Why people recommend it
Letters to a Young Poet by Rainer Maria Rilke is a collection of evocative correspondence offering timeless advice on art, solitude, and the creative process. On Acquired, Joseph Gordon-Levitt recommended the book after receiving a copy from Rian Johnson, highlighting its valuable perspective on mentorship and the inner life of an artist. The book has also served as a literary template for other creators; Chris Bosh mentioned it on Freakonomics Radio as a direct model for his own mentoring-style book, a sentiment echoed by Ryan Holiday on The Daily Stoic when discussing his inspirations for writing. Furthermore, Jay Shetty quoted extensively from the text on On Purpose, reading the famous passage urging readers to be patient toward all that remains unsolved in their hearts and to try loving the questions themselves. Across these various programs, speakers emphasized the enduring resonance of Rilke's wisdom, using his gentle guidance on patience, artistic struggle, and emotional endurance to inspire modern creators navigating their own paths toward personal and professional expression.
Who recommended it
- Chris Bosh Discussed
- Joseph Gordon-Levitt Recommended
- Ryan Holiday Discussed
- Jay Shetty Discussed
Chris Bosh — 1 mention
“it's modeled on some of my favorite books like letters to a young poet and letters to a young jazz musician”
Joseph Gordon-Levitt — 1 mention
“Rian sent me a copy of uh the book Letters to a Young Poet by Rilke, which is a wonderful book that I highly recommend. And one of the things it talks about in the right towards the beginning of the book, it's sort of a mentor poet speaking to writing a letter to a young poet.”
Ryan Holiday — 1 mention
“and i was telling him about two of my favorite books letters to a young jazz musician by winston marsalis and letters to a young poet by rilke”
Jay Shetty — 1 mention
“it says it's it's from letters to a young poet and it says be patient toward all that is unsolved in your heart and try to love the questions themselves like locked rooms and like books that are written in a very foreign tongue”