1
of
1
The Illustrated Meditations
Life Lessons from Marcus Aurelius
Brief Description
The twelve books of Meditations were written over 2,000 years ago by the Roman Emperor and philosopher Marcus Aurelius as a personal diary of notes, nudges and mental exercises to help him live a good life. Yet, with their gentle instructions on living stoically, in harmony...
Read More
Format: Hardback
$3499
Unit price
/
Unavailable
AVAILABLE WITH SUPPLIER
Ships from our Auckland warehouse within 4-6 weeks
Found a better price? Request a price match
The Illustrated Meditations
$3499
Unit price
/
Unavailable
Latest News
New Hero Alert! Meet Theresa – our new Warehouse Sidekick
We’re thrilled to welcome Theresa to the Book Hero team! Whenever we bring a new...
Our Rolife Range Is Getting Even Bigger!
Our Rolife range is getting even bigger! We’ve got a huge new shipment on the...
How to Make 1000 Piece Puzzles Easier
1000 piece puzzles can seem a little intimidating, but a few simple tricks can make...
Pick up a Microhistory (and become a very niche expert)
If you've seen people talking about a book about Salt and wondered what was happening...
Lizzy's August Reading
Book Hero team member Lizzy is rounding up her reads for August! Check out what...
See more
Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and
still learning, it may not be perfect - your
feedback is welcome!
Description
The twelve books of Meditations were written over 2,000 years ago by the Roman Emperor and philosopher Marcus Aurelius as a personal diary of notes, nudges and mental exercises to help him live a good life. Yet, with their gentle instructions on living stoically, in harmony with nature and in pursuit of the ‘common good’, they seem the perfect fit for managing the modern malaise. Little wonder that legions of text-only translations are dominating the bestseller lists. The Illustrated Meditations takes all that is admirable about Aurelius, and elevates it. A curated selection of his most significant life lessons are arranged thematically in chapters, and carefully edited to make them mindful of today’s readers. Introductions explain their history and philosophy, and a commentary is provided by a modern philosopher. Most significantly, a selection of fifty meditations are beautifully illuminated with thoughtful and witty commissioned artworks to bring them to life. Whether you wish to be the bee that maintains the good order of the hive, or the rocky cliff that happily endures the constant waves, The Illustrated Meditations is the perfect stoic starting point.
Book Details
INFORMATION
ISBN: 9781917226059
Publisher: Riverside Press
Format: Hardback
Date Published: 27 March 2025
Country: United Kingdom
Imprint: Riverside Press
Illustration: 64 illustrations
Contributors:
- Illustrated by Joanna Lisoweic
Audience: General / adult
DIMENSIONS
Width: 135.0mm
Height: 195.0mm
Weight: 250g
Pages: 192
About the Author
Marcus Aurelius (121–180 CE) was a Roman emperor, general and Stoic philosopher who wrote 12 books of Meditations for his personal instruction. They have since become considered among the greatest works of spiritual reflection ever written –inspiration to generations of readers, and President Bill Clinton’s favourite book.
Also by James Romm
View all-
Dying Every Day
In Dying Every Day, acclaimed classical historian James Romm brings to life the high-stakes drama of ancient Rome, a narrative brimming with murder, madness, tyranny, and perversion. Set against the backdrop of one of history's most tumultuous periods, Romm's work delves into the complex relationship between the philosopher Seneca and the infamous Emperor Nero, a tale woven with intricate plots...Paperback$3400Elsewhere:$4000Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
Demetrius
A portrait of one of the ancient world’s first political celebrities, who veered from failure to success and back again “This colourful biography of Demetrius explores his rich inner life and reveals an ancient world of violence and intrigue.”—New York Times Book Review The life of Demetrius (337–283 BCE) serves as a through-line to the forty years following the death...Paperback$2599Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
The Sacred Band
From classicist James Romm comes a “striking...fascinating” (Booklist) deep dive into the last decades of ancient Greek freedom leading up to Alexander the Great’s destruction of Thebes—and the saga of the greatest military corps of the time, the Theban Sacred Band, a unit composed of 150 pairs of male lovers. The story of the Sacred Band, an elite 300-man corps...Paperback$5200Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 2-3 weeks -
Plato and the Tyrant
Plato is one of history's most influential thinkers, the "sublime philosopher" whose writings remain foundational to Western culture. He is known for the brilliant dialogues in which he depicted his teacher, Socrates, discussing ethical truths with prominent citizens of Athens. Yet the image we have of Plato—an ethereal figure far removed from society and politics, who conjured abstract ideas in...Hardback$6099Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 3-4 weeks -
Demosthenes
The tragic story of ancient Greece's last democratic leader and his doomed fight to save Athens from Macedonian domination. In the spring of 340 BCE, news arrived that Philip of Macedon had seized a town in central Greece, a base from which he could march on Athens. In the fierce debates about how to respond to the rising threat in...Hardback$4499Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 3-4 weeks -
Plato and the Tyrant
Plato is one of history's most influential thinkers, the "sublime philosopher" whose writings remain foundational to Western culture. He is known for the brilliant dialogues in which he depicted his teacher, Socrates, discussing ethical truths with prominent citizens of Athens. Yet the image we have of Plato—an ethereal figure far removed from society and politics, who conjured abstract ideas in...Paperback$5200Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 2-3 weeks -
Ghost on the Throne
When Alexander the Great died at the age of thirty-two, his empire stretched from the Adriatic Sea in the west all the way to modern-day India in the east. In an unusual compromise, his two heirs—a mentally damaged half-brother, Philip III, and an infant son, Alexander IV, born after his death—were jointly granted the kingship. But six of Alexander’s Macedonian...PaperbackSold Out -
Histories
This volume includes a wealth of helpful footnotes; more than a dozen maps and illustrations; a chronology of the Archaic Age; a glossary of main characters, places, and terms; suggested further reading; and an index of proper nouns. Histories edition reproduces the fluent pace and readability of Herodotus' world-encompassing work. Mensch has produced a close translation of Herodotus' Greek that...PaperbackSold Out
Also by Marcus Aurelius
View all-
Meditations
Meditations by Marcus Aurelius is a profound philosophical work that transcends time and remains incredibly relevant today. Comprising the innermost thoughts and reflections of Aurelius, who was Emperor of Rome from AD 161 to 180, this book provides timeless wisdom and guidance. Rather than a narrative-driven plot, it consists of personal notes kept by Aurelius, intended as a source of...Paperback$1300Elsewhere:$1599Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
Meditations
Meditations by Marcus Aurelius is a profound journey into the mind of one of the most revered Roman Emperors. This introspective collection, written in Greek, was never intended for publication and serves as a private journal where Aurelius explores the depths of his philosophical reflections. As a ruler of a vast empire, he faced immense challenges and responsibilities, and these...Paperback$1900Elsewhere:$2300Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
Meditations
HarperCollins is proud to present its incredible range of best-loved, essential classics. Our life is what our thoughts make it. The extraordinary writings of Marcus Aurelius (AD 121-180), the only Roman emperor to have also been a stoic philosopher, have for centuries been praised for their wisdom, insight, and guidance by leaders and great thinkers alike. Never intended for publication,...Paperback$1099Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
Meditations
In Meditations, Marcus Aurelius - the Roman emperor renowned for his intellect and stoic philosophy - shares his profound inner thoughts, reflections, and wisdom. This collection of personal writings provides readers with a rare glimpse into the mind of a ruler whose musings on life, duty, and virtue were not originally intended for public consumption. Instead, these writings served as...Hardback$2500Elsewhere:$3000Unit price /UnavailableBackorderShips mid September -
11% offMeditations
A deluxe special edition of the ancient classic encompasses the profound wisdom and introspection of the Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius, famously known as “The Philosopher.” Meditations is a timeless collection of personal reflections penned by Marcus Aurelius, the Roman Emperor from 169 AD to 180 AD. Renowned as one of the last of the “Five Good Emperors,” Marcus Aurelius was...Hardback$2400Elsewhere:$2899Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
Meditations
Marcus Aurelius Antoninus (121-180 CE) was the sixteenth emperor of Rome and the most powerful man in the world. Yet he was also an intensely private person, with a rich interior life and one of the wisest minds of his generation. He collected his thoughts in notebooks that have come to be called his Meditations. Never intended for publication, the...Paperback$3000Elsewhere:$3499Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
How To Be a Stoic
Don't hope that events will turn out the way you want, welcome events in whichever way they happen. How can we cope when life's events seem beyond our control? These words of consolation and inspiration from the three great Stoic philosophers—Epictetus, Seneca, and Marcus Aurelius—offer ancient wisdom on how to face life's adversities and live well in the world. GREAT...Paperback$1800Elsewhere:$1999Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
Meditations
Throughout history, some books have changed the world. They have transformed the way we see ourselves and each other. They have inspired debate, dissent, war, and revolution. They have enlightened, outraged, provoked, and comforted. They have enriched lives and destroyed them. Now Penguin brings you the works of the great thinkers, pioneers, radicals, and visionaries whose ideas shook civilisation, and...Paperback$1800Elsewhere:$1999Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 4-6 weeks -
Meditations
HarperCollins is proud to present its incredible range of best-loved, essential classics. Meditations is centred around the idea that "our life is what our thoughts make it." The extraordinary writings of Marcus Aurelius (AD 121-180), the only Roman emperor to have also been a stoic philosopher, have for centuries been praised for their wisdom, insight, and guidance by leaders and...Paperback$1099Unit price /UnavailableBackorderShips mid September -
Meditations
Meditations by Marcus Aurelius, translated by Robin Waterfield, offers readers an intimate glimpse into the mind of one of Rome's greatest emperors. Known as the philosopher-king, Marcus Aurelius articulates his deepest thoughts and insights, revealing the timeless wisdom that has made Meditations a cornerstone of Stoic philosophy. The book illuminates the emperor's reflections on life, duty, and virtue, encapsulated in...Hardback$5999Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
Meditations Journal
Drawing from the iconic Stoic text Meditations by Marcus Aurelius, here is a journal where the millions of readers who have learned from him can deepen their understanding of his philosophy and reflect on how to better their lives. Drawing from the iconic Stoic text Meditations by Marcus Aurelius, Meditations Journal invites the millions of readers who have learned from...Paperback$2700Elsewhere:$3000Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 4-6 weeks -
Meditations (The Concise Classic)
THE MOST IMPACTFUL LESSONS OF MARCUS AURELIUS PAIRED WITH THOUGHTFUL ANALYSIS AND MODERN APPLICATIONS IN AN ELEGANT AND ACCESSIBLE FORMAT Marcus Aurelius' Meditations is a timeless reflection on resilience, mindfulness, and leading with integrity, widely considered one of the most important texts in Western philosophy. Written as private notes by a Roman emperor, its brilliance lies in its raw honesty...Hardback$4300Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 2-3 weeks
More from History & Military
View all-
21% off
Saving Elli
One child. Two years in hiding. Three lives in mortal danger. In Nazi-occupied Amsterdam, near Anne Frank's house, another Jewish girl is hidden. Her name is Elli. Her father has been executed at Mauthausen concentration camp. Her mother is fleeing for her life. Elli is next. To save her, resistance couple Frits and Jo Hakkens must risk everything, concealing her...Paperback$2600Elsewhere:$3799Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
The Spy and the Traitor
The Spy and the Traitor by Ben Macintyre is a spellbinding Cold War thriller that unravels the true story of Oleg Gordievsky, a KGB double agent who risked everything to aid the British in the battle against Soviet oppression. In meticulously researched detail, Macintyre paints a vivid portrait of espionage, double-crossing, and unparalleled bravery, giving readers a riveting glimpse into...Paperback$2100Elsewhere:$2600Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
New ReleaseSuicidal Empathy
The bestselling author of The Parasitic Mind shows why empathy in politics leads to civilizational collapse. What happens when a society elevates victimhood to a virtue and decides that punishment is cruel? You get the disease Dr. Gad Saad calls suicidal empathy. And the West may be terminally infected. In his new book, Suicidal Empathy, Saad unleashes a blistering critique...Paperback$3099Elsewhere:$3799Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
20% off
Betrayal
‘Tom Bower is the Inspector Morse of investigative biographers, a fluent, phlegmatic storyteller and a master of intricacies.’ Sunday Times The British Crown is in crisis, with constitutional threats at home and abroad. At a landmark moment in royal history, can King Charles overcome the scandals that blight the Royal family? Can the broken bonds between the Houses of Sussex...Paperback$2800Elsewhere:$3999Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
Man's Search For Meaning
Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl is a profound, thought-provoking memoir and psychological exploration that delves into the harrowing experiences of life in Nazi concentration camps, intertwined with the author’s groundbreaking theories on existential psychology. The book is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit, offering a beacon of hope and a roadmap for finding purpose...Paperback$1800Elsewhere:$2100Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
20% offDiscipline
Silence is complicity, but how do we confront the cost of speaking up? Sydney, May 2021. Ashraf is an academic whose career and personal life are in freefall. Hannah is a young journalist struggling to honour the voices of her community. When a Year 12 Al-Bayinnah College student is arrested for protesting a university's ties to an Israeli weapons manufacturer,...Paperback$3200Usually:$4000Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
Pre-orderBuy to WinDad, I Want to Hear Your Story (Deluxe Edition)
Capture His Story, Honor His Legacy The Official Hear Your Story Collection Your dad's story is more than just memories-it's a journey filled with wisdom, experiences, and defining moments that shaped his life. Dad, I Want to Hear Your Story is a guided journal that gives him the chance to share those stories in his own words, creating a legacy...Hardback$4999Elsewhere:$5500Unit price /UnavailableOut 20 Nov 2026Pre-order -
Shattered Lands
'A sparkling debut by an outstanding young historian' – PETER FRANKOPAN 'This book is a revelation … both original and important' – MISHAL HUSAIN A history of modern South Asia told through five partitions that reshaped it. As recently as 1928, a vast swathe of Asia – India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Burma, Nepal, Bhutan, Yemen, Oman, the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, and...Paperback$3699Elsewhere:$4500Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
SignedThe Chief and the Empire
The Chief and the Empire uncovers the extraordinary true tale of Te Tai Tokerau rangatira Te Pahi - the first influential Māori leader to cross the Tasman - whose curiosity about the Pākehā world forged alliances, saved lives, and ultimately cost him his own. On a visit to Sydney in 1805, Te Pahi was feted as a celebrity, building close...Paperback$3200Elsewhere:$3999Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
Goliath’s Curse
Goliath’s Curse by Luke Kemp offers a radical retelling of human history through the lens of collapse, delving into what this means for our uncertain future. This narrative spans from the dawn of our species to the urgent existential threats of the twenty-first century and beyond. It's grounded in the latest research and a comprehensive database of more than 440...Paperback$2999Elsewhere:$4000Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
Banjara
A powerful literary debut from an astonishing new Kiwi voice, focusing on the Indo-Fijian indenture system and how it affected generations across the Pacific.Rajasthan 1888: Avani Rathod, a nomad of the Banjara community, is summoned to teach a blue-eyed colonial officer the trees of her region, but instead is misled into indenture to the sugarcane plantations of Fiji. While on...Paperback$3099Elsewhere:$3799Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
Buy to WinNew Release
Biological War
There is an invisible weapon among us. By the time you know you are a victim, it has turned you into a killer. A blistering new non-fiction thriller from the Baillie Gifford shortlisted author of Nuclear War (200,000 copies sold). A lab accident, a bio-attack, a global pandemic, and the collapse of human society. In this essential new book, based...Paperback$3299Elsewhere:$4000Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today
Why buy from us?
Book Hero is not a chain store or big box retailer. We're an independent 100% NZ-owned business on a mission to help more Kiwis rediscover a love of books and reading!
Service & Delivery
Our warehouse in Auckland holds over 100,000 books, toys, board games and puzzles in-stock so you're not waiting for your order to arrive from overseas.
Auckland Bookstore
We're primarily an online store, but for your convenience you can pick up your order for free from our bookstore, which is right next door to our warehouse in Hobsonville.
Our Gifting Service
Books make wonderful thoughtful gifts and we're here to help with gift-wrapping and cards. We can even send your gift directly to your loved one.
History & Military lists from the team
Explore our curated lists from our heroes to find your next read!
