Stoic Wisdom

This book is one of a number of recent trade titles devoted to the ancient philosophy of Stoicism. Over the last decade or so there has been an upsurge of popular interest in this ancient school of philosophy. * JOHN SELLAR, The Classical Review * Nancy Sherman goes far beyond the kind of 'pen-and-ink philosophy' that the Stoics had so little time for. In this book, she applies Stoicism where it is most needed * for our warriors and working people alike * What a delight this book is! Stoic Wisdom is a lively, deeply knowledgeable, and wide-ranging exploration of the Stoic tradition, and how it can inform modern life. * Phil Klay, Winner of the National Book Award and author of Missionaries and Redeployment * Moving with grace and nuanced human understanding from ancient Stoic texts to our world today, drawing vivid examples from hospitals, the military, the world of Silicon Valley, and recent protests seeking racial justice, Sherman proves a sure-footed and appealing guide to what is truly worth holding on to in ancient Greek and Roman Stoicism. Engaging sympathetically yet critically with the ancient texts, she ultimately fashions her own Stoicism for today: based not on detachment but on resilience and adaptability, not on emotional hardness but on empathetic attunement to the needs of others, not on a retreat from politics but on a commitment to change what we cannot accept. * Martha C. Nussbaum, University of Chicago * Stoicism is more than two millennia old, and yet Stoicism has become * as Nancy Sherman writes * Stoic Wisdom is a fresh and insightful take on this ancient philosophy. Sherman provides ways of updating Stoicism, philosophically and psychologically, so that it can be of practical benefit to modern readers in their daily lives. Its discussion of moral injury and emotional resilience will be of particular value to those in the armed forces. The lessons in this book contains are relevant to everyone * and increasingly needed for the welfare both of the individual and our society. * Seneca and Epictetus would greatly appreciate Nancy Sherman's subtle and elegant elucidation of Stoicism. Modern Stoic popularizers embrace a philosophy of individual self-mastery and toughness. Yet Sherman shows that they fail to grasp true Stoic wisdom. She persuasively argues that Stoicism encourages action in pursuit of a virtuous life aimed at overcoming both individual and shared challenges to realize our collective well-being. * Ezekiel J. Emanuel, Vice Provost of Global Initiatives and Levy University Professor, University of Pennsylvania * An accessible, powerful and thoughtful exploration of Stoicism as guidance for life. Nancy Sherman probes the possible weaknesses as well as strengths of the Stoic approach and in doing so brings out its genuine value for us now. A special merit is that she underlines the Stoic emphasis on social engagement as well as self-reliance and resilience. * Christopher Gill, University of Exeter * In a season of pandemics, mass death, and worldwide economic dysfunction, it is well worth listening, once again or for the first time, to the views of the ancient Greek and Roman Stoics. Sherman's book is an historically faithful guide to the ancient thinkers, which shows on every page how their thought finds application in our contemporary predicaments. Filled with lively anecdotes, case-studies, and personal observations, this book is unmatched in its combination of scholarly accuracy and urgent relevance. * Tad Brennan, Cornell University * This is a wonderful book. With deft intelligence, Nancy Sherman displays the part that Stoicism could play for all of us today in these high-pressure times. Her case studies are drawn from the real world of today and illuminated by snippets of ancient Stoic texts. People in high-risk jobs loom large, because they show clearly what can be done * how we too can break free of what, in good Stoic fashion, she calls our 'enslavement.' Sherman passionately urges that Stoicism could help all of us, whatever form of emotional turmoil is impeding us, to gain control of our lives. * Stoicism is directly relevant to the way we live our lives, but it appears at first to make unrealistic demands on us * and it appears to require us to extinguish our emotions. Nancy Sherman introduces us, with grace and liveliness, to the deep, striking and complex ideas behind the seemingly harsh demands. Appealing to today's events as well as the ancient world, and on our full range of sources as well as the ones familiar from self-help guides, she presents Stoicism in the round. She shows us how we are called on to enlarge our lives as Stoics in our everyday mundane dealings as well as in extreme and testing situations * Nancy Sherman has written a practical, readable guide for everyday living. In this age of political polarization, impulsive tweeting, and the threat of COVID-19, Stoic Wisdom is a refreshing reminder that reasonable behavior is still a possibility. * Barbara Mujica, Washington Independent Review of Books * Nancy Sherman's Stoic Wisdom is a timely and well-written book, one that aims to provide an overview of Stoicism geared toward an audience that is living through the sort of times Stoicism would seem to fit well: a pandemic, unrest over racism, climate change, and the events of January 6. ... There is a great deal to admire in this book. ... Sherman's extensive background in military ethics and related philosophical issues, along with her knowledge of psychoanalysis, enriches the text, as does her engagement with contemporary politics. * Daniel J. Kapust, Cambridge University Press Book Reviews * The book serves as an introduction to Stoicism that stands apart from others in that its goal is not just to teach the basics of Stoicism * the book also aims to provide 'a field guide for a credible Stoic practical philosophy' by mapping out patterns of 'exaggeration and distortion' brought about by the popularization of Stoicism... Throughout Stoic Wisdom, Sherman calls out the many problems of our modem world, from the still-raging pandemic to systemic racism. As Sherman rightly points out, a healthy modem Stoicism is only possible 'when empathy and mercy course through the veins of reason.' * [T]he work is accessible, not dumbed-down, treating Stoicism as a way to 'endure and cultivate inner virtue.' * Harvard Magazine *