First published 2006
Marcus Aurelius rules the Roman Empire while wrestling with questions that keep him awake at night. In his private journal, he writes thoughts meant only for himself. He asks how a person should live when death comes for everyone. He wonders why people hurt each other when they share the same fate. The emperor records his struggles to control his temper, his efforts to find meaning in daily duties, and his attempts to accept what he cannot change. He writes about soldiers, slaves, and senators he encounters, searching for wisdom in ordinary moments. These personal reflections reveal a powerful man who feels small before the vastness of time and space, yet continues to seek understanding of his place in the world.
Genres: biography, classics, historical-fiction, ancient
Vibes: intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: character-study, introspective
Setting: Roman Empire
Period: Ancient
254 pages · Paperback · Penguin Books