More than ever, many have turned to the Stoics during the last years of challenges. It's easy to see why. We are searching for answers and guidance. For years the Meditations of Marcus Aurelius has been a favorite book of mine. The works of Seneca were more daunting, perhaps because of the volume of them. Not now - thanks to David Fideler. Listening to BREAKFAST WITH SENECA, I found a perfect bridge between the accessible writings of Seneca and a way to blend those writings' relevant messages with today's search for living a life with purpose and peace. From the first thirty minutes, I knew this was special. Not only did I buy the book from my favorite indie bookstore, but I did buy the audiobook as well. My mornings still often start with BREAKFAST WITH SENECA, which I could call now BREAKFAST WITH SENECA AND DAVID FIDELER. The reader is excellent with a "common man" presentation. So many times, these ancient philosophers are conveyed in the lofty tone of orators, particularly with Marcus Aurelius, who wrote for himself. Seneca wrote for the future generations. He experienced the pull of everyday problems as well as the high level, ethical questions about wealth and power. David Fideler does a superb job of not only showing how these still pertain to now, often with examples of his own life, but also expresses his modifications to ancient guidance while still adhering to a Stoic philosophy, so that dilemmas and decisions are not "either/or." This book is one of the best I've found in Stoic philosophy. It's practical and philosophical, as well as interesting and informative by telling Seneca's life and giving modern examples of challenges. I recommend this to anyone and everyone.

I appreciate the opportunity to listen to this book, even though I did go ahead and buy both the book and the audiobook. Thank you to NetGalley, as well as to RB Media/Ascent Audio. My apologies for the delay in posting this feedback. This book/audiobook deserved a timely response.

*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!

This (audio)book took me by surprise in many ways. I knew nothing of Stoicism before this book, including the fact that the way we use the word ‘stoic’ is very different from what ‘Stoicism’ stands for. This book provides an extremely insightful view into Stoic philosophy.

The primary reason for my surprise is that the parallels to Eastern philosophy – Vedanta, Yoga & Buddhism are striking. All these traditions pre-date Stoicism, but it seems Stoic philosophy developed independently. The rise of organized religion led to its decline, as Stoic philosophy did not advocate belief in a personal God. A wide variety of topics are covered: Self-awareness, balance, authenticity (very similar to the concept Brene Brown discusses in her books), anger management, alignment with nature, interconnectedness of the cosmos etc. There is also wisdom around the need to be careful while part of a crowd, as mob dynamics are different and dangerous. The content is largely based on the letters Seneca wrote. A lot of these concepts today are also part of mindfulness literature (which draw extensively from Eastern philosophy).

I found it very intellectually stimulating to compare and contrast these teachings with other philosophical traditions I am aware of. Stoic philosophy is well worth exploring further, and hopefully I will find more interesting books to read covering it.

My rating: 4.5 / 5.

Format: audiobook
Author: David Fideler ~ Title: Breakfast with Seneca ~ Narrator: Paul Heitsch
Content: 5 stars ~ Narration: 5 stars

This book is all that I expected and hoped it would be. And more. Breakfast with Seneca is a lightweight, easy-to-understand philosophy book for the general reader. But it’s not oversimplified.

The author tells us, through Seneca’s letters, about meaningful life. Among others, he deals with themes like friendship, time, anxiety, grief, and anger. Stoics are considered to be emotionless, the ones who repress their emotions. But that’s not true. They just know how to prevent extreme emotions, like anger.

I’m sure I will return to this audiobook multiple times. Like the author reads Seneca’s letters every day at breakfast, you could read or listen to sections of this book regularly.

I would recommend this audiobook to students for an introduction to Stoicism. And to all who are interested in Stoic philosophy or want to know how to live fully. You can read this also as a self-help book, but not a typical one.

Thanks to Ascent Audio for the ARC and the opportunity to listen to this! All opinions are my own.

The ancient Roman Stoic philosopher, Seneca, is recognised as the most talented and humane writer of the Stoic tradition. He shaped the understanding of Stoic thought that later generations were to have and his writings are stunningly diverse in range and as relevant today as they were almost two thousand years ago. An author who speaks very directly to modern concerns of shaping ourselves and our lives, Seneca advises how to live a good life whatever the circumstances. Some of this entails: living in agreement with nature; accepting virtue as the only true good; handling adversity; dealing with grief, anxiety and anger; living in the present moment; transforming setbacks into opportunities for growth, and recognising the true nature of friendship.

David Fideler’s “Breakfast with Seneca” is a superb introduction to Stoicism, Stoic practice and Seneca. With his fine writing and deep understanding, Fideler makes Seneca accessible to contemporary readers. I’m delighted to have discovered this audiobook and I shall be purchasing a hardcover edition of the book to read and reread. It’s a work of excellence and one of my favourite nonfiction books of 2021. This book deserves a space in every thinking person’s bookcase.

About the author

David Fideler is a writer, philosopher, and the editor of the Stoic Insights website. Born in the United States, he currently lives in Sarajevo with his wife and son, where he still enjoys his breakfasts with Seneca.

About the narrator

Paul Heitsch is a fine narrator. His performances are consistently cited for his authentic storytelling, realistic characters, and commitment to the text. 

A huge thank you to @NetGalley and @ascentaudio for this advanced audiobook of “Breakfast with Seneca” by David Fideler.