The work, titled De vita beata, belongs to the category of books by the Roman philosopher, poet, playwright, and politician Lucius Annaeus Seneca the Younger (4 BC-AD 65). This work is the fifth in a series of twelve works by Seneca, which were called "Dialogues" from the word sermones (Dialogues), which Seneca himself gave to these short works in the form of letters. This work was written perhaps in the year 58 or a little earlier, and it is addressed to Seneca's older brother, Gallio, as well as to the reader of Stoic philosophy. It deals with wealth, riches, and virtuous behavior in the life of the possessor of these goods, and how this behavior leads to happiness. With the help of wealth and riches, every virtuous person can achieve happiness, because virtue is the only path to happiness. The end of the work is missing.
We owe the preservation and origin of the text to the Ambrosian codex of Milan (11th century) and its copies. The title De vita beata was chosen by Seneca, but later publishers wrote: Ad Gallionem de vita beata, because it is assumed that Seneca "discusses" with this brother.