Philippe Belanger MD

Philippe Belanger, translator of the bestseller Seneca – Letters from a Stoic Master, graduated with an M.D. in 2016 and has been passionate about ancient thinkers since his high school years. He began reading both Western and Eastern philosophies at 14, with Stoicism becoming a lifelong pursuit after discovering Seneca through Tim Ferriss’s books—a spark that also ignited his fascination with Roman history.

Philippe prefers to call ancient philosophy mental training, since the word “philosophy” today often brings back memories of dull, mandatory classes rather than personal growth. Inspired by his grandfather Paulus, a lawyer and translator who often quoted Latin at home, Philippe’s love for ancient wisdom runs in the family.

He has read Seneca’s essays countless times and listened to Letters to Lucilius over and over, distilling their insights into clear, modern language for readers of today. Outside his work as a translator, Philippe stays active with hockey, football, tennis, yoga, swimming, and enjoys cooking, hiking, woodcutting, fishing, and backcountry camping.