One of the most influential Stoic thinkers, Epictetus was born into slavery about 55 ce in the eastern outreaches of the Roman Empire. Once freed, he established a school of Stoic philosophy, stressing that human beings cannot control life, only their responses to it. By putting into practice the ninety-three witty, wise, and razor-sharp instructions that make up The Art of Living, you’ll learn to meet the challenges of everyday life successfully and to face life’s inevitable losses and disappointments with grace.

Whenever I need a mental reset back to the basics, I reach for The Manual. It's a translated collection of Epictetus' fundamental teachings, and perhaps the most useful 60-quick pages I've found anywhere. And 60 pages is being generous — many pages are just a few pithy sentences and then emptiness. It's hard to imagine slamming directly into such accessible wisdom and insight in less than an hour's read, but this is that book.