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Who here is familiar with Stoicism? The three most familiar are Seneca, Epictetus, and Marcus Aurelius. These philosophers have inspired warriors, soldiers, commanders, kings, emperors, teachers, students, politicians, entrepreneurs, and many more for a few thousand years. The essence of stoicism is accepting life as it comes and not complaining about any circumstances. So, basically, you are content with life "as is" rather than longing for something better or complaining when things are bad. I'm reading Marcus Aurelius's Meditations right now and...wow: “Dwell on the beauty of life. Watch the stars, and see yourself running with them.” “You have power over your mind - not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength.” “Waste no more time arguing about what a good man should be. Be one.” “Accept the things to which fate binds you, and love the people with whom fate brings you together,but do so with all your heart.” “When you arise in the morning think of what a privilege it is to be alive, to think, to enjoy, to love ...” “If you are distressed by anything external, the pain is not due to the thing itself, but to your estimate of it; and this you have the power to revoke at any moment.” “It is not death that a man should fear, but he should fear never beginning to live.” “Very little is needed to make a happy life; it is all within yourself in your way of thinking.” I am amazed by how relevant these words are, even though removed by over almost 2000 years. Have you read any of the Stoics? Who is your favorite? What do you think?

Anyone read Discipline Equals Freedom Field Manual by Jocko Willink? Or listened to his podcast? I'm almost done with the book. I've enjoyed it so far.

This is the discussion thread for Carla Power's If the Oceans Were Ink. People will be reading at different paces, so if you're going to talk about something which could be considered a spoiler, please put it behind a spoiler tag and give an indication above the tag what the latest page is that the information you're discussing is on. Yay!

Hey there, we have 4 suggestions for our next Book Club. Everyone's welcome to vote and then join a discussion! May the odds be ever in your favour. Read on. Oryx and Crake The Year of Rice and Salt Baudolino The Windup Girl

The winner book in our wee poll is Oryx And Crake by Margaret Atwood! The reading goes for November 11 - December 22, same as our 6 week challenge. You can start reading at any point in this given time. If you post spoilers, warn us by writing SPOILERS, noting the chapter you're in and leaving some empty space between this and your message. Respect each other's opinions and be nice. Ready.... GO!

OK so I don't know who's in charge of these things but I'd love to have our Book Club alive again for the next challenge. Hope you (whoever usually does this) don't mind. Please post your suggestions for a book that we should read during the 6 week challenge! The suggestions close on Saturday 11pm (in London time, which is... 6pm EST time?) (if we get at least 3-4 suggestions by then) and then we'll do a poll to decide. Let's do this, nerds.

The winner of the poll is American Gods by Neil Gaiman! (And it's about time. Third time I've nominated it ) Please use this thread for discussions. If you are going to post a spoiler, please post it like this or something of the sort so everyone knows not to read ahead if they haven't finished it: *SPOILER* ____________________ Happy reading nerds!

Time to vote for the book. You can only vote once. If I messed up the poll let me know....luckily I have all night off and can figure it out