Lessons from an American Stoic

Hardcover

English language

Published 2023 by HarperCollins Publishers.

ISBN:: 978-0-06-305969-6

(1 review)

These twelve lessons are intended as a road map for authentic living, a user's guide to Emerson's forgotten wisdom as it applies to the problems we face today. If you use them well, and put them into practice, they have the power to change your life.

2 editions

andbenn reviewed Lessons from an American Stoic by Mark Matousek

(sort of) modern philosophy based on Ralph Waldo Emerson and the Stoics

4 stars

This was an interesting read. It may have had "Stoic" in the name to help marketing and selling it. I'd probably call it "Lessons from an American Philosopher" but you get my point.

Essentially modern takes on 12 of Emerson's thoughts on getting to personal awakening. It mentions the Stoics and Stocism several times, as apparently Emerson read them.

Each lesson is followed by a well written brief summarizing the lesson.

At the end, there are a dozen of spiritual / meditation lessons with 2 or 3 exercises each, probably best for one on the path to awakening per Emerson.

This is a good opening for learning about Ralph Waldo Emerson. If you are expecting Stoicism, this probably isn't it.