Classifieds

In the ongoing “Ancient Wisdom for Modern Readers” series from Princeton University Press, "How to Have a Life: An Ancient Guide to Using Our Time Wisely" may be one of the most timely publications with the arrival of a new year. With the inevitable lists of new year resolutions, making the most of our time is often on the list.
In this book, translator James S. Romm, the James H. Ottaway Jr. professor of classics at Bard College, takes excerpts from two of Seneca's works, "On the Shortness of Life" and "Moral Epistles."
Romm begins the book with a brief introduction about the purpose of Seneca's works, and an even more brief biography of who the ancient Roman was. Romm identifies one of Seneca's more important talking points in his introduction when he suggests to "total up the days spent on pedestrian tasks, on meeting the needs of others, or on idle, transitory pleasures. When you look at what's left … you'll see that you're actually dying young."...