About The Enchiridion
What it's about
A former slave turned teacher gives a short handbook for a calm life. Its first line divides the world into what is up to us and what is not, and every chapter after it shows how to live by that difference, at home, at dinner and under insult.
Who it's for
Readers who liked Marcus Aurelius and want the teacher he learned from, and anyone looking for practical advice on worry and anger.
- Level
- CEFR B2
- Length
- 3 parts · about 955 words
- Reading time
- about 9 minutes (~3 min per part)
- Author
- Epictetus
If you liked this, read
- Meditations · B2
- The Wisdom of Life · B2
- Talks to Teachers on Psychology · B2
Looking for something easier or harder? See Easy English books by level (A1–B2).
Reading The Enchiridion in English: quick answers
- What English level is The Enchiridion on SeoJae Story?
- The Enchiridion by Epictetus is retold in simplified English at CEFR B2 (upper-intermediate). It is split into 3 short parts, and every sentence has a Korean translation you can show or hide, so a learner at that level can follow the story without a dictionary.
- Is The Enchiridion hard to read in English?
- The original is written for native readers, with long sentences and older vocabulary, so most learners find it hard. This retelling keeps the story but uses simpler English at CEFR B2 (upper-intermediate), so if you read English at that level you can follow it, and the Korean translation is there for any line that stops you. If it feels too hard, start with an easier book one level down.
- How long does it take to read The Enchiridion in simple English?
- About 9 minutes of reading in total — roughly 3 minutes per part across 3 parts. Listening to the audio narration, reviewing the vocabulary and taking each part's comprehension check adds a little more.
- Is this the full, unabridged text of The Enchiridion?
- No. It is an abridged graded retelling written for English learners that follows the story of the original in 3 parts. Every part also lets you read the matching unabridged chapters from the original, split into short readings.
- Is The Enchiridion free to read here?
- Yes. All 3 parts are free to read online, with the Korean translation, audio narration, vocabulary flashcards and comprehension questions included.
- Is The Enchiridion in the public domain?
- Yes. Epictetus's The Enchiridion is in the public domain, and the original text is freely available from Project Gutenberg (eBook #45109). SeoJae Story's simplified retelling and Korean translation are original text written for learners.