Hello my friends today, my guest is Donald Robertson. Donald was born in Irvine, Scotland, and he became a specialist in teaching evidence-based psychological skills. Known as an expert on the relationship between modern cognitive behavioral therapy and classical Greek and Roman philosophy. Who merges those two things? And if that wasn’t enough, he was also interested in eastern studies and found a common thread perhaps to all of those a common root in stoicism.

His most recent book is called How to Think Like a Roman Emperor: The Stoic Philosophy of Marcus Aurelius published this year in 2019. Part of what I love so much is that he brings to life these figures from antiquity, from ancient history, and helps us understand who they were, how they lived, and what lessons they have for us that are still relevant. In fact, maybe more timely than ever.

I hope that you enjoy this storytelling, this learning, this biography of sorts. And by the way, when we get to the end of this interview and I ask him for his insights and experience about the creative process and writing, I love what he shares. I hope you learn something and I hope you become a better person because of it and then use that better self you’ve become in service to others.

SUMMARY
00:02:42 – What’s life about?
00:06:12  – Reading for the audiobook.
00:13:20 – Discussion of Marcus.
00:17:21 – More comfortable does not equal better.
00:21:51 – Why Stoicism didn’t take shape as Buddhism did.
00:41:27 – Life after writing this book.
01:08:57 – Lightning round.
01:38:50 – Exploration of the creative process.

LINKS
How to Think Like a Roman Emperor: The Stoic Philosophy of Marcus Aurelius
Stoicism and the Art of Happiness
All Donald Robertson books.
Donald Robertson website.