Reviewed by Philip Van Heusen for Readers' Favorite

If you think philosophy is boring, you have not read Phil Van Treuren’s The Little Book of Stoic Quotes. It is one of the best books I have ever read on Stoicism. Each short chapter contains a quotation by a famous Stoic followed by Phil’s enjoyable commentary. After reading this book, you will realize that Stoicism is not what you thought it was. Most people think it kills the joy of life and is about living a bare existence. This book enlightens the reader that living in the present is the best way to fully enjoy one’s life. A vital concept Phil presents is that we all have the power of choice. We might not be able to choose our circumstances, but we can choose how we deal with them and think about them. Even if you are not into philosophy, you will enjoy this book.

Phil Van Treuren understands Stoicism well enough to explain it in The Little Book of Stoic Quotes. Each section is based on a quotation from many ancient Stoics, with a few modern ones added for good measure. Phil uses mostly stories connected to animals to illustrate Stoic concepts. Nothing is boring about this book as Phil’s writing style is lively and enjoyable. This book should be required reading for any introduction to philosophy courses at all colleges. Because each chapter is short, you can read this book in snippet proportions as you wait for a meeting to start, stand in line, or have just a minute or two. Phil does not burden the reader with the original Greek or Latin phrases; instead, he uses easy-to-understand translations that clearly define what Stoics believe. When you learn to practice Stoicism, you will be equipped to truly enjoy life and all it has to offer.