More Than Happiness: Buddhist and Stoic Wisdom for a Sceptical Age Hardcover – 4 Jan. 2018

You can't get wisdom from reading a book or doing a PhD in some arcane area of 'spirituality'. The latter word comes with all the baggage of commercialised mush. If you try to be discerning, with luck, you'll find a volume like this which in its own very modest way adds to 'wisdom' as a drop of rain adds to watering the fields. This is one of the 'messages' of the book which examines a small part of what we know as Stoicism and Buddhism, examines them and queries them in the realistic paradigm of modern culture.The ghost of Aristotle spreads throughout the pages, for rather than explicate dogmas, slogans, pretty 'fridge magnet' phrases, it seeks moderation, gently suggesting - and no more - how certain aspects of the two traditions may be useful to not 'us' but to 'I', the individual reader.It is beautifully written. It never deviates from the idea that philosophy is or should be a guide to how to live a flourishing, best possible life. That life is limited, constrained and inescapably unsatisfactory. Suffering and mortality alone make it so, hardly an observation unique to Stoicism or Buddhism.I'll keep the book close by. It's full of quotations, and indeed can be read as a book of annotated quotations provided one appreciates it's much more. It deserves slow reading and returns to read again.It's difficult to see it as a 'self-help' book since this associates it with so much rubbish out there. Yet, among the common beliefs of Stoicism and Buddhism is the central emphasis upon following a way, disciplining the mind and being yourself the one, the only source of help in this life.

I was given this book free of charge by the publicist either of the author or the publisher. I don’t know which. Moreover I was only asked if I wanted a free copy. No strings. Not even a request for any publicity.I was taken by the title and subtitle: More Than Happiness: Buddhist and Stoic Wisdom for a Sceptical Age. That said I have read far too many books on Buddhism, and several on the Stoics, so it was with mixed feelings that I sat down to read the book when it arrived shortly before Christmas.Let’s start with the basics. It’s a good read; clear, concise, practical. The author, Antonia Macaro, is a psychotherapist, counsellor and coach, and an author and columnist. She knows her territory well, both factually and experientially.For me personally it was thoroughly enjoyable to read. It challenged my own perceptions and practices in a constructive and highly structured way, and though on a few occasions I disagreed with the author’s conclusions about a particular issue or subject, I felt that this was purely a matter of taste or innate preference on my part rather than any chink in the line of thinking from the author.I also felt I got to know the author a little, and to like the impression of her that came across. Clearly the expertise and experiences she has collated from her work helping others came across in the way she writes; clearly, calmly, measured but still keeping it personal. So this is not a dusty academic paper comparing tow ancient forms of philosophy, but rather, as the subtitle says, an exploration of how to try to be as wise as possible in an age which doesn’t even care to venture into that territory very much any more.I learned more about Stoicism than Buddhism from the book, but again that was personal as I have studied the latter in depth for almost twenty years whilst my engagement with the Stoics, though stretching over a longer period, has been very intermittent. It was a pleasure to be guided through their thinking and suggestions by the author, and the comparisons with Buddhism helped me understand the similarities and differences quite readily.For those who are new to both ways of thinking, seeing and being in this world, I’d heartily recommend this book. It avoids unnecessary jargon, keeps things as simple as possible without detracting from the profundity of the original teachers, and introduces you to, in my opinion. some of the greatest people who ever lived; for me that means the Buddha and Marcus Aurelius. These are excellent life companions to discover, and to go to when life asks big questions of you.For those who are already friends of Stoicism or Buddhism, or both, as I am, I think you’ll find this book a refreshing take on the two great subjects. Like me I guess you’ll disagree with a few of the author’s views, but surely that’s a good thing, otherwise it would have simply been an exercise in reading to the converted. More frequently however I’m sure it will give you that tantalising reminder and refresher that this life is literally awesome but immensely difficult to do well, so we need to go back to the greats, check out what they had to say, and then, with our mental control, our mindfulness, our ethical sensibility, and our awareness that nothing lasts, get on with the challenge of living, moment by moment, to the full.

I enjoyed this book very much but I had some understanding of Buddhism and a little of Stoicism so I could follow the authors reasoning very easily. If I hadn’t had prior knowledge of these philosophies I don’t think I would have learned a great deal about them from this book, however it is useful I think in general terms. Actually it whetted my appetite to read more about Seneca and the pragmatic Marcus Aurelius, the latter sounding very much like a modern man. I’d recommend the book.