The Roman statesman Boethius, imprisoned and awaiting trial for the allegedly committing treason, is visited by the personification of Philosophy. Philosophy consoles Boethius before his eventual execution about the transitory nature of fame and wealth and explains fate using the image of a "Wheel of Fortune."

I like to think I have a pretty even-keeled personality; I neither get too up or too down over things. I like to think that this book taught me this lesson; that life has its highs and lows and to never get too despondent or too happy because life will always take a turn to balance out whatever fortune or disaster you are faced with. Stepping away from the ups and downs, from a farther perspective, one sees that life is a journey that averages out to a line.