The Stoic Fable Book


Children - Fable
95 Pages
Reviewed on 04/26/2025
Buy on Amazon

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    Book Review

Reviewed by Luwi Nyakansaila for Readers' Favorite

The Stoic Fable Book by Phil Van Treuren is a collection of inspiring tales that impart profound lessons about life. The stories revolve around Stoic principles, exploring themes such as resilience, contentment, gratitude, and the importance of perspective. One tale features a fox who believes that learning comes from traveling to many places, only to be reminded by a hawk that valuable lessons can also be learned in his forest. Another story highlights a beaver who doesn't view his work as a burden, while two trees that survive a fire each have different perspectives on the tragedy. The author illustrates how various creatures perceive different seasons and emphasizes the significance of challenges in shaping character and fostering resilience. Enjoy these stories and more, and gain insights into the timeless wisdom of Stoicism through nature.

The Stoic Fable Book is a remarkable collection that highlights the importance of mindset over circumstances, personal responsibility, and the value of challenges. It encourages readers to cultivate resilience and discover contentment within themselves. Phil Van Treuren draws inspiration from nature, using animals as characters with their unique traits to convey enduring Stoic lessons. This approach adds a distinctive touch to the collection, making it truly stand out. These tales will appeal to both children and adults, offering relatable lessons that resonate across generations. I appreciated the layout, which is organized with beautiful page borders that add a classic touch and illustrations by the author that complement the stories. This is a wonderful read and a must-have for anyone who enjoys philosophical lessons presented in engaging narratives.

Pikasho Deka

The Stoic Fable Book is a collection of flash fiction tales based on Stoic principles. Written by Phil Van Treuren, each of these fables includes a quote by a famous historical person. A fox and a deer have a conversation about taking the better path. A beaver shows a lazy turtle how to enjoy one's work. A squirrel supports his best friend in his time of need. An intelligent rabbit teaches a little mouse to be grateful for both sunny and rainy days. A squirrel loses her favorite walnut and realizes that nothing lasts forever. A wise owl is not bothered by the insults of an abrasive goose. An old buck has mastered the ability to be happy wherever he is. A groundhog helps out his friend by doing something that makes him happy.

The Stoic Fable Book is a captivating collection of tales laced with timeless wisdom and knowledge of Stoicism. Apart from these short stories, the book also features illuminating quotes by wise philosophers from history. These quotes lay out the primary themes interwoven in the fables. The collection shows valuable insights into human behavior and offers helpful lessons to help readers navigate the challenges of everyday life. Using animals as the main characters in the stories is a masterstroke, as it makes the fables even more enjoyable and ensures the book appeals to young and older readers alike. Phil Van Treuren does a fantastic job of keeping the reader invested in these short narratives with characters that are compelling and likable. You can open any page in the book and immerse yourself in an absorbing tale. Highly recommended!

Melinda Facal

The Stoic Fable Book by Phil Van Treuren is an accessible introduction to Stoicism for young readers. Stoicism's complex concepts and beliefs are presented in easy-to-understand and enjoyable examples based on interactions between wildlife and nature. Van Treuren shares short and insightful fables inspired by his observations of nature. Squirrels, birds, flowers, and more convey the wisdom of Stoic leaders and philosophers such as Marcus Aurelius and Epictetus. Charming and whimsical flowers, animals, and trees question each other and constantly learn from one another about themes such as inner strength, contentment, simplicity, and more. A related inspiring quote from a Stoic thought leader follows each fable. Beautifully detailed black and white illustrations enhance this thought-provoking tale.

The Stoic Fable Book by Phil Van Treuren is brimming with wisdom, teachings, and insights into Stoicism. Readers of all ages will find these tales to be encouraging and relatable. One of the fables, “Never Stop Learning How to Live,” shares the timeless lesson that there is always something to learn, whether young or old, experienced or not. The calming illustrations and thoughtful fables create a book that young readers will look forward to hearing again and again. Reading one fable at a time would also allow for meaningful discussion and further education about the philosopher or value the story is highlighting. Parents, teachers, and caregivers will find this book to be a valuable resource in teaching and discussing Stoicism with children. This is a highly recommended and uplifting read.