Dying Every Day
Episodes about this book
2 episodes266: The Ultimate Shiny New Object
One host shares this as a recent personal read, describing it as an account of Seneca's troubled relationship with his pupil Emperor Nero and the question of why Seneca stayed at court despite Nero's infamous conduct. He says the book answered a long-held question for him and prompted reflection on trying to change people who cannot be changed, noting that even history's smartest people fell into that trap. He credits author James Romm while acknowledging the book is not uplifting.
258: Personal Defaults
One of the hosts is halfway through this book and finding it illuminating. They had long been curious how Seneca could write such inspiring philosophy while serving as advisor to Nero, and the book is giving them new perspective on Seneca, particularly around how easy it is to compromise one's values and how hard it is to undo that compromise.
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