The Complete Works: Handbook, Discourses, and Fragments

Waterfield is the best. He's a cogent and compelling writer as well as (I assume from his reputation--I don't know Greek) a gifted translator. I can't wait to dive deep into this work. I'm in the introduction now, and it's a joy.And now a few words about the physical book itself.I made the mistake of ordering the $55 hardcover edition. Basing my expectations on the way this same publisher (University of Chicago Press) had treated its Seneca series--classy cloth-bound editions made to last a lifetime, with creamy, premium paper, Smyth-sewn bindings, and attractive dust jackets--I nearly hurt myself in my haste to plop down the requisite cash for a hardcover copy of this exciting new edition of Epictetus.What I got for my $55 was a print-on-demand product on cheaper paper, a glued-not-sewn binding, and a plain matte-black, glued-on self-cover made of some kind of odd, rubbery paper.The U of C Press website (as of Oct, 2022) lists the two print format options as "Paper" and "Cloth." If the hardcover book I received was cloth-bound, I'm a fish.Luckily, the Amazon return was free, easy, and fast. I sent the strange thing back to them asap and ordered the paperback copy, for a savings of more than $35. It's a handsome paperback edition. It too has that oddly tacky finish on the cover (try sliding it across a marble countertop--it puts up a fight), but it's a well-made paperback at least. The binding's not sewn, but the glue job looks more substantial than the one on the print-on-demand edition.So...buyer beware, I guess. If you're collecting the Stoics, you'll certainly want to own this translation; just don't get your hopes up about a high-quality hardcover edition--a life-long companion that you can mark up, make your own, and harmlessly splay open on the table in front of you as you eat your morning cereal.It's hard to know what the U of C Press had in mind with this publishing plan.

I bought the hardcover. Not worth the $$$ they charge -- there is no jacket, for example and it doesn't seem to be a premium binding... but it's not too bad. The font is generous and easy to read (see pics). It opens flat, which nice. Overall, easy to read and hold. Contents are A+ of course. It's everything there is of Epictetus. Great translation.

Excellent translation. Best I’ve read so far. This wonderful book is only marred by the cheap binding and paper used to print the book. No dust cover, cheap paper with a solid black front and back. For $55 I expected better paper, binding and a dust cover for protection. The translator deserved better—as do the customers.

When I received this I thought: "Why'd I buy yet another book?" But after just a few pages into it I now ignore most other reads on my bookshelf and concentrate on Epictetus. These writings strengthen my commitment to Stoicism by keeping me focused on the ONLY thing I can control; "How I react to.....life."Get it and dedicate thirty minutes a day to reading this and watch your life change for the better.Cheers

Seeing reviews here that hardcover comes only with a black cover, I went to purchase the paperback instead. To my surprise, the cover looks weird and cheap. It looks like a DIY printed at home kind of cover however the inside paper looks clean and pristine. Maybe this was a rejected hardcover then they changed the covering? (I’m not so sure) Because the content doesn’t look like it was printed off from a pdf file or something. Haven’t started to read it yet but i’m just happy I got waterfield finally.

This book is useful to help craft arguments to justify the oppression of free people, persuade free people to accept oppression and would serve a fine gift fromoppressor to oppressed, oppressed to oppressed and even, perhaps, oppressed to oppressor, to aid with oppression. A handbook for ‘slave morality’ as old Fred would phrase it. Written by an actual slave as opposed to an emperor like Marcus ‘Chill-Daddy’ Aurelius who played a slave on weekends and occasionally at literary parties. ‘Let’s play master and servant’ was around before Depeche Mode and here you have the non-synth rock version. Read it, I guess, you’ll need something to mollify you as you toil. Read it before you are commanded to do so.

This is a great book! Epictetus speaks clearly to us nearly 2000 years later. Thank you Mr. Waterfield for taking on this task! We can only hope that you'll tackle Seneca next!

For those of you who are interested in the hardcover edition of this fine work, please be advised that it is not printed by the U of Chicago (one would expect a cloth hardcover with dustjacket), but is print-on-demand in cheap casebound covers, plain matte black, no dustjacket. This is quite unfortunate, as the book deserves a better presentation. Five stars for content and translation. No stars for form.

Having read scattered references to Epictetus' teachings, I wanted to know more about him. This book gives a sense of who he was and his teachings. Although he never wrote any books, his discourses were passed on by one of his students, who later became an historian of some note.

A great exposition and explanation of Epictetus’ work. Highly recommended

5 stars for Robin Waterfield translation and notes for this edition (see his incredible edition of Marcus Aurelius)2 stars for the unfortunately now common low quality of Amazon printed books. I’ll start to return Amazon printed books to buy them in regular stores where the quality is standard.

This is advertised as a Chicago press book when in reality what you receive is a cheap low quality Amazon printed book.Content is what you would expect is but shameful by Amazon

I love this book. The translator did an amazing job. Perfect annotations.Paper quality could be better for the price.