Seneca
On the Shortness of Life and Other Dialogues: what to read next?
Books close in genre, era, author or reading level, to read in bilingual editions.
EpictetusEnchiridionEpictetus, a Stoic philosopher, presents a guide to life based on a key distinction: what depends on us and what does not. Through clear and direct maxims, he encourages control of one’s thoughts, acceptance of external events, and cultivation of inner freedom. Far from…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
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
G. K. ChestertonThe Man Who Was ThursdayGabriel Syme, a poet turned secret agent, infiltrates an anarchist group led by mysterious figures named after the days of the week. As his mission progresses, he discovers that reality is more complex than it seems and that each member hides his true identity. Between chases…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 countrySame genre
Virginia WoolfMrs DallowayClarissa Dalloway, a woman of London high society, prepares a party while revisiting her memories and life choices. Over the course of the day, her thoughts intertwine with those of other characters, including Septimus, a former soldier scarred by the war. Their parallel yet…Same genre
Benjamin FranklinThe Autobiography of Benjamin FranklinFranklin recounts his course from his brother's printing shop in Boston to public affairs in Philadelphia. He describes his self-taught apprenticeship, his first newspapers, the reading societies he founded and his plan for thirteen virtues. The account follows him from…Same genre
Fyodor DostoevskyThe Brothers KaramazovFyodor Karamazov, a debauched father, is set against his eldest son Dmitri over an inheritance and the same woman. Around them Ivan, tormented by the problem of evil, and Alyosha, a novice at the monastery, take opposite paths, while the servant Smerdyakov looks on. When the…Same genre
Friedrich NietzscheBeyond Good and EvilIn nine sections of aphorisms, Nietzsche attacks the prejudices of philosophers and their claim to a disinterested truth. He examines where moral values come from, distinguishes a master morality from a slave morality, and questions the religious certainties of his time. His…Same genre
John Stuart MillOn LibertyThe author examines the foundations of individual freedom in relation to the power of society and the state. He defends the idea that each person must be able to think, speak, and act freely as long as it does not harm others. Through clear and structured reasoning, he warns…Same genre
Yevgeny ZamyatinWeIn the One State, ringed by a wall of glass, people carry numbers and live by a fixed timetable in transparent flats. D-503, engineer of the spaceship Integral, keeps a journal meant for the peoples he will help conquer, until he meets I-330, who pulls him outside the rules.…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