I think this rating is appropriate, based on the fact that the book was essentially a personal collection of notes that was never published. It is important to keep this in mind before reading it. The book describes most of the basic principles of Stoic philosophy - many times. This may be repetitive, but as I said, it was not intended to be a book for the general public.

I noticed some unstable arguments and some logical errors, but I cannot be too critical - the book does not try to prove anything or persuade anyone. Also, some parts were unclear or not understandable at all, probably due to translation or word choice and syntax.

Marcus gives the impression of a person in a balanced mental state, living harmoniously and accepting whatever life has to offer or take from him. He is reflective and often observes the various inconsistencies of our habits. The ideal way of life is described in detail through his writing, which focuses internally, on the rational part of the mind.

Throughout the book, Aurelius presents his beliefs on the issues of life and death. I found it interesting that these notes contain elements of minimalism, altruism/collectivism, fatalism, and even agnosticism. Indeed, there are so many ideologies and they are mostly in agreement with each other. Basic principles of Eastern philosophy can also be observed. His observations on life, nature, and the universe will definitely make you think about the state of things, your attitude, your belief system, and your actions and reactions in almost everything.

For some, "Meditations" may be a self-help book from an earlier era, while for others it may be a mental stimulus that provides new questions or topics for reflection. Personally, I found the latter to be true for me as it was interesting to read the thoughts of a man (in his middle age) who loved philosophy. Despite being an emperor, Aurelius rarely mentions war and governing the Roman Empire. He focuses on life in general. Another interesting aspect for me was the influence that ancient philosophers such as Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle had on Marcus. This is an element that is found in all these notes. Stoicism is, after all, a philosophy of ethical virtue.