Uploaded May 2026 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
Readers today are surrounded by Stoicism. From self-help channels to productivity culture to social media quotes from Marcus Aurelius, Stoicism has become the default philosophy of modern self-improvement. But after years of reading literature, philosophy, and history, I’ve started to wonder whether readers need something more. In this video, I explore Epicureanism as an alternative to Stoicism—and why the literary life may have more in common with Epicurus than with the modern Stoic movement.
📬 Contact & Collaboration
Voxer: rlray1584
Email: randyray@gmail.com
In this video, we discuss the differences between Stoicism and Epicureanism, the role of friendship and leisure in the good life, and why books themselves may point us toward a more humane and contemplative philosophy of living. Along the way, we’ll also talk about Lonesome Dove and the contrast between Woodrow Call and Gus McCrae as two radically different visions of life.
Recommended Books Mentioned:
- Meditations — Marcus Aurelius
- Letters from a Stoic — Seneca
- Lonesome Dove — Larry McMurtry
- Nicomachean Ethics — Aristotle
- Leisure: The Basis of Culture — Josef Pieper
- The Pleasures of Reading in an Age of Distraction — Alan Jacobs
If you enjoy videos about books, philosophy, reading, and the intellectual life, consider subscribing to the channel.
If you’d like to go deeper into books, philosophy, and the reading life, consider joining my Patreon and the Seriously Well-Read Book Club, where we read great books together and discuss literature, history, philosophy, and the intellectual life in greater depth.
patreon.com/RandyRay
Here's the video I promised about Red River:
youtube.com/live/8sZBFDrekO4?si=6wSLS-toX4gewrV5
#Books #Reading #Stoicism #Epicureanism #Philosophy #Literature #MarcusAurelius #Epicurus #ReadingLife #BookTube #TheLiterateTexan
Readers today are surrounded by Stoicism. From self-help channels to productivity culture to social media quotes from Marcus Aurelius, Stoicism has become the default philosophy of modern self-improvement. But after years of reading literature, philosophy, and history, I’ve started to wonder whether readers need something more. In this video, I explore Epicureanism as an alternative to Stoicism—and why the literary life may have more in common with Epicurus than with the modern Stoic movement.
📬 Contact & Collaboration
Voxer: rlray1584
Email: randyray@gmail.com
In this video, we discuss the differences between Stoicism and Epicureanism, the role of friendship and leisure in the good life, and why books themselves may point us toward a more humane and contemplative philosophy of living. Along the way, we’ll also talk about Lonesome Dove and the contrast between Woodrow Call and Gus McCrae as two radically different visions of life.
Recommended Books Mentioned:
- Meditations — Marcus Aurelius
- Letters from a Stoic — Seneca
- Lonesome Dove — Larry McMurtry
- Nicomachean Ethics — Aristotle
- Leisure: The Basis of Culture — Josef Pieper
- The Pleasures of Reading in an Age of Distraction — Alan Jacobs
If you enjoy videos about books, philosophy, reading, and the intellectual life, consider subscribing to the channel.
If you’d like to go deeper into books, philosophy, and the reading life, consider joining my Patreon and the Seriously Well-Read Book Club, where we read great books together and discuss literature, history, philosophy, and the intellectual life in greater depth.
patreon.com/RandyRay
Here's the video I promised about Red River:
youtube.com/live/8sZBFDrekO4?si=6wSLS-toX4gewrV5
#Books #Reading #Stoicism #Epicureanism #Philosophy #Literature #MarcusAurelius #Epicurus #ReadingLife #BookTube #TheLiterateTexan
