Where has this book been all my life? For the past 10 plus years, the answer has been "on my bookshelf, unread." I'm happy that I finally picked it up, and that I waited until I was immersed in the world of mindfulness and had come to terms with my own anxiety.

Epictetus–as channeled by Sharon Lebell–has so many spot-on observations and prescriptions for living a fulfilling life that it's hard to overstate how meaningful I found this slim book. Perhaps the best I can do is use the author's words, which I am trying to take to heart: “From this instant on, vow to stop disappointing yourself.”