Everything Has Two Handles

In the course of this compact and insightful work, Dr. Ronald Pies, tells us a little about what happiness is, and a lot about how toachieve it.

In the course of this compact and insightful work, Dr. Ronald Pies, tells us a little about what happiness is, and a lot about how toachieve it. The first chapter begins with a reminder from the great Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius, that "things do not touch the soul." This, explains Pies, "is the keystone in the arch of Stoic philosophy." In a sense, then, the rest of the book is an extended meditation on how we might avoid letting things touchour souls too much. But, it is much more than simply a meditation. From here, Pies goes on to offer readers a well-researched, often witty explanation of how Stoic philosophy—as it resonates not only with Christian and Judaic, but also with Buddhist and Hindu worldviews—can guide and improve their lives. In the process, he draws on his own considerable clinical experience to offer composite case vignettes, both positive and negative, that illustrate the principles he is discussing.

Part 1 Acknowledgments
Chapter 2 Introduction
Chapter 3 Thinking and Feeling
Chapter 4 Morality and Meaning
Chapter 5 Morality and Self-Respect
Chapter 6 Adversity and Self-Possession
Chapter 7 Perfectionism, Virtue, and Self-Acceptance
Chapter 8 Living in Harmony with the Universe
Chapter 9 Living in the Here and Now
Chapter 10 The Opinion of Others
Chapter 11 The Common Bond of Being
Chapter 12 Character and Happiness
Chapter 13 Contentment with Our Lot
Part 14 References