One day, about 18 centuries ago, a man with the weight of the world on his shoulders wrote some notes to himself in a journal. What would a truly good life look like? How did he feel about death? Over several years, he would fill a dozen notebooks with thoughts on these and similar questions. We now know these writings as Meditations, penned by Marcus Aurelius Antoninus, Stoic philosopher and Roman emperor of the second century CE. In the 12 fascinating lectures of Books That Matter: Meditations, professor Massimo Pigliucci explores the questions Marcus believed were crucial to address in a life of value, the answers he proposed, and the many ways in which you can use Stoic philosophy today.
Books That Matter: Meditations
Dive into one of history’s most notable books and discover how to cultivate a meaningful life through Stoic philosophy.
Rated 4 out of
5
by
Magyar1 from
Good overview of the book
This is a thorough investigation of the work in question and what influenced Marcus.
Date published: 2025-04-13
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Prospero1962 from
Great in depth study
This is a shorter course going only 12 episodes. In my opinion, that is just perfect. I sometimes run across courses that seem to go 6 episodes too long and information starts repeating itself. Not here. We get the life of Marcus Aurelius, in depth discussions of his Meditations, and a follow up on how the book is important in the 21st century. The lecturer is extremely knowledgeable on the subject and has an obvious passion for it. He is easy to follow. Great course.
Date published: 2025-04-07
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Joyful Learner from
Be a Better Person & Make the World a Better Place
Already being a Stoicism enthusiast, and having enjoyed Professor Pigliucci's previous TGC course, "Think Like a Stoic," I was excited to again have the opportunity to learn from the wise professor in his new course, "Meditations" ... along with finally reading Marcus Aurelius's book.
"Meditations," the title now given to the philosophy journals of "Marcus Aurelius ... arguably the most famous practitioner of the philosophy of Stoicism" was written by this Roman Emperor for the purpose of deep reflection and self-teaching and encouragement to strive for virtue and to overcome whatever personal character flaws of which he was aware. It was a constant guidebook for himself, and can well serve as such a guidebook to anyone who reads it.
This entire course was such a treasure. I enjoy Professor Pigliucci's lecture style, his narrative is always interesting and enlightening, while his speech and mannerisms are soothing ... altogether rather therapeutic. The resources he suggested are also very helpful. His personal favorite edition of "Meditations" and the one he used for this course is by C.R Haines (newly published by Delphi Classics). For a more modern reading, he highly recommends Robin Waterfield's "Meditations - The Annotated Edition" which has a lengthy introduction and copious footnotes throughout each of the twelve books (and is the one I read).
Some of the thoughts expressed in "Meditations," and indeed in other writings regarding Stoicism will not resonate with many of us in our era. I have certainly held some reservations about the treatment of certain topics despite my attraction to many of the principles of Stoicism. Happily, Professor Pigliucci has "updated" and clarified the primary points of ancient Stoicism which I had found disturbing (especially regarding world views / cosmopolitanism / becoming engaged in social justice). Many of these insights were included in the later lectures of this course, along with his framework for "spiritual exercises" to help us incorporate the practice of Stoicism in our daily lives.
Professor Pigliucci cautions us to "be aware that a lot of what is presented as Stoicism these days is not really a philosophy of life, but rather more akin to a series of life hacks." He continues ... "The take-home message here is that the popularity of Stoicism has brought about a multiplication of approaches that don't always match up with the ideas of Marcus and other Stoics. Remember, if it's not about making you into a better person and the world a better place, it's not Stoicism."
This is perhaps the most helpful and most valuable (for its impact on my life) of the many great courses I have taken on TGC.
Date published: 2025-04-05
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Franalice from
Stoicism made surprisingly appealing
Dr. Pigliucci has a deep knowledge of stoicism and Marcus Aurelius. His summary is illuminating and his goofy jokes make the information enjoyable to listen to. His presentation has encouraged me to learn more about stoicism and its application to our lives. The manner in which he shows the relevance of stoic principles to our lives made the information pertinent. I highly recommend this program.
Date published: 2025-04-02
Rated 5 out of
5
by
bobbysrq from
incredible - wonderful
excellent presentation - each lecture makes you want to delve deeply into the section of the readings discussed - the instructor is passionate about the subject and it's contagious
Date published: 2025-04-01
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Tom from LG from
Good Approach to Introducing the Meditations
Meditations isn't a book that flows logically and I really enjoyed the way Dr. Pigliucci approached it. His discussion of all the contributing factors of Marcus, his life and his times gives one a more solid context to understand the book.
Date published: 2025-03-25
Rated 4 out of
5
by
Sielgaire from
A good companion to "Think like a Stoic"
A good overview on Stoicism and Meditations. If you want a more expansive course about Stoicism in the modern age see Massimo Pigliucci's other course "Think like a Stoic".
Date published: 2025-03-23
Rated 5 out of
5
by
the professor from
A Battle to Control Each Moment
Massimo Pigliucci, as he did in his excellent, initial The Great Courses lecture set, 'Think Like a Stoic: Ancient Wisdom for Today's World', delivers a thought model for control of life's moments, which has stood the test of time and continues to be embraced even more strongly today. This reviewer, as someone who has lived a long life of, 'What If's' for himself and others, has fought to control the daily non-stop flood of oxidizing hormones, due to living in the shadows of Vietnam memories, law enforcement experiences and life as a Type A behavior person, and has come to embrace, 'The Meditations', as a road map for action. Professor Pigliucci, delivers an outstanding review of this classic, with personal annotated expertise on it's implementation in a way that truly embodied the very principles of philosophy. His calm and serene demeanor throughout the lecture series created an atmosphere that was not only engaging but incredibly meditative.This tranquil approach to teaching allows the learner to immerse themselves in the concepts of Stoicism and the mindset of Marcus Aurelius as it developed. I greatly enjoyed the discussion of Marcus life and the initial influences on his daily implementation. For this writer, trying to integrate a Stoic mindset has been a very tough task because of the intense daily situations, and the lingering fog of life altering pressures. Professor Pigliucci provides valuable tools for managing daily challenges and he skillfully illustrated how to embrace the idea of focusing on what we can control while letting go of the rest. By modeling a mindful collected presence, the professor encouraged us to cultivate the same calmness in our daily activities. The life of Marcus Aurelius and his teachings empower learners not just to understand Stoicism intellectually, but to embody its teachings in practice, paving the way for a more peaceful and resilient approach to life. I believe this gentle yet profound teaching style will enable the learner to not only appreciate the content but also apply Stoic principles in a way that can transform their responses to stress and uncertainty in their daily lives. Coupled with the professor's initial course on leading a Stoic life, he now walks the learner through each chapter and it's ability to influence our mindset. I greatly enjoyed the additional readings recommended by Professor Pigliucci, especially, Meditations: the Annotated Edition (Robin Waterfield), which I purchased and has been and excellent support resource. This is an Excellent 12 lecture set, which I would recommend completing first before the 'Leading a Stoic life...' 24 lecture set. Together, these two The Great Courses Lectures will provide the learner with all that's necessary for implementing a daily Stoic mindset. These lectures can have a life altering impact, for this reviewer it has. Outstanding professor and content, well worth the investment.
Date published: 2025-03-22
Overview
About
Massimo Pigliucci is the K. D. Irani Professor of Philosophy at The City University of New York. He received a PhD in Evolutionary Biology from the University of Connecticut and a PhD in Philosophy from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. He has written for The New York Times, The Washington Post, and The Wall Street Journal, and he has been interviewed by numerous national and international media outlets. His books include The Quest for Character, How to Be a Stoic, and Nonsense on Stilts. He also produces a podcast called Practical Wisdom.
Trailer
01: The Meditations as Philosophical Journal
Marcus Aurelius Antoninus starts his personal philosophical journal by thanking people who brought him to that moment, including his mother and the Roman emperor who adopted him, Antoninus Pius. He also thanks his tutors, including two of the foremost teachers of Stoicism of the day, Epictetus and Quintus Junius Rusticus. Explore Marcus’ character by discovering whom he thanks and why.
30 min
02: Marcus Aurelius: Emperor Philosopher
Marcus was a product of the Roman Empire at the time of its greatest expanse. Explore how events in the Empire itself affected Marcus’ thoughts about divine providence, duties to the great family of humanity, the notion of virtue, and the metaphysical relationships between wholes and parts.
29 min
03: Marcus Aurelius Becomes a Stoic
Marcus only mentions Stoicism directly in one passage of Meditations. But whether he used the specific word, Meditations is filled with Stoic ideas. Learn what Marcus and the Stoics before him say about wisdom, courage, justice, temperance, role ethics, and cosmopolitanism—and how they can guide us to live according to our one true purpose in life.
29 min
04: Marcus Aurelius on Preparing for the Day
The Stoics believed in God—and they believed God was the same thing as the cosmos itself. Learn how humanity fits into this grand view and how we can determine what is truly important in our lives. You’ll be surprised to learn how much of what we typically care about is labeled by Marcus with the apparently oxymoronic phrase “preferred indifferent.”
29 min
05: Personal Character and the Inner Citadel
If you’re trying to get away from your problems by going on vacation, Meditations has a bit of strong language for you: You need a change of soul, not a change of scenery. Marcus suggests turning inward to your “Inner Citadel” where you can analyze what’s bothering you and then realize why it’s not really a problem. Discover why Marcus writes: “The universe is change; Life is opinion.”
28 min
06: Make the Best of the Present Moment
One of the most significant distinctions made by the Stoics is the separation between that which we can control and that which we cannot. But once you identify what you can control, then what? Marcus tells us that we must always act to benefit the cosmopolis. Discover the relationships between spirit, reason, and happiness—and Marcus’ rational thoughts on death.
29 min
07: Anger Management in the Meditations
Anger management wasn’t “invented” any time recently. Even Roman emperors weren’t immune from this destructive emotion, and it’s certainly addressed in Meditations. Stoicism tells us that emotions, including anger, are aspects of our cognition and so can be overturned by a reasoned analysis. Explore the details of the Stoic path from anger to equanimity.
30 min
08: Marcus Aurelius Does Not Wait for Utopia
The Stoics saw the world around them as being their only opportunity for action, and the present as the only time to act. They did not aspire to, nor believe in, any afterlife. Neither did Marcus believe that prosocial behavior included waiting for Utopia. Learn why the Stoics believed we are, in essence, our rational decisions—nothing more and nothing less.
32 min
09: The Ten Commandments of Marcus Aurelius
In the 11th notebook of his journals, Marcus compiles his own version of Ten Commandments. These are not orders for anyone else, however. They are only for his own self-imposed ethical training. Learn what he believes to be the reason we came into the world and explore one of the spiritual exercises he recommends.
32 min
10: Historical Impact of the Meditations
Stoicism has had enduring appeal because it is a philosophy practiced across the wide spectrum of human conditions, and because its three over-arching themes have not lost their relevance. Explore these themes with your professor’s guidance: the ontology of parts and wholes, the nature of time, and the opposing binary of vice and virtue.
33 min
11: The Meditations as a Spiritual Exercise
It’s clear in Meditations that Marcus had no interest in Stoicism as a theoretical exercise. Instead, he saw it as an active path to living his most appropriate life. Discover many of the spiritual practices Marcus included in his journals to help his right actions become second nature for himself. Your professor offers detailed directions about their practice, and tips on determining whether they’re working for you.
30 min
12: The Meditations in the 21st Century
In addition to Stoic philosophy being the inspiration for the beginnings of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, there are many aspects of Stoicism that certainly translate to 21st century use. In this lecture, however, you’ll discover which parts of the original Stoicism do not translate well to modern use without significant update, and why.
31 min
