The Stoic Challenge

Some people bounce back in response to setbacks; others break. We often think that these responses are hardwired, but fortunately, this is not the case.

Philosopher William B. Irvine combines key lessons from the ancient Stoics—thinkers including Marcus Aurelius and Seneca—with modern psychological techniques such as anchoring and framing to develop a surprisingly simple strategy for dealing with life’s unpleasant surprises.

These include minor setbacks like being caught in a traffic jam or having a flight cancelled, as well as major setbacks, like those experienced by physicist Stephen Hawking, who slowly lost the ability to move, and surfer Bethany Hamilton, who lost an arm to a shark.

The Stoic Challenge offers practical and accessible wisdom to help us face whatever life throws our way, showing that resilience is not just the ability to bounce back but a skill that can be developed.