A novella is a short novel. Philosophers write protreptic novellas in order to flesh out their philosophical messages and help them stick in their readers psyches more deeply than if they only put them in some tome. C.S. Lewis discusses this mode of philosophy as he discusses front door apologetics and side door apologetics—front door being essays... See more

Marcus Aurelius wrote personal reflections, philosophical meditations, and sententia in his personal journal in order to make his own philosophical manual. Today we read his journal as a source of inspiration but for him it was a practical tool for living out his Stoic philosophy. Journals are collections of thoughts—as opposed to diaries, which... See more