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How to Give
An Ancient Guide to Giving and Receiving
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See moreTo give and receive well may be the most human thing you can do - but it is also the closest you can come to divinity. So argues the great Roman Stoic thinker Seneca (c. 4 BCE65 CE) in his longest and most searching moral treatise, "On Benefits" ( De Beneficiis
Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and
still learning, it may not be perfect - your
feedback is welcome!
Description
To give and receive well may be the most human thing you can do, but it is also the closest you can come to divinity. So argues the great Roman Stoic thinker Seneca (c. 4 BCE–65 CE) in his longest and most searching moral treatise, On Benefits (De Beneficiis). James Romm's splendid new translation of essential selections from this work conveys the heart of Seneca's argument that generosity and gratitude are among the most important of all virtues.
For Seneca, the impulse to give to others lies at the very foundation of society; without it, we are helpless creatures, worse than wild beasts. But generosity did not arise randomly or by chance. Seneca sees it as part of our desire to emulate the gods, whose creation of the earth and heavens stands as the greatest gift of all. Seneca's soaring prose captures his wonder at that gift, and expresses a profound sense of gratitude that will inspire today's readers.
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How to Give
To give and receive well may be the most human thing you can do, but it is also the closest you can come to divinity. So argues the great Roman Stoic thinker Seneca (c. 4 BCE–65 CE) in his longest and most searching moral treatise, On Benefits (De Beneficiis). James Romm's splendid new translation of essential selections from this work...Hardback$5499Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 2-3 weeks -
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Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?
This book draws praise for James Romm's engaging translation, highlighting themes of anonymous giving and grateful receiving in the context of Stoic philosophy. Reviewers note the wisdom and relevance of Seneca's insights on the dynamics of giving and receiving. The introduction and commentary by Romm are commended for their clarity and depth, making How to Give valuable for understanding both the timeless principles of philanthropy and the nuances of gratitude.
Book Details
INFORMATION
ISBN: 9780691192093
Publisher: Princeton University Press
Format: Hardback
Date Published: 20 October 2020
Country: United States
Imprint: Princeton University Press
Contributors:
- Edited and translated by James S. Romm
Audience: General / adult
DIMENSIONS
Width: 114.0mm
Height: 171.0mm
Weight: 250g
Pages: 288
About the Author
James Romm is the editor and translator of Seneca's How to Keep Your Cool and How to Die (both Princeton) and the author of Dying Every Day: Seneca at the Court of Nero. He has written for the Wall Street Journal, the New York Review of Books, and the London Review of Books, among other publications. He is the James H. Ottaway Jr. Professor of Classics at Bard College and lives in Barrytown, New York.
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