About the Book
How do we find calm in times of stress and uncertainty? How do we cope with sudden losses or find meaning in a world that can easily rob us of what we most value? Drawing on the wisdom of Epictetus, Marcus Aurelius, Seneca, and others, Nancy Sherman's Stoic Wisdom presents a compelling, modern Stoicism that teaches grit, resilience, and the importance of close relationships in addressing life's biggest and smallest challenges.
A renowned expert in ancient and modern ethics, Sherman relates how Stoic methods of examining beliefs and perceptions can help us correct distortions in what we believe, see, and feel. Her study reveals a profound insight about the Stoics: They never believed, as Stoic popularizers often hold, that rugged self-reliance or indifference to the world around us is at the heart of living well. We are at home in the world, they insisted, when we are connected to each other in cooperative efforts. We build resilience and goodness through our deepest relationships.
Bringing ancient ideas to bear on 21st century concerns--from workers facing stress and burnout to first responders in a pandemic, from soldiers on the battlefield to citizens fighting for racial justice--Sherman shows how Stoicism can help us fulfil the promise of our shared humanity.
In nine lessons that combine ancient pithy quotes and daily exercises with contemporary ethics and psychology, Stoic Wisdom is a field manual for the art of living well.
Table of Contents:
Lesson Titles
Lesson 1: The Great Stoic Revival
Lesson 2: Who Were the Stoics?
Lesson 3: Finding Calm
Lesson 4: Living with Emotions
Lesson 5: Grit and Resilience
Lesson 6: Healing through Self-Compassion
Lesson 7: Lifehacks
Lesson 8: The Art of Stoic Living
Lesson 9: A Healthy Modern Stoicism
About the Author :
Nancy Sherman is University Professor at Georgetown University, Guggenheim Fellow, member of the American Academy of Arts & Sciences, and the Inaugural Distinguished Chair of Ethics at the United States Naval Academy. Sherman is a New York Times notable author whose publications include Afterwar, The Untold War (a New York Times editors' pick), Stoic Warriors, Making a Necessity of
Virtue, The Fabric of Character, and over 100 articles and essays. An ethicist with research training in psychoanalysis and a Ph.D. from Harvard in ancient philosophy, Sherman lectures worldwide on ethics, the emotions, moral injury, and resilience. She has received honors and awards
for her work from the Guggenheim Foundation, the American Philosophical Society, the Wilson Center, the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Mellon Foundation, and others.
Review :
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.
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
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.
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.
Stoicism is more than two millennia old, and yet Stoicism has become
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
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."
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.
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.
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
Stoicism is directly relevant to the way we live our lives, but it appears at first to make unrealistic demands on us
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.
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.
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
[T]he work is accessible, not dumbed-down, treating Stoicism as a way to 'endure and cultivate inner virtue.'
The book is an excellent example of how the classical world continues to have relevance to issues we face in our own time.
