Book · 2017
How to Be a Stoic
by Massimo Pigliucci
A philosopher uses Epictetus as a conversation partner to translate Stoic practice into a secular, atheism-compatible framework for daily life.
What does Reddit think of How to Be a Stoic?
r/Stoicism owns this one: 77 of 81 mentions come from there, with broadly positive sentiment. Pigliucci's book gets placed consistently in the beginner tier of r/Stoicism reading lists, usually below the primary sources (Meditations, the Discourses) but above everything else as the first step. The atheism compatibility point matters to the sub: a ↑62 comment explicitly credits Pigliucci's own atheism as evidence that the logos can be read naturalistically rather than as a deity. r/philosophy adds a secondary signal at ↑60, pointing to a Pigliucci talk that draws directly on the book and framing the Epictetus dialogue structure as a useful scaffold. The criticism, when it surfaces, is structural: the ↑103 comment at the top of the data doesn't name the book but outlines the core tension — Stoicism is a practice, not a reading list, and no book substitutes for application. Pigliucci would probably agree.
Community feedback & reader fit
Themes
- · Stoicism as a secular practice
- · The role of Epictetus as guide
- · Memento Mori and the contemplation of death
- · Weekly exercises and practical application
- · Stoicism's compatibility with atheism
Common praise
- + r/Stoicism (↑59) calls it the best book for getting started, citing both explanation and tactical exercises.
- + The Epictetus dialogue format makes abstract doctrines concrete without dumbing them down.
- + Pigliucci's own atheism, noted at ↑62, makes it the go-to recommendation for secular readers who want the philosophy without the theology.
- + Chapter 6 gets named (↑41) as specifically useful for readers navigating faith alongside Stoic practice.
Common criticism
- − The ↑103 comment doesn't attack the book directly but frames the category problem: no book teaches you to be Stoic — practice does.
- − r/Stoicism positions it below the primary sources in every tiered reading list, meaning it's a stepping stone, not a destination.
- − Readers who want tactically specific weekly exercises get pointed toward Pigliucci's later books, not this one.
- − Three mentions in r/philosophy and one in r/askphilosophy suggest it doesn't travel much outside dedicated Stoicism communities.
Who it's for
You've heard about Stoicism but you're not starting with the Discourses cold. This is the correct book for that situation. If you're an atheist who's been told Stoicism requires a commitment to cosmic reason as a deity, r/Stoicism's ↑62 comment settles that directly: Pigliucci wrote the book and he's an atheist. Read this first, then move to Meditations and the Discourses. If you're already doing the primary sources, you've outgrown it.
Mentions over time
Top subreddits
Which Reddit comments matter for How to Be a Stoic?
Top-upvoted quotes across the subreddits where this book is mentioned. 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…
“> We are often presented with terrible misfortunes in life, but the way we react and handle them is all our own doing. This sentiment is obviously easier said than done. Telling people *how* to attain mastery over their reactions to life is worth much more than simply noting that it's possible. Not…
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Readers also mention
Books that share discussion threads with How to Be a Stoic — counted from the comments, not curated.
How to Think Like a Roman Emperor
Donald Robertson
Donald Robertson follows Marcus Aurelius from student to emperor, using the Meditations as a manual for cognitive therapy anyone can apply today.
Stoicism and the Art of Happiness
Donald Robertson
Donald Robertson rebuilds the full Stoic system from primary sources and maps its logic onto the cognitive-behavioral techniques Marcus Aurelius was actually using.
A Guide to the Good Life
William B. Irvine
A philosophy professor stress-tests Stoic practice on his own life and hands you the manual: negative visualization, voluntary discomfort, and the trichotomy of control.
The Daily Stoic
Ryan Holiday
Ryan Holiday turns Stoic passages into a 366-day reading habit, and r/Stoicism's 250 mentions can't decide if that's a gateway or a ceiling.
Meditations
Marcus Aurelius
The Roman emperor's private notebook — written to himself in Greek, never meant to be published — became the Stoic canon's most-cited text 1,800 years later.
Enchiridion
Epictetus
A freed slave's 2,000-year-old field manual for deciding what you control — and letting go of everything else.
How to Be a Stoic — frequently asked
Is How to Be a Stoic compatible with atheism?+
Yes. r/Stoicism settles this at ↑62: Massimo Pigliucci, the author, is an atheist. The comment specifically addresses claims that Stoicism requires belief in logos as a deity, arguing instead for a naturalistic reading — closer to Einstein's 'god' than a personal one. This makes How to Be a Stoic one of the few beginner Stoicism books that doesn't require the reader to bracket a religious objection to proceed.
How does How to Be a Stoic fit into r/Stoicism's recommended reading list?+
It sits at the top of the beginner tier, consistently. The ↑73 comment places it first among beginner texts, ahead of Being Better and the subreddit FAQ. Veteran-tier reading starts with Meditations, the Discourses, and Seneca's Essays. How to Be a Stoic is positioned as the book you read before those, not instead of them.
Should I read How to Be a Stoic or How to Think Like a Roman Emperor first?+
r/Stoicism treats both as beginner books, but they appear in different threads. How to Be a Stoic uses Epictetus as its primary interlocutor; How to Think Like a Roman Emperor follows Marcus Aurelius. Several r/Stoicism lists include both without ranking one above the other. If you're drawn to Epictetus and want a philosopher's framing, start here. If Marcus Aurelius is the entry point, go to Robertson's book.
Does How to Be a Stoic replace reading the primary sources?+
No, and r/Stoicism is clear about this. The ↑103 comment at the top of the data — don't let others tell you how to be Stoic, but read the classics — reflects the sub's standard position. Pigliucci's book is an introduction to the framework; the Discourses and Meditations are the actual text of the tradition. The sub recommends reading both.