True Joy and Happiness

The Philosophy of Epicurus Today (Philosophical Questions)

By: Boris Kriger

Narrated by: C.L. Berns

This book offers a comprehensive philosophical exploration of happiness grounded in the ancient clarity of Epicurus and expanded by the insights of Stoicism, Christian spirituality, and modern psychology. Rather than treating Epicureanism as a historical curiosity, it presents it as a living framework capable of addressing the anxieties of contemporary life—fear, restlessness, overstimulation, and the quiet erosion of meaning.

Drawing from classical sources, existentialist thought, neuroscience, psychotherapy, and positive psychology, True Joy and Happiness: The Philosophy of Epicurus Today traces the architecture of well-being from its biological foundations to its ethical and existential heights. It approaches happiness not as pleasure in the superficial sense, but as the disciplined cultivation of inner stability, clarity of desire, and freedom from unnecessary suffering.

Written with philosophical precision and psychological depth, the work invites listeners to rethink pleasure, redefine success, and reclaim the modest joys that form the true foundation of human flourishing. It challenges inherited narratives that glorify suffering, exposes the mechanics of desire and consumerism, and restores the role of clarity, moderation, and friendship as central pillars of a meaningful life.

This is not merely a study of Epicurus, but a study of ourselves. It is a guide to understanding why people suffer more than they need to, how inner peace can be cultivated through knowledge rather than asceticism, and why joy—quiet, steady, and rational—remains one of the most radical achievements available to the human spirit.

©2025 Boris Kriger (P)2026 Boris Kriger

deep topics

While I wasn't in agreement with everything that was said, there are excellent points made in this book and it is worth a listen. Extra points are awarded to the narrator for making a very thought heavy book easy and enjoyable to listen to!