Due to a sudden, unexpected passing in the family a few years ago and another more recently and my subsequent (mental) health issues stemming from that, I was unable to download this book in time to review it before it was archived as I did not visit this site for several years after the bereavements. This meant I didn't read or venture onto netgalley for years as not only did it remind me of that person as they shared my passion for reading, but I also struggled to maintain interest in anything due to overwhelming depression. I was therefore unable to download this title in time and so I couldn't give a review as it wasn't successfully acquired before it was archived. The second issue that has happened with some of my other books is that I had them downloaded to one particular device and said device is now defunct, so I have no access to those books anymore, sadly.

This means I can't leave an accurate reflection of my feelings towards the book as I am unable to read it now and so I am leaving a message of explanation instead. I am now back to reading and reviewing full time as once considerable time had passed I have found that books have been helping me significantly in terms of my mindset and mental health - this was after having no interest in anything for quite a number of years after the passings. Anything requested and approved will be read and a review written and posted to Amazon (where I am a Hall of Famer & Top Reviewer), Goodreads (where I have several thousand friends and the same amount who follow my reviews) and Waterstones (or Barnes & Noble if the publisher is American based). Thank you for the opportunity and apologies for the inconvenience.

"Breakfast with Seneca" by David Fideler is a delightful and thought-provoking exploration of the timeless wisdom of the ancient Stoic philosopher Seneca. The book presents Seneca's insights in a fresh and accessible way, making it an ideal introduction to Stoic philosophy for modern readers.

One of the key strengths of "Breakfast with Seneca" is its ability to bridge the gap between the ancient world and contemporary life. Fideler demonstrates the enduring relevance of Seneca's teachings by connecting them to the challenges and concerns of modern living. The book serves as a gentle reminder that the pursuit of a good life, grounded in reason and virtue, remains as important today as it was in Seneca's time.

"Breakfast with Seneca" is an enjoyable and enriching read for anyone seeking inspiration and guidance in their quest for personal growth and self-improvement. It is a testament to the enduring power of Stoic wisdom and its potential to transform our lives.

Over the years, I've read snippets here and there about Stoicism and always thought it the most sensible and appealing philosophy to live by. And then moved on to something else.

I didn't realise till reading Breakfast with Seneca how much those snippets and insights have actually affected my entire world view. Reading about the Stoic's 8 core teachings, I felt a strong sense of recognition, of 'well of course, that's the only way to live and be happy.'

And of course, I'm not the only one. Much of what is covered in this book, that originated with the Stoics or Seneca in particular, has found its way into the modern world. Much of it may strike you as plain common sense. Much of it will be very familiar if you read a lot of pyschology or self help books.

In fact, you'll find yourself forgetting that you're reading about an ancient philosopher. Stoicism is as relevant and valid today as it was during the Roman Empire. As Fideler writes, "Seneca's world is our world." We're surrounded with (maybe we ourselves are) consumerists, self-indulgent attention seekers, etc. We are all subject to the basic human drives such as anger, greed, ambition, and so on. Seneca explored the whole range of human emotions and his insights are as relevant today as then, because we're all just people.

One thing I liked about this book is it's so easy to read and digest, either in a few long sittings are in snippets from time to time. Either in concentrated bursts with a lot of reflection or idle reading and rereadings. It's a timeless work that brings stoicism into the present world.

Breakfast With Seneca covers the gamut: friendship, anger, death, grief and more, and ends with some interesting exercises.

Highly recommended.

A wonderfully accessible and comprehensible introduction to Seneca and Stoicism, clearly written, but never too simplistic, with the occasional well-chosen personal anecdote to make the whole subject more “real”. A persuasive argument for us all to become Stoics like Seneca. I was surprised at just how relevant his thinking is to contemporary society and how we could all do with a large chunk of Stoicism in our lives. I now catch myself applying some of the precepts to my own everyday life. Highly recommended.

*received for free from netgalley for honest review* Great read. i read this book only one chapter at a time to try to slow down and read it that way, happy i did. it was really relaxing in a way to read a chapter here and there from this book!

A great introduction into an interesting subject. Stoicism, the most influential philosophy of the Roman Empire, offers refreshingly modern ways to strengthen our inner character in the face of an unpredictable world. Widely recognized as the most talented and humane writer of the Stoic tradition, Seneca teaches us to live with freedom and purpose. His most enduring work, over a hundred “Letters from a Stoic” written to a close friend, explains how to handle adversity; overcome grief, anxiety, and anger; transform setbacks into opportunities for growth; and recognize the true nature of friendship.
In Breakfast with Seneca, philosopher David Fideler mines Seneca’s classic works in a series of focused chapters, clearly explaining Seneca’s ideas without oversimplifying them. Best enjoyed as a daily ritual, like an energizing cup of coffee, Seneca’s wisdom provides us with a steady stream of time-tested advice about the human condition—which, as it turns out, hasn’t changed much over the past two thousand years.

Breakfast with Seneca by David Fideler shares the key teachings from the Stoic philosopher Seneca, an advisor to the Roman Emperor Nero. This book explains Seneca's teachings and shares new translations of his texts, while also providing background information on Stoicism. The book shares the 8 core teachings of Roman Stoicism to provide a foundation for Seneca and his worldview. By explaining these teachings, the book then ties these teachings to our daily lives to realize the human condition is common throughout the ages.

This book tackles a variety of topics such as the importance of friendship, dealing with difficult emotions, avoidance and escaping, and much more. I found each of the topics to stand on their own and did not find the book to be repetitive. One of the chapters that I connected to was Chapter 5: Wherever You Go, There You Are: You Can't Escape Yourself. I found the various anecdotes to be interesting and also appreciated how the author contrasted a Stoic and non-Stoic lens in the chapter.

To me, the best part was the variety of exercises the author shares to practice Stoicism in daily life. I find many of these exercises to be incredibly helpful. While not all are completely new to me, I enjoyed the reminder of previous ones and the addition of those I have not practiced before.

Overall, I truly enjoyed this book and believe many would benefit from reading this book -- even if just for the exercises!

Many thanks to the publisher W. W. Norton & Company and Netgalley for the ARC in return for an honest review.