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Ed Buckner's avatar

Massimo Pigliucci, what's your take on "Ryan Holiday: The Daily Stoic"--he appeared Friday on Bill Maher's show. As watched him, I kept thinking--why isn't Massimo the guest?

Massimo Pigliucci's avatar

Ed, several people have told me about it, I havent's watched it yet. Well, for one thing, Ryan is far more good looking than I am...

Seriously, he is a good popularizer of basic Stoic philosophy, and many people have started with one of his books and then moved to a more in-depth study and practice. He's also a multiple best selling author, while only one of my books achieved that status, so kudos to him.

dick scott's avatar

We are faced with the same enigma Seneca notes, but more our attention spent less on reflection but grappling with many messages Frim many media and no time to reflect and analyze

dick scott's avatar

Bartkeby one of my favorite Melville’s shorts I taught Moby a few years realkfotpr older. I enjoyed his poems, not easy or Fristuan the Prof of American poetrty said’ no. “. Decades decades later a real scholar said no, difficult but very good. Pays to hold opinions and keep in the grasp.

Most others intriguing

Nancy Sherman's avatar

What a wonderful NYT opinion essay you cited on Seneca and attention. Who would have thought reading too many papyri would be the ancient version of doomscrolling!! Thanks Massimo

Massimo Pigliucci's avatar

We really have invented very few new problems, though we have invented a lot of ways to trigger them.