On Living and Dying Well

What I like best about the venerable Marcus Tullius is his modesty and his ideas of the divine - he speaks of the divinity of the Universe, something a lot closer to my heart than the perforated evolution of Darwin, like taking the machine apart and seeing how it ticks. The main essay is on Friendship, which he thinks is the best thing in life. Me? I think it is the icing on the cake, and our job is to cultivate our garden, a la Voltaire, so that we will have something to say to our friend (s).

Cisneros was a great orator so way ahead of the times.Great lessons to be learned.

These are new translations by Thomas Habinek of chapters from several of Cicero's works: De Finibus, Cicero: On Moral Ends (Cambridge Texts in the History of Philosophy); Cicero: Tusculan Disputations (Loeb Classical Library); The Nature of the Gods (Oxford World's Classics); De Divinatione and De Amicitia, Cicero: On Old Age On Friendship On Divination (Loeb Classical Library No. 154); On Obligations: De Officiis (Oxford World's Classics).The translations in this collection are good. Generally, in these passages Cicero disills ethical, cognitive, and emotional/soul consequences from Greek philosophical systems. For example, the first essay, “Against Fear of Death” (Book I of the Tusculan Disputations), lays out a way of thinking about death using both logic (what does it mean to say that something that does not exist is unhappy?) and physical theories.

I got interested in reading Cicero after a couple of quotes really hit home with me. Haven't finished the book yet but the translation is accessible and so far I am really liking it.

Very pleased with book

These selections show Cicero's philosophical side. He tends to be very stoic leaning, but also uses logic and science to build upon the works of his contemporaries and those who came before him. Cicero makes one of the clearest caseses for attaining happiness happiness, study, observation and virtue. He centers around truth and encourages others to build on his own works. Simple, yet fascinating, these works best shows Cicero's genius as both an orator, teacher and a philosopher.

Engaging, very readable, but ....Engaging, stylish translations that draw you into the living moments of Cicero’s (Roman) thinking. But, Dear time-strapped Reader, be warned: Habinek’s version needlessly lacks numbered paragraph divisions that considerate editors normally insert for your ease of reading and reference. The disadvantage in ease of reference is immediately apparent, if you try to look up a specific passage in Cicero from some secondary historical work. Whatever the editor may have felt about numbering the paragraphs, the editor has failed the reader. Measure the cost of Habinek’s book in time as well as money; it will definitely exercise, if not fatigue, your patience. Compare also and consider Davie’s translation. Just a suggestion.

Exactly what I asked for.

This book is concerned with the most basic human issues which we all face. Fascinating to hear Cicero's wisdom from the ancient Roman world.

Fine

No issues with the content of the book - my issue is with the horrible printing. This is the second copy of this edition that I've bought and the one that came from Amazon is flimsy, cheap and fragile. Really unpleasant to hold, and the pages feel nasty. My bookshop copy had no such problems.