University Press.
Sambursky, S. (1959). Physics of the Stoics. Princeton University Press.
Thom, J. (2005). Cleanthes’ Hymn to Zeus: Text, Translation, and Commentary. Mohr Siebeck.

Seneca

Inwood, B. (2005). Reading Seneca: Stoic Philosophy at Rome. Oxford University Press.
Williams, G. D. (2012). The Cosmic Viewpoint: A Study of Seneca’s Natural Questions. Oxford University Press.

Epictetus

Brittain, C., & Brennan, T. (2002a). Simplicius: On Epictetus Handbook 1-26. Cornell University Press.
Brittain, C., & Brennan, T. (2002b). Simplicius: On Epictetus Handbook 27-53. Cornell University Press.
Dobbin, R. (1998). Epictetus: Discourses, Book 1. Oxford University Press.
Long, A. A. (2002). Epictetus: A Stoic and Socratic Guide to Life. New York: Oxford University Press.
Scaltsas, T., & Mason, A. S. (2007). The Philosophy of Epictetus. Oxford University Press.
Seddon, K. (2005). Epictetus’ Handbook and the Tablet of Cebes: Guides to Stoic Living. New York: Routledge.

Marcus Aurelius

van Ackeren, M. (Ed.). (2012). A Companion to Marcus Aurelius. Wiley-Blackwell.
Gill, C. (2013). Marcus Aurelius Meditations, Books 1-6. Oxford University Press.
Rutherford, R. B. (1989). The Meditations of Marcus Aurelius: A Study. Clarendon Press.