The unstraightforward path --
A road map for the journey --
Part I. The discipline of desire: what it is proper to want or not to want --
Some things are in our power, others are not --
Living according to nature --
Playing ball with Socrates --
Part II. The discipline of action: how to behave in the world --
It's all about character (and virtue) --
The role of role models --
Disability and mental illness --
Part III. The discipline of assent: how to react to situations --
How to deal with anger, anxiety, and loneliness --
Practical spiritual exercises --
Appendix: The Hellenistic schools of practical philosophy.