Ancient Knowledge ClubMeditationsMarcus Aurelius

Guided edition

Meditations

by Marcus Aurelius

Private reflections on character, attention, duty and how to live well when the world is difficult.

Written c. 170 to 180 CE 30 guided readings Named English edition Read at your own pace

Read the first section free View source record

The book stays at the centre.

Read the source first. Use the guide when the language slows you down.

Original text first

Read the author's own words in a calm, focused layout.

Guidance in plain English

Get help with difficult language, context and argument.

Key takeaways for every chapter

Finish each chapter with the ideas worth carrying forward.

Inside this edition

Read it in the order it was written.

Each reading keeps the source, context, explanation and takeaways together.

THE FIRST BOOK

THE FIRST BOOK. Teachers, family, and dutyOriginal source, plain English guide and key takeaways

THE FIRST BOOK. Father, gifts, and providenceOriginal source, plain English guide and key takeaways

THE SECOND BOOKOriginal source, plain English guide and key takeaways

THE THIRD BOOK

THE THIRD BOOK. Mortality sharpens inward disciplineOriginal source, plain English guide and key takeaways

THE THIRD BOOK. Present duty and inward repairOriginal source, plain English guide and key takeaways

THE FOURTH BOOK

THE FOURTH BOOK. Inward retreat and common orderOriginal source, plain English guide and key takeaways

THE FOURTH BOOK. From souls to orderly natureOriginal source, plain English guide and key takeaways

THE FOURTH BOOK. Mortality and compendious conductOriginal source, plain English guide and key takeaways

THE FIFTH BOOK

THE FIFTH BOOK. Morning duty and cosmic consentOriginal source, plain English guide and key takeaways

THE FIFTH BOOK. Self-correction and social reasonOriginal source, plain English guide and key takeaways

THE FIFTH BOOK. Public wrong to inner freedomOriginal source, plain English guide and key takeaways

THE SIXTH BOOK

THE SIXTH BOOK. From cosmos to conductOriginal source, plain English guide and key takeaways

THE SIXTH BOOK. Reason, duty, and the wholeOriginal source, plain English guide and key takeaways

THE SIXTH BOOK. Accepting change and common lifeOriginal source, plain English guide and key takeaways

THE SEVENTH BOOK

THE SEVENTH BOOK. Judgement, common life, changeOriginal source, plain English guide and key takeaways

THE SEVENTH BOOK. Anger, pain, and inward steadinessOriginal source, plain English guide and key takeaways

THE SEVENTH BOOK. Mortality, example, and providenceOriginal source, plain English guide and key takeaways

THE EIGHTH BOOK

THE EIGHTH BOOK. From vanity to nature's workOriginal source, plain English guide and key takeaways

THE EIGHTH BOOK. Duty, pain, and outward interruptionOriginal source, plain English guide and key takeaways

THE EIGHTH BOOK. Passions, change, and common mindOriginal source, plain English guide and key takeaways

THE NINTH BOOK

THE NINTH BOOK. Impiety, providence, and civic dutyOriginal source, plain English guide and key takeaways

THE NINTH BOOK. Death, change, and common reasonOriginal source, plain English guide and key takeaways

THE NINTH BOOK. Prayer turned inwardOriginal source, plain English guide and key takeaways

THE TENTH BOOK

THE TENTH BOOK. Action joined to contemplationOriginal source, plain English guide and key takeaways

THE TENTH BOOK. Detachment from praiseOriginal source, plain English guide and key takeaways

THE TENTH BOOK. Opinion as the inner causeOriginal source, plain English guide and key takeaways

THE ELEVENTH BOOK

THE ELEVENTH BOOK. Reason to justiceOriginal source, plain English guide and key takeaways

THE ELEVENTH BOOK. Self-command under scrutinyOriginal source, plain English guide and key takeaways

THE TWELFTH BOOK

THE TWELFTH BOOK. Providence and releaseOriginal source, plain English guide and key takeaways

THE TWELFTH BOOK. Opinion, providence, and deathOriginal source, plain English guide and key takeaways

Source and edition are always named.

George Long translation, 1862. The Ancient Knowledge Club guide is original and kept separate from the source text.