--- product_id: 4762605 title: "Discourses and Selected Writings (Penguin Classics)" price: "€ 32.30" currency: EUR in_stock: true reviews_count: 13 url: https://www.desertcart.be/products/4762605-discourses-and-selected-writings-penguin-classics store_origin: BE region: Belgium --- # Discourses and Selected Writings (Penguin Classics) **Price:** € 32.30 **Availability:** ✅ In Stock ## Quick Answers - **What is this?** Discourses and Selected Writings (Penguin Classics) - **How much does it cost?** € 32.30 with free shipping - **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship - **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.be](https://www.desertcart.be/products/4762605-discourses-and-selected-writings-penguin-classics) ## Best For - Customers looking for quality international products ## Why This Product - Free international shipping included - Worldwide delivery with tracking - 15-day hassle-free returns ## Description A new translation of the influential teachings of the great Stoic philosopher Despite being born into slavery, Greco-Roman philosopher Epictetus became one of the most influential thinkers of his time. Discourses and Selected Writings is a transcribed collection of informal lectures given by the philosopher around AD 108. A gateway into the life and mind of a great intellectual, it is also an important example of the usage of Koine or “common” Greek, an ancestor to Standard Modern Greek. Review: The best of stoicism - Many describe Epictetus's "Discourses" as a self-help book. While I understand where this is coming from, I don't entirely agree. Epictetus doesn't really teach you strategies for how to reshape desire, he just tells you to do so. He focuses primarily on the "why" rather than the "how". For this reason, I can't really recommend it for a typical self-help audience. However, if you are interested in philosophy or ethics, I highly recommend. Much of the book focuses on the duality of desire and aversion, freedom and slavery, happiness and misery - all with the central theme of individual empowerment. Instead of molding the outside world to fit our preferences (which results in unhappiness as Epictetus argues), we should focus that attention inward to reshape our desires. Contrast this against the post-enlightenment view that we should manipulate and design society for our idealistic ends. I really like what he teaches about nerves. We worry about how an audience will receive us, which is outside our control. He calls this an "external", and it is not healthy to bother with externals. That said, there are some teachings that I hesitate to accept. I struggle with the idea that we should just passively endure abuse. I understand his arguments: that it harms the abuser more than ourselves, that it strengthens our resolve, that one should separate the body from the mind. Still, it doesn't sit right with me. This disconnect probably boils down to the fact that Epictetus was born into slavery and thus has a unique perspective on suffering. Translator did a good job. He preserves Epictetus's wit and style, making the book very readable. Useful notes for context, too. A great read that gives you a lot to chew on. Review: Epictetus - On a personal tier list... This deserves a spot in A tier. (Would've been S-Tier. But didn't make the cut) This specific print comes with 3 books in one. Discourses, Fragments, and Enchiridion. Warning: if you care about this then, this print specifically has grammatical errors. The book can come across as blunt. In some of his points, he refers to you as an idiot. Is this bad? That depends solely on the reader. To start off, I FILLED this book up with underlines and personal notes. In my eyes, this is a great sign that I REALLY enjoyed the book. And it shows! Because Epictetus is a teacher, he does a good job at laying the foundation. He has also said things that fell in line with my personal beliefs. For example, his section on "The treatment of slaves." (I really shouldn't be comparing, but I prefer Seneca's breakdown because his letter on the topic had more depth) There are points where he talks about God. In my own experience, these didn't impact me as much. But I do feel as if someone else could hold different opinions. That's really about it. Final rating: 4.5/5 ## Technical Specifications | Specification | Value | |---------------|-------| | Best Sellers Rank | #7,073 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) #11 in Ancient Greek History (Books) #14 in Ancient & Classical Literature #16 in Ancient Greek & Roman Philosophy | | Customer Reviews | 4.8 out of 5 stars 3,700 Reviews | ## Images ![Discourses and Selected Writings (Penguin Classics) - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/91KERqQphkL.jpg) ## Available Options This product comes in different **Media Format** options. ## Customer Reviews ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ The best of stoicism *by D***N on February 18, 2026* Many describe Epictetus's "Discourses" as a self-help book. While I understand where this is coming from, I don't entirely agree. Epictetus doesn't really teach you strategies for how to reshape desire, he just tells you to do so. He focuses primarily on the "why" rather than the "how". For this reason, I can't really recommend it for a typical self-help audience. However, if you are interested in philosophy or ethics, I highly recommend. Much of the book focuses on the duality of desire and aversion, freedom and slavery, happiness and misery - all with the central theme of individual empowerment. Instead of molding the outside world to fit our preferences (which results in unhappiness as Epictetus argues), we should focus that attention inward to reshape our desires. Contrast this against the post-enlightenment view that we should manipulate and design society for our idealistic ends. I really like what he teaches about nerves. We worry about how an audience will receive us, which is outside our control. He calls this an "external", and it is not healthy to bother with externals. That said, there are some teachings that I hesitate to accept. I struggle with the idea that we should just passively endure abuse. I understand his arguments: that it harms the abuser more than ourselves, that it strengthens our resolve, that one should separate the body from the mind. Still, it doesn't sit right with me. This disconnect probably boils down to the fact that Epictetus was born into slavery and thus has a unique perspective on suffering. Translator did a good job. He preserves Epictetus's wit and style, making the book very readable. Useful notes for context, too. A great read that gives you a lot to chew on. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Epictetus *by N***N on May 1, 2026* On a personal tier list... This deserves a spot in A tier. (Would've been S-Tier. But didn't make the cut) This specific print comes with 3 books in one. Discourses, Fragments, and Enchiridion. Warning: if you care about this then, this print specifically has grammatical errors. The book can come across as blunt. In some of his points, he refers to you as an idiot. Is this bad? That depends solely on the reader. To start off, I FILLED this book up with underlines and personal notes. In my eyes, this is a great sign that I REALLY enjoyed the book. And it shows! Because Epictetus is a teacher, he does a good job at laying the foundation. He has also said things that fell in line with my personal beliefs. For example, his section on "The treatment of slaves." (I really shouldn't be comparing, but I prefer Seneca's breakdown because his letter on the topic had more depth) There are points where he talks about God. In my own experience, these didn't impact me as much. But I do feel as if someone else could hold different opinions. That's really about it. Final rating: 4.5/5 ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Absolutely incredible *by J***N on August 27, 2026* The most powerful stoic book I’ve ever read. It has genuinely changed my life. I think about the principles from this book on a daily basis. There are hundreds of quotes in this book that will change your life. The fact that they’re all in the same book is incredible. ## Frequently Bought Together - Discourses and Selected Writings (Penguin Classics) - Meditations (Penguin Classics) --- ## Why Shop on Desertcart? - 🛒 **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** — Serving international shoppers since 2016 - 🌍 **Shop Globally** — Access 737+ million products across 21 categories - 💰 **No Hidden Fees** — All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price - 🔄 **15-Day Free Returns** — Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members) - 🔒 **Secure Payments** — Trusted payment options with buyer protection - ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** — Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews **Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.be/products/4762605-discourses-and-selected-writings-penguin-classics](https://www.desertcart.be/products/4762605-discourses-and-selected-writings-penguin-classics) --- *Product available on Desertcart Belgium* *Store origin: BE* *Last updated: 2026-10-22*