Sometimes it feels like it's all chores. Time is spent doing things that you think must be done. But do others really require all that from you, or did you make that up? Servile compliance is bad for you health and sanity. It is egoism masqueraded as humility and it helps no-one. When you agree, [...]
Christopher Hitchens – Letters To A Young Contrarian
I bought this book for my favorite young contrarian, but I have not yet dared to deliver it. Anticipating a negative response (to almost any book...), I have a plan: I shall not give this book as a homework assignment. I’ll just tell what it is and leave it at that. The book’s advice for [...]
Myth of Sisyphus by Albert Camus
Terrifying Freedom As a teen I was very impressed by a weird book titled Kosminen Viisaus (Cosmic Wisdom) by a Finnish movie director Taavi Kassila. That one, and the Bible (regular and LaVey's), along with Esa Saarinen's best-of compilations of western philosophers, and many more alike, sent me on a journey, still ongoing. After this [...]
The Double by Fyodor Dostoevsky – review
The Double is another intriguing study of human nature a mans suffering in a meaningless world, a man trying to matter. Set in the 19th century St. Petersburg, we are following a chaotic narration of an allegedly outside storyteller, who nevertheless seems to suspiciously “see” into the internal thoughts of the person they are telling [...]
Essays and Aphorisms by Arthur Schopenhauer
Human condition is inherently tragic No rose without a thorn. But many a thorn without a rose. Arthur Schopenhauer is the gloomiest of them all, and yet at the very same time, the most consoling. If a reader accepts his offering, it should calibrate their expectations for life to a manageable level, and this may [...]
Paradigm of Action – from Gary John Bishop
Gary John Bishop, author of Unf*ck Yourself and Stop Doing That Sh*t promotes a paradigm of action: cutting through the noise of doubt and overanalysis by committing to immediate action. Paradigm of ActionAction, or lack of it, has been a theme in many recent posts here. My mind sends me off to find more information [...]
Race against the Devil
The sickness is NotGettingShitDone. The symptom is a depressed feeling. Medicine? Getting shit done. Get over yourself. Pay attention to what is in your power and put the effort there. Don't get distracted. No helplessness. The anxiety and the depression live in harmony with inactivity. Medicine: Figure out how you want to spend this day: [...]
Perceptions
But what are you doing here, Perceptions? Get back to where you came from, and good riddance. I don't need you. Yes, I know, it was only force of habit that brought you. No, I'm not angry with you. Just go away.- Marcus Aurelius 7.17a That's what you say to perceptions and automatic thoughts, to [...]
Get the benefits of surviving a disaster – from the comfort of your own couch!
Catchy title, isn’t it? I just finished reading a wonderful Modern Stoic book called “A Guide to the Good Life”, by William B. Irvine. The book is a treasure trove of practical wisdom, from ancients, refurbished. An insightful and useful practice Irvine brings up multiple times in his book is Negative Visualisation. Negative Visualisation is [...]
Forget the future
Forget the future. When and if it comes, you'll have the same resources to draw on - the same logos.Marcus Aurelius 7.8 When and if it comes. You don't know what happens. It may never come for you, and all you worry now is for nothing. When it comes, it will be dealt with then. [...]
Is my intellect up to this?
This morning I read again good old Marcus and was confronted by two passages that stopped me in my tracks. 7.5 and 7.7 I’ll provide the exact quotes in a bit, but first I’m going to ask /you/ a question: Do you do bullshit like this? Wanting to appear “smart” and “knowledgeable”, you don’ t [...]
Fate Permitting 