"Meditations" is a collection of personal writings addressed by the author to himself. These notes were never intended for publication, and the author had two main goals:
● to define for himself a philosophy of life and the ideal character worth striving for,
● and, as an integral part of his struggle, to try to live in accordance with both.
In this work, Aurelius reflects on a number of universal truths that, even nearly 2000 years later, have not lost their relevance.
Aurelius' approach earned him the title "philosopher king." So, what were his ideas? This work is a testament to the fact that Aurelius is one of the greatest Stoic philosophers. His thoughts have deeply influenced many writers, such as John Steinbeck, and political leaders. For example, former U.S. President Bill Clinton considers it his favorite book.
As a collection of Marcus Aurelius’ philosophical reflections, "Meditations" lacks a clear narrative structure. It consists of 12 books, each focusing on different periods of Aurelius’ life. The books are not arranged in chronological order and vary in length. Apparently, Aurelius recorded his thoughts during military campaigns in Europe. As such, each of the 12 books is presented concisely and touches on a range of well-known themes: living a philosophical life, social relationships, nature, the gods, and mortality.
