Books That Matter: Meditations

TV Show · Special Interest

One day, about 18 centuries ago, a man with the weight of the world on his shoulders wrote some notes to himself in a journal. We now know these writings as Meditations, penned by Marcus Aurelius Antoninus, Stoic philosopher and Roman emperor. What is it about Stoicism that Marcus found so important then, and that millions find relevant today? Find out in Books That Matter: Meditations.

2025 · 30m

Starring Massimo Pigliucci

EPISODE 1

The Meditations as Philosophical Journal

Marcus Aurelius Antoninus starts his personal philosophical journal by thanking people who brought him to that moment, including his mother and the Roman emperor who adopted him, Antoninus Pius. He also thanks his tutors, including two of the foremost teachers of Stoicism of the day, Epictetus and Quintus Junius Rusticus. Explore Marcus' character by discovering whom he thanks and why.
EPISODE 2

Marcus Aurelius: Emperor Philosopher

Marcus was a product of the Roman Empire at the time of its greatest expanse. Explore how events in the Empire itself affected Marcus' thoughts about divine providence, duties to the great family of humanity, the notion of virtue, and the metaphysical relationships between wholes and parts.
EPISODE 3

Marcus Aurelius Becomes a Stoic

Marcus only mentions Stoicism directly in one passage of Meditations. But whether he used the specific word, Meditations is filled with Stoic ideas. Learn what Marcus and the Stoics before him say about wisdom, courage, justice, temperance, role ethics, and cosmopolitanism-and how they can guide us to live according to our one true purpose in life.
EPISODE 4

Marcus Aurelius on Preparing for the Day

The Stoics believed in God-and they believed God was the same thing as the cosmos itself. Learn how humanity fits into this grand view and how we can determine what is truly important in our lives. You'll be surprised to learn how much of what we typically care about is labeled by Marcus with the apparently oxymoronic phrase "preferred indifferent."
EPISODE 5

Personal Character and the Inner Citadel

If you're trying to get away from your problems by going on vacation, Meditations has a bit of strong language for you: You need a change of soul, not a change of scenery. Marcus suggests turning inward to your "Inner Citadel" where you can analyze what's bothering you and then realize why it's not really a problem. Discover why Marcus writes: "The universe is change; Life is opinion."
EPISODE 6

Make the Best of the Present Moment

One of the most significant distinctions made by the Stoics is the separation between that which we can control and that which we cannot. But once you identify what you can control, then what? Marcus tells us that we must always act to benefit the cosmopolis. Discover the relationships between spirit, reason, and happiness-and Marcus' rational thoughts on death.

Massimo Pigliucci

Host