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He concludes with a chapter called Stoicism and its critics which cites important criticisms of Stoicism made by other authors. Farnsworth includes his own commentary, which I found insightful, original, and therefore quite valuable. They’re organized thematically in chapters about the topics of judgement, externals, perspective, death, desire, wealth and pleasure, what others think, valuation, emotion, adversity, virtue, and learning. Some of these were taken from existing translations and some are new. The content consists of quotations from various relevant authors – from Epictetus and Cicero to Montaigne and Schopenhauer. So it definitely adds something – it’s not just another beginner’s guide to Stoicism. In addition to being very nicely written, it’s also very well-organized and it includes many quotes from ancient Stoics and related thinkers that will probably be unfamiliar to most readers interested in Stoicism. It’s a valuable and well-written addition to the growing body of literature on Stoicism. Perhaps that’s due in part to the author’s knowledge of rhetoric and his interest in the law. This book struck me first and foremost as having been written with exceptional verbal clarity and precision. He has previously written books on rhetoric, one specifically about the use of metaphor. Farnsworth is Dean of the University of Texas School of Law. The Practicing Stoic: A Philosophical User’s Manual is a new book by Ward Farnsworth.
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