Hi, I’m Matt Van Natta, the creator of the Stoic podcast Good Fortune and writer of the blog, Immoderate Stoic. This handbook is a collection of transcripts and articles that are all available for free online. So why am I compiling them? Two reasons. First, it’s my hope that the new format will be convenient in its usability. On the internet, no matter how helpful an article may be to people, eventually it gets lost in a back catalog of blog postings. This book will allow the better things to remain visible and therefore, I hope, relevant. Second, currency helps my project keep going. I’ve had multiple people request to monetarily support my work. I’ve investigated a variety of ways to do so, but so far I haven’t found a method that feels right for what I want Immoderate Stoic to be. I feel better about accepting funds when I’m handing you something that is yours (even if that something is digital). Whatever funds I receive from this handbook will help keep Immoderate Stoic up and running. Any additional money will help give me breathing room to create a new project I’ve been slowly pecking away at; a book of original content that aims to help people live out practical Stoicism.

So how to use this book?

The transcripts and articles within this handbook have been ordered thematically, in the hope that anyone who reads from page one until the end will not stumble over too many jarring topic shifts. For readers who are looking for specific episodes of the podcast, Good Fortune, an appendix offers an ordering from One to Thirteen. There is also a list of articles by publishing date, and a compendium of questions that allows one to jump to specific topics throughout the book. This handbook is meant as a supplement for people who practice Stoicism daily. As such, it assumes a basic level of understanding of the Stoic philosophy. If you require a basic tutorial, I suggest heading to the Resources section of this book.

Creating Good Fortune has enriched my understanding of Stoicism and, more importantly, solidified my practice. I certainly hope that this book proves useful to you as well.