Epictetus was born into slavery about 55 ce in the eastern outreaches of the Roman Empire. Once freed, he established an influential school of Stoic philosophy, stressing that human beings cannot control life, only their responses to it. By putting into practice the ninety-three witty, wise, and razor-sharp instructions that make up The Art of Living, readers learn to meet the challenges of everyday life successfully and to face life's inevitable losses and disappointments with grace.

Happiness and freedom begin with a clear understanding of one principle: Some things are within our control, and some things are not. It is only after you have faced up to this fundamental rule and learned to distinguish between what you can and can't control that inner tranquility and outer effectiveness become possible." The Stoic philosopher Epictetus was born on the eastern edges of the Roman Empire in A.D. 55, but The Art of Living is still perfectly suited for any contemporary self-help or recovery program. To prove the point, this modern interpretation by Sharon Lebell casts the teachings in up-to-date language, with phrases like "power broker" and "casual sex" popping up intermittently. But the core is still the same: Epictetus keeps the focus on progress over perfection, on accomplishing what can be accomplished and abandoning unproductive worry over what cannot.

Prologue vii
The Spirit of Epictetus ix
A Manual for Living
Invitation to the Manual 2(1)
Know What You Can Control and What You Can't 3(1)
Stick with Your Own Business 4(1)
Recognize Appearances for What They Really Are 5(1)
Desire Demands Its Own Attainment 6(1)
See Things for What They Are 7(2)
Harmonize Your Actions with the Way Life Is 9(1)
Events Don't Hurt Us, But Our Views of Them Can 10(1)
No Shame, No Blame 11(1)
Create Your Own Merit 12(2)
Focus on Your Main Duty 14(1)
Accept Events As They Occur 15(1)
Your Will Is Always Within Your Power 16(1)
Make Full Use of What Happens to You 17(1)
Care for What You Happen to Have 18(1)
The Good Life Is the Life of Inner Serenity 19(1)
Disregard What Doesn't Concern You 20(1)
Conform Your Wishes to Reality 21(1)
Approach Life As a Banquet 22(1)
Avoid Adopting Other People's Negative Views 23(1)
Act Well the Part that Is Given to You 24(1)
Everything Happens for a Good Reason 25(1)
Happiness Can Only Be Found Within 26(1)
No One Can Hurt You 27(1)
Spiritual Progress Is Made Through Confronting Death and Calamity 28(1)
Implant in Yourself the Ideals You Ought to Cherish 29(1)
The Pursuit of Wisdom Attracts Critics 30(1)
Seeking to Please Is a Perilous Trap 31(1)
Character Matters More Than Reputation 32(2)
All Advantages Have Their Price 34(1)
Make the Will of Nature Your Own 35(1)
Self-Mastery Is Our True Aim 36(1)
Treasure Your Mind, Cherish Your Reason, Hold to Your Purpose 37(1)
Consider What Comes First, Then What Follows, and Then Act 38(4)
Our Duties Are Revealed by Our Relations with One Another 42(3)
The Essence of Faithfulness 45(2)
Events Are Impersonal and Indifferent 47(2)
Never Suppress a Generous Impulse 49(1)
Clearly Define the Person You Want to Be 50(1)
Speak Only with Good Purpose 51(2)
Avoid Most Popular Entertainment 53(1)
Be Careful About the Company You Keep 54(2)
Take Care of Your Body 56(1)
Avoid Casual Sex 57(1)
Don't Defend Your Reputation or Intentions 58(1)
Conduct Yourself with Dignity 59(1)
Emulate Worthy Role Models 60(1)
Exercise Discretion When Conversing 61(1)
Prefer Enduring Satisfaction to Immediate Gratification 62(1)
Take a Stand 63(1)
Courtesy and Logic Each Have Their Place 64(1)
Self-Mastery Depends on Self-Honesty 65(1)
Safeguard Your Reason 66(1)
Observe Proper Proportion and Moderation 67(1)
Inner Excellence Matters More Than Outer Appearance 68(1)
Care About Your Mind More Than Your Body 69(2)
Mistreatment Comes from False Impressions 71(1)
Everything Has Two Handles 71(1)
Clear Thinking Is Vital 72(1)
Call Things by Their Right Names 73(1)
Wisdom Is Revealed Through Action, Not Talk 74(1)
Live Simply for Your Own Sake 75(1)
Wisdom Depends on Vigilance 76(1)
Living Wisdom Is More Important Than Knowing About It 77(1)
Practicing Principles Matters More Than Proving Them 78(1)
Start Living Your Ideals 79(2)
Essential Teachings on Virtue, Happiness, and Tranquility 81(34)
Why Be Good? 82(1)
The Soul's Cry 83(1)
The Real Purpose of Philosophy 84(2)
The First Step 86(3)
The Flourishing Life Depends on Self-Sufficiency 89(1)
Starting Out Is Hard 90(1)
Good Is Good 91(1)
Be Suspicious of Convention 92(2)
The Virtuous Are Invincible 94(1)
Be a Citizen of the World 95(1)
Consider Your Deepest Yearnings Merely as Facts 96(1)
The Right Use of Books 97(1)
Exercise Caution When Mingling with Others 98(1)
Forgive Over and Over and Over 99(1)
The Virtuous Are Consistent 100(1)
Trust Your Moral Intuitions 101(1)
Don't Be Angry at Wrongdoers 102(1)
The Only Prosperous Life Is the Virtuous Life 103(1)
Pursue the Good Ardently 104(1)
What Is Important and What Isn't 105(1)
Reason Is Supreme 106(1)
Learn to Heal Yourself 107(1)
Stay the Course, in Good Weather and Bad 108(1)
Be Grateful 109(1)
Never Casually Discuss Important Matters 110(1)
What Makes Us Truly Happy 111(1)
The Power of Habit 112(1)
Caretake This Moment 113(2)
PLUS 115