Epicurus, Letters and Maxims: The ancient world’s self-proclaimed autodidact, Epicurus was revered by his followers and reviled by his critics. He founded a community which lived and talked philosophy in a garden. They valued friendship and the simple life. His letters and maxims promise freedom from the troubles of life and explanations for its mysteries: the fear of death and pain, our difficulty in reigning in our desires, dread of the gods, how to achieve serenity and happiness, how atoms underlie everything. The Letter to Menoeceus and Principle Doctrines, in particular, give short and accessible insight into the founding ideas of this fascinating and influential school. Might you find within them the cure for what haunts you? [recommended by Katharine O’Reilly, Ryerson University, Toronto]