Mar 18 : "Meditations" - Marcus Aurelius

Earlier this winter, "The Today Show" did an interview with former President Bill Clinton on the topic of notable books from 2011.

Pres. Clinton spoke about a few of his favorite books from the past year and why he would recommend them to viewers. But one comment he made stuck in my mind, and that was that there was one book that he read each year, "Meditations", by Marcus Aurelius.

I had never heard anybody in any capacity say that they read any book every year. I was intrigued. I thought this was something worth checking out.

Marcus Aurelius was Emperor of Rome from the year 161 to 180. He wrote these "meditations" as thoughts for his own self guidance and self-improvement. They were never intended to be read by the larger public.

"Meditations" is divided into twelve "books", and the format is similar to the Bible in that the sentences or verses are numbered.

What struck me in reading the book was the similarity of human nature then and now. I found some of his observations had resonance in today's world. But there are also substantial portions of the writings that are very esoteric, only relevant if you're a world leader planning battles.

The thrust of some of his ideas advocate being one with nature and not trying to fight the way nature is. From Book VII, verse 9 :::

All things are mutually intertwined, and the bond is holy, and there is hardly anything unconnected with any other thing. For things have been coordinated, and they combine to form one universal order. For there is one universe made up of all things, and one God who pervades all things, and one substance, and one law, one common reason in all intelligent animals, and one truth; if indeed there is also one perfection for all animals that are of the same stock and participate in the same reason.

He talks frequently about our creating problems for ourselves by allowing our minds to obsess on issues over which we may or may not have control, thereby not leaving enough room in our thought processes to maximize our capabilities in other areas.

He also talks about self-destructive thought patterns in the way we react to and with others.

It's an intriguing book; I'd recommend you take a look at it. The library has several copies; I'm returning mine in a day or two.

Here's some more information about the book and the author ::: "Meditations" / more information (CLICK HERE)

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Update Sep 02, 2019

James Mattis was interviewed yesterday on "CBS Sunday Morning". I was in awe when he said that his library once held over 7,000 volumes ... and he's read most of them.

And one of the books he values most and always kept by his side in battle was "Meditations". He's marked up his own copy with plenty of notes and observations.