About the Book

“Calm, in respect of what comes to pass from a cause outside you; justice, in acts done in accord with a cause from yourself.”

Meditations presents the private thoughts of the Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius, who in his notes engages in deeply philosophical contemplation of life, strongly influenced by stoicism. Despite the social position of an emperor, Marcus’ life was far from easy, marked as it was by war and life on the frontlines, plague reaping huge numbers of Roman lives, and the early deaths of most of his children, his wife and many of his friends.

Thus, in Meditations we find a philosopher in search of not only fruitful approaches to the difficult parts of our existence, but also one reminding himself how to be thankful, how to enjoy the good, and how to maintain virtue on the side of everything else.

Meditations has provided guidance for generations wrestling with questions of responsibility and adversity – and for those searching for wisdom in general.

In addition to the main text, we include a 32-page section exploring Marcus Aurelius’ life, covering major personal and political developments, key geographical locations, and select influential individuals he interacted with.

The book comes with a hard cover in white cloth, foil and serigraphic debossed details, designed by Ilona Ilottu in Helsinki.

MEET THE PUBLISHER

Name: Meditations
Brand: AATOS
SKU: 20665
Price: 34.00 GBP
Availability: InStock

Aatos Editions

Finnish for ‘thought’, Aatos was founded by Mikael Lilius in Helsinki in 2024. Aatos is a company that exists to share insights for better living and a smarter world. In more practical terms, they create beautifully designed books that contribute to society – providing enlightenment about our shared reality.

Aatos publishes high-quality versions of intelligent books, unrestricted by genre. However, they are largely drawn to reproduce works of non-fiction, specifically philosophy.

“We believe valuable insights are to be found across genres and styles, which means we will be keeping our minds open to quality content, no matter the form it happens to take. Our publishing schedule starts out with the fundamental classics, and from there we work our way towards newer, original and more niche texts.”

Aatos books are beautifully redesigned classics. Although not satisfied with offering merely pleasing aesthetics, their books are enriched in terms of written content too. A separate section dedicated to the author is provided across the range.

“We believe that the works of our authors gain further clarity and meaning when contrasted with the events of their lives and times – which we bring forth. In addition, where possible, we further enhance our books with relevant essays and other materials to bring even greater depth to the title at hand. Put together, the exceptional designs, additional content and timeless texts elevate Aatos books beyond the usual.”
— Mikael Lilius, founder

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