Book · 2017
How to Be a Stoic
by Massimo Pigliucci
A philosopher who doesn't believe in a god teaches Marcus Aurelius's cosmology anyway, arguing Stoicism only ever needed a sense of natural order.
What does Reddit think of How to Be a Stoic?
How to Be a Stoic lives almost entirely in r/Stoicism, 77 of 81 tracked mentions, and the sub treats it as the standard beginner recommendation rather than a debated pick. One reading-list comment (↑73) puts it in the 'Beginner' tier next to Being Better, Stoicism for a World Worth Living In, ahead of the primary texts. The recurring argument isn't about quality. It's about religion: a ↑62 comment cites Massimo Pigliucci's own atheism to correct the idea that Stoicism requires believing in the Logos as a deity. A ↑41 comment points to Chapter 6 specifically for memento mori practice, treating the book as a reference you return to rather than read once. The one dissenting note is structural, not critical: a ↑53 comment warns against treating any single book as a one-time fix for a real problem. Nobody argues you should skip it.
Community feedback & reader fit
Themes
- · beginner Stoicism reading list
- · Stoicism without a god
- · memento mori as chapter homework
- · practice over doctrine
Common praise
- + The r/Stoicism reading-list comment (↑73) puts it in the same beginner tier as Being Better, ahead of Marcus Aurelius himself.
- + A ↑41 comment cites Chapter 6 by name for memento mori practice, treating it as something you look up again, not just read once.
Common criticism
- − A ↑53 comment warns against using any single book, this one included, as a one-time fix for something that needs ongoing practice.
- − The atheism debate in the ↑62 comment exists because some readers assume the book requires believing in a god, a misreading the thread has to keep correcting.
Who it's for
Start here if you want Stoicism explained by someone who wrote it as a practicing atheist, since Pigliucci's own background comes up specifically to preempt the god question. You'll get more out of it treating individual chapters, the memento mori chapter especially, as return visits rather than a straight cover-to-cover read. Looking for a single book to fix a specific crisis fast? r/Stoicism's own regulars will tell you that's the wrong framing regardless of which book you pick.
Mentions over time
Top subreddits
Which Reddit comments matter for How to Be a Stoic?
The most relevant excerpts across the subreddits where this book is mentioned — opinionated, argued takes first, then top-upvoted mentions. Click through to read the full thread.
“Don't let others tell you how to be a stoic, but seek their expirence and apply it as you see fit. Read. A lot. Get the classics (meditations, letters from a stoic, discourses, ect) Stoicism is about doing so apply what you read in your own way. Live the 4 virtues in everything you to. Courage,…
“Ooh, this is a fun idea. * Beginner * *How to be a Stoic* \- Massimo Pigliucci * *Being Better, Stoicism for a World Worth Living In* \- Kai Whiting & Leonidas Konstantakos * r/Stoicism's FAQ. * Veteran * *Meditations* \- Marcus Aurelius …
“Definitely wrong about incompatibility with atheism. Massimo Pigliucci, author of How To Be A Stoic, is atheist, as are many other stoics (myself included). Logos can be defined as a sense of natural order. More like Einstein's 'god' than an actual deity.
“Philosopher of Science Massimo Pigliucci leads this how to on stoicism, starting with an overview of stoicism and its central tenets before sharing a series of practical exercises for becoming a stoic. Pigliucci’s talk is inspired by his latest book How to be a Stoic, which draws on the work of Epic…
“Massimo Pigliucci has some of the best books on getting started, IMO. How to Be a Stoic is great, with solid explanation as well. The others are even more tactical, with a focus on weekly exercises and the like. But some other key practices for me in particular: - Journaling - Answering 1 question…
“Hello OP, how are you? This is not an easy subject to approach, if you have been reading this sub, you probably already know that most of the comments will tell you to go back to the basics of Stoicism, if you so chose to practice Stoicism. If instead you are looking for a one-time, band-aid appro…
“How to be a Stoic, Chapter 6 may be of assistance to you. I am a Christian (Universalist) Stoic so I can attest to the statements you make above. I would say thinking about death (Memento Mori) doesn't exclude you from the hope of an afterlife or another life depending on what you believe. I wo…
“If you're serious about stoicism I would start from the bottom. Things probably won't make sense if you jump right into it and self improvement is a life long project. Massimo Pigliucci has written a book that's really good for beginners called How to be a stoic. It's easy to read and backs everyth…
“Ditch the youtube videos and pick up Massimo Pigliucci's *How to Be a Stoic: Using Ancient Philosophy to Live a Modern Life*.
“Id add a great one I've recently read - How to be a Stoic by Massimo Pigliucci
“Consider buying a copy of Massimo’s “How to Be a Stoic: Using Ancient Philosophy to Live a Modern Life” He’s a well respected scholar and author on the subject.
“I'm currently reading "How to be a Stoic". Not a bad book. I also really liked "A guide to good life" by W.B. Irvine. That was the first book about Stoicism I've read and I think it introduces the basic concepts in a nice and understandable way.
“I asked an amazing stoic I know for books recently, here’s the suggestions I got. Where to start… - 'How to Be A Stoic' by Massimo Pigliucci - 'Lessons in Stoicism' by John Sellars. Both are good but if you want to choose one, pick Pigliucci’s. His daily podcast (Stoic Meditations, just over a m…
“How to be a stoic by Massimo Pigliucci
“> I agree with you. Some people seem to be naturally dispose to a stoic way of thinking. When I discovered Stoicism, I read "How to be a Stoic" and found that it just put into words what I already felt and thought for a long time, it made me conscious of how I already approached many things in life…
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Readers also mention
Books that share discussion threads with How to Be a Stoic — counted from the comments, not curated.
Guides featuring How to Be a Stoic
Ranked best-of lists and editorial guides where this book's tracked mentions place it.
How to Be a Stoic — frequently asked
Is How to Be a Stoic a good entry point if you're not religious?+
Yes, and the subreddit says so directly. A ↑62 r/Stoicism comment cites author Massimo Pigliucci's own atheism to correct the assumption that Stoicism requires believing in the Logos as a deity, comparing it instead to 'Einstein's god,' a sense of natural order. That makes it one of the more explicitly secular-friendly entries in the beginner tier.
Where does How to Be a Stoic rank on r/Stoicism's beginner reading list?+
In the beginner tier. A ↑73 comment groups it there alongside Being Better, Stoicism for a World Worth Living In, before pointing readers toward Meditations, Epictetus's Discourses, and Seneca's letters as the veteran tier. It's framed as a way in, not a substitute for the primary texts.
Is How to Be a Stoic just a summary of Marcus Aurelius?+
No, the displayed threads treat it as its own practical guide rather than a Meditations summary. The ↑41 comment references a specific chapter, six, on memento mori, for its own exercises, and the ↑59 comment calls the explanation solid in its own right, distinct from commentary on the primary texts.
Should you read How to Be a Stoic if you're going through a hard time?+
Carefully. A ↑53 r/Stoicism comment pushes back on treating any book, this one included, as a 'one-time, band-aid approach' to a real crisis, and suggests going back to the sub's basics instead. The book itself isn't criticized, but the framing of it as a quick fix is.