Epictetus
Enchiridion: what to read next?
Books close in genre, era, author or reading level, to read in bilingual editions.
SenecaOn the Shortness of Life and Other DialoguesSix dialogues by Seneca, each addressed to a friend or relative, are gathered here. The first argues that life is not short but wasted, spent on everything except living; others treat peace of mind, the happy life and studious leisure. The last two consider the firmness of the…Same genre
Henry ThoreauWaldenThoreau, seeking simplicity, settles alone near Walden Pond to live in self-sufficiency. He observes nature, reduces his needs to the bare essentials, and reflects on modern society. Through his experience, he questions work, consumption, and dominant values. This text blends…Same genre
Marcus AureliusMeditationsMarcus Aurelius, emperor and philosopher, records his personal reflections on life, duty, and the human condition. Through his thoughts, he seeks self-mastery and acceptance of the world as it is. He addresses death, time, emotions, and humanity’s place in the universe. This…Same genre
Oscar WildeThe Picture of Dorian GrayDorian Gray, a young man of exceptional beauty, sees his portrait age in his place while he keeps a flawless appearance. Influenced by Lord Henry, a cynical and provocative figure, he abandons himself to a life of boundless pleasure. But every act leaves a mark on his portrait,…Same genre
Osamu DazaiNo Longer HumanThree notebooks, found with a few photographs, tell the life of Ōba Yōzō from childhood on. Convinced early that he understands nothing of other people, he plays the clown so that no one will guess his fear, and takes no rest from the act. As a student in Tokyo he drifts into…Same genre
Herman MelvilleBartleby, the ScrivenerA Wall Street lawyer hires a new copyist, Bartleby, silent and at first beyond reproach. Asked one day to do an ordinary task, the clerk answers that he would prefer not to, and repeats it to every later request. Settled in the office, demanding nothing and yielding nothing, he…Same genre
LaoziTao Te ChingAttributed to Laozi, this work of Chinese wisdom gathers eighty-one short chapters, somewhere between maxim and poem. It turns on the Tao, the way that can be neither named nor grasped, and on the virtue that follows for those who keep to it. It praises water, emptiness and…Same genre
SunziThe Art of WarSunzi, a military strategist, sets out the fundamental principles of war and of victory without direct confrontation. He analyzes how to anticipate, manipulate, and adapt in order to dominate an opponent efficiently. Each idea rests on observation, discipline, and a clear…Same genre
George OrwellAnimal FarmThe animals of Manor Farm drive out their master and set about running the farm themselves, under the banner of equality. The pigs, quickest to learn, take charge of organising the work and writing the rules. Little by little, the rules change, the memories fade, and the new…Same genre
L. M. MontgomeryThe Blue CastleValancy, a young woman stifled by an authoritarian family and a monotonous life, learns she may be seriously ill. This news acts as a trigger: she decides to finally live by her own rules. She breaks away from conventions and meets Barney, a marginal and free-spirited man who…Same genre
Elizabeth von ArnimThe Enchanted AprilFour English women, tired of their monotonous lives, decide to rent a villa in Italy for a sunny getaway. Far from their routines, they discover a space of freedom where their personalities evolve and assert themselves. Between initial tensions and unexpected bonds, each…Same genre
G. K. ChestertonThe Wisdom of Father BrownTwelve detective stories by the English writer G. K. Chesterton, published in 1914. Father Brown, a small, absent-minded-looking Catholic priest, solves cases that baffle the police and the scientists, often with his friend Flambeau, a former criminal turned detective. A…Same genre