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Rating: 
Summary: A wise choice as a Cicero starter
Review: Although "On the Good Life" is a hodgepodge of Cicero's essays, there are a few reasons why this book is a must buy. First, these are Cicero's words, some of the best writing to come from ancient Rome. Second, the essays are a great introduction to Cicero's immense collection of essays, speeches, and letters. His literary productive output was vast. Finally, Michael Grant's translation and introduction is of the highest quality.A lot can be said about the selection of the essays - why would Michael Grant pick a Book Five (Discussions at Tusculum) and a Book Two (On Duties) instead of a complete collection of each? Where's the rest of these works? Frankly, it didn't matter to me. Once I began reading "On the Good Life" I was hooked. This book converted me into a lifelong Cicero fan and Grant's translations (through Penguin Classics) are my primary sources for his works. I have five Cicero books from Penguin Classics so far. My favorite essay was "On Friendship." I would recommend it to anyone. It is wise, philosophical, and applicable to everyone even today. The rest of the essays were also fantastic with the exception - my opinion only - of "On the Orator." That I could have done without. It was a little too long and way too dry. I wish Michael Grant had squeezed in some other essay of Cicero's. There are more comprehensive translations of Cicero but "On the Good Life" is a wise choice as a Cicero starter. If you enjoy classic literature and you haven't read Cicero, start here.
Rating:
Summary: CICERO THE SUPERB
Review: Cicero's brilliance shines like a beacon though two thousand years. This book gives his thoughts on what qualities make up a good statesman,citizen, and friend. His simple yet profound thoughts are outstanding. Your time is never wasted reading Cicero.
Rating: 
Summary: A nice introduction to Cicero (despite Michael Grant)
Review: Having read Aristotle, Plato, Plutarch, et al., I'd unjustly neglected the Romans. This is my first exposure to Cicero and the selection is very interesting. However, one can do without the occasionally insipid philosophizing by Michael Grant. As with many modernist academics he makes clumsy generalizations about the supposed superiority of Cicero's "non-dogmatic" ethics to Christianity (for example, as regards religious violence and bigotry). He seems to forget that religious violence involving Christians began with the pagan persecutions against the new Church. Also, looking at the secularized 20th century, which witnessed the worst killings and atrocities in history, it is hard take Mr. Grant seriously. Those points aside, this is a good book to start with.
Rating:
Summary: For Christians as well.
Review: Many early Christians found Cicero's 'On Duties' to be very edifying and pleasurable, and in this compilation, Book 2 is included--which some may consider to be the best of the three.
In this collection, there is much talk and good information ranging from how to be a succesful orator to the responsibility one needs to have on being a true friend to another person.
This is probably the greatest collection that Michael Grant has put together out of all of his Cicerian translations, and I think he deserves to be applauded.
If your a Christian and you like to read a conversation in dialogue format, but you think Plato's immorality towards children is an abomination, then read this collection written by Tully Cicero, which will most definitely prove to be highly ethical and puritan like.
And although Cicero wasn't perfect in speech or papyrus, he did live a highly chaste life and a mystical one as well. His writings, atleast in this collection, are very relaxing and highly puritan. And why, after all, would you read Plato when you can read Cicero?
Rating:
Summary: Great works, bad publishing
Review: The works of cicero hold as much weight now as they did when he wrote it. This book is filled with useful tips on life in general. the only problem I have with it is it leaves out large chunks of work. Cicero's "on duties" book II is here but youd have to read "selected works" to get book III (i dont know where book I is, i presume its lost). If only penguin could have combined his works better. Otherwise dont hesitate to get this book.
Rating: 
Summary: "A Good Dose of Practical Philosophy"
Review: The works that comprise Michael Grant's rendition of Cicero's "On the Good Life" are: "The Tusculum Disputations (V)", "On Duties (II)," "On Friendship," On the Orator," and "The Dream of Scipio." These works expound upon the very essence of the highest good--namely the highest morality--and lay down a clear system of practical, applied ethics for the aspiring youth, statesman, orator, or sage. Cicero, furthermore, attempts to use these virtues to the direct benefit of the individual citizen and ultimately to the dignity of the Commonwealth. The sheer stateliness of these treatises will be enough to attract and excite scholars and, in a word, enlighten students seeking to grasp a general view of the works of one of the greatest philosophical popularizers in history, the immortal Marcus Tullius Cicero.
Rating:
Summary: Old Tully Can be a Bit Overbearing
Review: This is not one of those tomes I return to frequently, but when I do I am usually rewarded with a precept or an insight I overlooked the first time or which I have subsequently forgotten. Tully never let his mind drift off into the clouds. He is the arbiter of common sense and reason, above all, reason. He is a lawyer through and through. He will argue his case and expects no rebuttal. If in a given epistle, friend or foe should pose an objection to his line of reasoning, rather than engage in protracted debate, as Socrates might, Cicero delivers a few pithy rejoinders and the matter is settled: "Cicero: ' Ah, you're trying to refute me by quoting things I've said or written myself. That's confronting me with documents that have already been sealed! You can reserve that method for people who only argue according to fixed rules. But I live from one day to the next! If something strikes me as probable, I say it; and that is how, unlike everyone else, I remain a free agent.'" Easy for him to say, and adroitly skating around any further discussion of the subject. Case closed! And if you come at me tomorrow, I may employ an entirely different line of reasoning. This is one reason Cicero used to be required reading for debate students. Actually that is Tully at his least didactic, as his entire raison-d'etre was to teach. And his texts, coming down to us primarly in epistolatory form, do instruct us how to behave, how to interact, how to be civilized and live according to the Aristotelean Golden Mean. Luckily, they weren't sealed up as his law documents were. Virgil's ideal of "pietas" was derived in large part from Roman fathers of Cicero's ilk. This book cannot be dismissed and should be required reading for anyone entering the law profession today. There might be more scrupulous attorneys practicing today if Ciceronian ethics were stressed as they were in olden days. This book is also full of common sense advice, the kind that used to be passed down from generation to generation, yet is sorely missing in these days of instant gratification and the glorification of self.
Rating:
Summary: "... the best part of a man..."
Review: This review refers to the work, -Cicero: On the Good
Life-, translated and with introductions by Michael
Grant (Penguin Classics).
What is to like about this collection of sections
of essays by Cicero? I personally favor very much
the excellent introductions by Michael Grant, as well
as the excellent thought and expression by Cicero.
Be aware that this volume contains parts of whole
works. The parts themselves are complete, but if one
is looking for the whole work, then one should look
to the Harvard/Loeb editions of Cicero. Michael
Grant has piloted several Penguin Classics volumes
of Cicero parts, so one will have to purchase several
volumes in order to get the benefit of Mr. Grant's
insights and translations.
But those introductions, the main "Introduction" to
this volume itself, as well as the "introductions"
to each of the selections are excellent. Michael
Grant not only gives you the historical and cultural
context for Cicero himself, but he also in the main
"Introduction" (as he does in other volumes he
superintends) gives you the historical and cultural
influence which follows after Cicero, the influence
of his works on later generations. In this particular
volume, Mr. Grant says that he starts first with
"indicating how important [these works] still are
for us today." "For Cicero, through these treatises,
has been the greatest of all conservers and trans-
mitters of cultural values, the greatest unifying force of Europe, the shaper of its civilized speech."
That is tall praise indeed. And, when he gets
to the historical influence itself, Mr. Grant is
no less emphatic. "One of the very strongest forces
contributing to the ideals of the Italian Renaissance,
and thus to the whole intellectual, scientific, and
social development of western Europe, was Cicero's
thought as interpreted by Petrarch (d. 1374)."
So, if you have ever scratched your head, and/or
your mind, and/or your soul, and wondered just
what DOES constitute the good, moral, worthy,
excellent life, then Cicero is an invaluable
companion to help you quest in search for an
answer to that most important of quandaries.
Rating:
Summary: "... the best part of a man..."
Review: This review refers to the work, -Cicero: On the Good
Life-, translated and with introductions by Michael
Grant (Penguin Classics).
What is to like about this collection of sections
of essays by Cicero? I personally favor very much
the excellent introductions by Michael Grant, as well
as the excellent thought and expression by Cicero.
Be aware that this volume contains parts of whole
works. The parts themselves are complete, but if one
is looking for the whole work, then one should look
to the Harvard/Loeb editions of Cicero. Michael
Grant has piloted several Penguin Classics volumes
of Cicero parts, so one will have to purchase several
volumes in order to get the benefit of Mr. Grant's
insights and translations.
But those introductions, the main "Introduction" to
this volume itself, as well as the "introductions"
to each of the selections are excellent. Michael
Grant not only gives you the historical and cultural
context for Cicero himself, but he also in the main
"Introduction" (as he does in other volumes he
superintends) gives you the historical and cultural
influence which follows after Cicero, the influence
of his works on later generations. In this particular
volume, Mr. Grant says that he starts first with
"indicating how important [these works] still are
for us today." "For Cicero, through these treatises,
has been the greatest of all conservers and trans-
mitters of cultural values, the greatest unifying force of Europe, the shaper of its civilized speech."
That is tall praise indeed. And, when he gets
to the historical influence itself, Mr. Grant is
no less emphatic. "One of the very strongest forces
contributing to the ideals of the Italian Renaissance,
and thus to the whole intellectual, scientific, and
social development of western Europe, was Cicero's
thought as interpreted by Petrarch (d. 1374)."
So, if you have ever scratched your head, and/or
your mind, and/or your soul, and wondered just
what DOES constitute the good, moral, worthy,
excellent life, then Cicero is an invaluable
companion to help you quest in search for an
answer to that most important of quandaries.
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