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The Spiritual Teachings of Seneca

By: Mark Forstater
Binding: Hardcover
Publisher: Hodder Mobius
ISBN: 0340733217
ISBN-13: 9780340733219
Released: 05 Jul 2001
RRP: £12.99
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Customer Reviews

Fuzzy-headed - By: , 26 Jul 2001
.. He begins by relating how close Seneca is to... Jesus, by relating how he was born in the same period & had similar life experiences. Their deaths were also similar. Jesus was a revolutionary philosopher, killed by Romans; Seneca was a court philosopher, also killed by Romans. His historical sketch of the various roman emperors who made Seneca's life 'difficult' is fascinating. You would have to be stoic to live under Caligula, Claudius, & Nero. With digs at Seneca's possible hypocrisy (second richest man in Rome preaching the simple life) you get the feeling Forstater doesn't reallly dig Seneca, he even seems to prefer the rival Epicureans. Stolid politicising versus easy pleasure, you take your choice. Forstater gives up after 70 pages to be followed by Victoria Radin who has none of his narrative gift. And the account is so garbled that you are not sure if Radin is speaking, or if Seneca is speaking. There are a few quotes & direct stories about Seneca, & these are by far the most interesting parts of the text. But these are over powered by lengthy new age ruminations & boring bullet points. It sneaks to two stars on Forstaters writing abilities, but for the spiritual teachings of Seneca I suggest seeking out a good translation by a proper academic, who will hopfully provide some useful references (there isn't one reference in this book, you do not even know where the direct quotations come from, this is unforgivable).