If you think journaling is just a modern-day past time, think again, because this is actually the book that started it all. Written by one of the greatest Roman emperors of all time, this book gives us access to the philosophical musings and life experiences of Marcus Aurelius, as he does his utmost to be a fair, generous and wise leader. 

Since it was never meant for publication, the text shows the authentic journey of a man trying to conduct himself morally and to leave the world in a better state than he found it. By reading it, you'll find invaluable Stoic lessons to apply to daily life, as well as the encouragement you need to keep pursuing Stoic virtue despite all the imperfections and failings we are plagued with as human beings. You can find a free e-book here. 

Seneca the Younger was an an Ancient Roman senator, playwright and Stoic and his "Letters from a Stoic" (also known as "Letters to Lucillius") are his advice to younger peers on how to approach various moral challenges. 

If you compare the wealth of Seneca to that of the average citizen of Rome at that time, you might even consider him the proto-billionaire. His writing is living proof that you can remain ethical even amidst wild professional success if you make it a priority.

Knowing how to handle good fortune when it befalls you, while remembering that it can vanish in a second is just as important as learning how to keep your chin up when luck just doesn't seem to come your way. This book can give you a few pointers on that.

If you thought a Roman emperor makes for an odd philosopher, you'll be even more surprised by Epictetus, who started out as a slave in Ancient Rome, but was later released through the generosity of his master (who also allowed him to get an education). I bet he can teach us all a thing or two about embracing your destiny.

"Enchiridion" means handbook, so this gives you a hint on how to use this book: as a Stoic user's guide to life and its meanderings. 

Epictetus himself never wrote down his lectures, but they have transpired through his student, Arrian. (Shoutout to Arrian, we owe you one, man!) You can find a free e-book here. 

Viktor Frankl went through an ordeal unimaginable for most: he survived several concentration camps and lost his entire family in the process. 

He's as Stoic as they come and has plenty to teach you about how to deal with adversity and how you might go about finding the meaning of your life.

This book should be a permanent fixture on the nightstand of any Stoic - it will bring that much needed glimmer of hope in the darkest of times.  

James Stockdale was a prisoner of war in Vietnam for over 7 years. He attributes his courage to face his destiny unflinchingly to Epictetus, whose voice guided him through the darkest days.

His memoir is living proof that philosophy can have practical applications and has been described as "Stoicism in a nutshell". 

If he was able to endure so much thanks to the Stoics, what makes you think your problems can't be helped by the same timeless wisdom? 

This is the shortest introduction to Stoicism I could find, but it does the job with flying colors. If you're pressed for time, this little gem distills the key takeaways of the philosophy in less than 100 pages, so that you can start applying it immediately. 

Perhaps the most important question that it answers is how we can use reason to live happier and more fulfilled lives, which is the gist of what Marcus Aurelius, Epictetus and Seneca were preaching.

Definitely get your hands on this one and let it be the gateway to the other books on this list.

Once you've familiarized yourself with the main tenets of the philosophy, you're going to want to learn more about how you can practice it and the exercises in this book are going to help you do just that.

I especially liked the section on Stoic advice, which is full of practical suggestions of how to deal with that which is eternally human: duty, relationships, negative emotions, temptations and old age, to name a few. 

Massimo writes in the voice of the professor you loved in college because he always came up with words of timeless wisdom, while also being attuned to what was happening in your world. You know, the professor you actually listened to because he wasn't living in the ivory tower where most academics hide.

His introduction to Stoicism is one of my favourites because it is written as a kind of dialogue with Epictetus that touches on all the important topics of life, from ethics to spirituality and even death and suicide.

Novice and seasoned Stoics alike are bound to get something out of this one, so be sure to grab a copy!

If the previous book showed us a glimpse into the mind of Epictetus, this one takes us on a journey through the thought process of Marcus Aurelius. 

Not only will you learn about the Stoic principles he applied to his own life and leadership, but also about the historical context of Rome during that time and how the illustrious emperor managed to influence it. 

The book is extremely well researched and will leave you with a lot of Stoic mental models that will help you become more resilient and less anxious.

If you're looking for an introduction to Stoicism that strikes a balance between theory and exercises, this book is your best bet! 

Jonas gives a brief introduction to the philosophy and its most famous proponents, then moves to explain how its main tenets can be applied to daily life through a series of both abstract thought experiments and practical exercises to tackle concrete situations.

Get a copy for yourself or for the friend who's been struggling with 'adulting' lately - they'll appreciate the thought.

Written by a lawyer, Stoic ethics features predominantly in this one, but the author also explores topics beyond morality and virtue. 

The structure of the book is also quite different than all the others on the list: you'll find abundant quotes from the OG Stoics, followed by commentary on what the passages might actually mean. 

In short, if you're looking for a guide on your Stoic reading quests, this might prove to be the best companion out there. 

If you're a Marcus Aurelius fanboy or fangirl and you want to go deeper into the meaning and interpretation of his personal flavor of Stoicism, this is just the book for you. 

Hadot was a historian, so he provides the much needed context that facilitates the understanding of Marcus and his times. 

The text abounds in quotes, so going through it is like re-reading of the "Meditations" accompanied by a sage guide who explains the tougher passages to you just when you need it most.

This book is for more advanced students of Stoicism, as it is written in more of an academic tone. That doesn't mean you shouldn't try to read it though - quite the contrary! - just that you should arm yourself with a little bit of patience before you do so.

The author argues that if Stoicism had survived and would have benefitted from the advancements of science, it would have undergone a couple of changes that would have secularized it and thus made it a better fit for us moderns. He imagines what these alterations are and proposes a version of the philosophy that you will find refreshing and that you will want to incorporate into your daily existence.

I'm sure the Ancient Stoics would have advocated for the planet, had they lived in this day and age and I have to admit that Kai & Leonidas really carved out a niche for themselves by linking environmentalism with philosophy in their book. 

This pick is for those who are already familiar with Stoicism, but would like to see how it could be applied when thinking about contemporary issues. While you might not agree with the authors on all of their interpretations, this book is still worth reading as food for thought. 

This is the book that brought Stoicism back into the spotlight, so it rightfully deserves a place on this list. Its appeal lies in the fact that it combines short Stoic quotes with a possible interpretation and serves them in bite-sized chunks of one per day. 

While the book itself is worth buying for those who want to meditate on a Stoic idea every day, you can safely skip the companion journal. It doesn't add much value beyond prompting you with a question for the day's topic.

This book promises to show you how a Stoic goes about "turning adversity to advantage" - an ambitious goal that it actually delivers on. 

The book follows the broader theme of the 3 Stoic disciplines (perception, action, will) to give countless examples of how you can organize your life so that you don't only face whatever comes your way, but actually thrive in the process.

Each subtopic is a few pages long and is perfect for a quick bedtime read to replace your doom-scrolling. You won't miss your phone, I'll guarantee it!

The author of my next pick, Matt van Natta - of "Good Fortune" podcast fame - has managed to summarize the main ideas of Stoicism in a very accessible format that still manages to maintain the depth of thought of the original thinkers. This is a great book for those just starting out with the philosophy.

The only objection I have is that positivity is so prominent in his introduction to Stoic thinking - not that there's anything wrong with that. While it's nice to imagine that Marcus & the gang welcomed adversity in their lives with a smile on their face, it's more likely that they practiced acceptance rather than felt joy when something bad happened to them. An over-abundance of positive thinking when rationality is called for is not really what they would have advocated for. 

The premise of this book is that ego - that aggrandising sense of self-importance - is what stands between us and success and that learning to control it holds the key to triumph.

Each of the book's 3 parts ("Aspire", "Success", "Failure") is a collection of short essay-like texts which can be consumed quickly and pack a punch of wisdom and advice for conquering "our greatest opponent". 

Give this book a try if you've ever felt that you're sometimes getting in your own way when it comes to reaching your goals.  

I know I've mentioned Donald Robertson on this list already, but I couldn't skip this pick, since it's so different from all the others. 

"Verissimus" is the first graphic novel with a Stoic theme and it sets out to introduce the teachings of Marcus Aurelius in an easily-digestible format. You can get through it in an afternoon, but its lessons will stay with you far longer. 

This one also doubles as a gift for the little ones in your life, whom you might want to introduce to philosophy. They'll be captivated by the gorgeous art and engrossing story and will find a hero worthy of emulating in Marcus.