The Martian vs. Meditations by Marcus Aurelius

The Martian

www.amazon.com/Martian-Andy...

Six days ago, astronaut Mark Watney became one of the first people to walk on Mars. Now, he’s sure he’ll be the first person to die there. After a dust storm nearly kills him and forces his crew to evacuate while thinking him dead, Mark finds himself stranded and completely alone with no way to even signal Earth that he’s alive—and even if he could get word out, his supplies would be gone long before a rescue could arrive. Chances are, though, he won’t have time to starve to death. The damaged machinery, unforgiving environment, or plain-old “human error” are much more likely to kill him first. But Mark isn’t ready to give up yet. Drawing on his ingenuity, his engineering skills—and a relentless, dogged refusal to quit—he steadfastly confronts one seemingly insurmountable obstacle after the next. Will his resourcefulness be enough to overcome the impossible odds against him?

Meditations by Marcus Aurelius

www.amazon.com/Meditations-...

From wikipedia: Meditations is a series of personal writings by Marcus Aurelius, Roman Emperor from AD 161 to 180, recording his private notes to himself and ideas on Stoic philosophy. Meditations are worth reading if only to get a glimpse at the thoughts of a man who lived a life in truly extraordinary circumstances of being a Roman Emperor. It's surprising how relevant the themes of his diaries are two thousand years later.

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The Martian
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Meditations by Marcus Aurelius
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Pros

  • Engaging and humorous narrative
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  • Accurate scientific details
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  • Thrilling survival story
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  • Strong character development
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  • Appeals to both sci-fi fans and general readers
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Cons

  • Heavy on technical jargon
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  • Slow start
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Pros

  • Practical advice on personal conduct
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  • Historical insight into Roman times
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  • Written by a Roman Emperor
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Cons

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