The Meditations is a book of stoic wisdom purportedly to have been written by Marcus Aurelius that is popular in self help circles.

While certainly a popular read, what proof do we have that this book was actually written and published by Marcus Aurelius?

If it was published after his death, how was his journal discovered, and consequently distributed to those who wanted to read it?

Is there an existing original copy in Marcus Aurelius’s own writing?