Marcus Aurelius: The Stoic Emperor

Donald Robertson is a psychotherapist and writer on Stoicism, hence he brings a unique perspective to this work. Whereas his, "How to think like a Roman emperor" focused primarily on philosophical and psychological insights- with a dash of history- this book goes the opposite way. Its focus is on the historical facts of Marcus's upbringing and reign- with a sprinkling of Stoic quotes and ideas. (Although he notes in the introduction that he used more than a hundred of these references throughout the text.) Many who come to this book will have started with the private journal of Marcus (his "Meditations") and this will be an excellent introduction to the larger facts of his life and work. (I've always been confused by the adoptive lineage of Marcus, and this book is a great help.) It is written clearly, is just the right length, and contains the same enthusiasm as Robertson's other works. Highly recommended.

My daughter is quite interested in him. When she opened this gift, she cheered’

Excellent biography of Marcus Aurelius, one history’s few, if only, philosopher kings. Robertson elegantly describes how Marcus developed and practiced his philosophy in the context of his life and decisions as emperor in short and easily digestible chapters.

Donald Robertson's latest work reinforces his position as the preeminent scholar for all things related to Marcus Aurelius and the later Stoics in modern literature. With this latest work, Robertson takes his place firmly alongside Pierre Hadot and A. A. Long as a leading contemporary author on the ancient philosophical school and art of living. In our present culture of social media, 24 hour news cycles, and anxiety-riddled overload, our much-needed new way to live and cope is rooted in the past. Robertson is an expert in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, which is largely based on the 2000 year old tenets of Stoicism. Between his expertise there, as a clinician, and as an historian of the ancient Hellenistic Schools of philosophy, his work is what we need in 2024.

I enjoyed most of the book. One of the middle chapters had a lot of unfamiliar names and places which was a little hard to follow but overall a great book.Understanding a bit more background information about Marcus Aurelius is what I was looking for and Donald Robertson delivered. From childhood to mentors, personal relationships with "arrogant" and "surely" people such as Cassisus, and more.A dash of some quotes from Marcus were good reminders of Meditations, too.

In the prevailing irrationality of today, Marcus Aurelius' wisdom is the historic figure one could look up as a fine example - and not only as the philosopher of talent and perception but as a leader (Emperor) experient in troubled times...

So much writing on Roman life focuses on violence, conquest, graft, sex and moral decay. This history of Marcus Aurelius, is refreshing because it displays the often overlooked moral and sophisticated culture that was also a key part of Roman heritage and progress. Marcus deserves to be remembered and celebrated as much for how they juxtaposition against those other Caesars like Nero, Caligula and Commodus that were so horrifying.

EXCELLENT Well written by Donald Robertson, on Marcus Aurelius, Highly recommended I bought it for myself a great read however I am biased, a stoic, and have read and studied and learned and live my life according to the virtues and principles. it is a book that I will keep and read again and again and eventually pass it on

Why an essential read?Maybe you've read the meditations and think "hmmm ok don't get why he's saying that" or "sounds extreme" or maybe other thoughts. But this book about Marcus Aurelius, his life and how it links to the meditations makes the meditations even more amazing. It makes it make total sense.To understand the context around why he wrote those notes makes all the difference. He was at constant war, betrayed, civil war, death to his nearest & dearest, and you learn more about Marcus and what he tried to achieve in this book. We learn about how he became a Stoic to start with and who had the biggest influence on his life. You see a normal man, raised in the right way, given the hardest job in the world. What an experiment! And we get his thoughts to himself about all of this and the peak of things going downhill.Overall, this book has given me a heightened understanding of the meditations, Stoicism & backs up the practicality of the philosophy.Another home run by Donald Robertson!

Donald Robertson provides us in this biography with an in-depth view into the life of Marcus Aurelius.We are guided through the Stoic Emperor's life by those who were most important to him or had a major impact on him. Not only can we see many of the historical references of him through the historical texts, but we also get a glimpse of the man through his personal journal, the Meditations.Donald Robertson does an excellent job and combining these two sources that we have on this impressive man, whose character would rival any of the best people alive today.This is a book that needs to be on your shelf if you are a fan of history, the Romans and Stocism.

I am an avid reader of Roman history and Stoicism, and Donald Robertson is one of the best writers on these subjects. The book unravels the layers of this intriguing Roman emperor's life, providing not just a historical account but a rich exploration of the Stoic philosophy. I was pleasantly surprised by the modern relevance of his insights, seamlessly woven into the narrative. The writing is both engaging and accessible, making it a page-turner from start to finish. Whether you're a history enthusiast or just someone looking for a fresh perspective on life, this book offers a captivating journey that will leave you pondering its lessons long after you've turned the last page. I highly recommend it to anyone seeking an inspiring read that goes beyond an ordinary biography or just a basic rehashing of Stoicism.