Why people recommend it
Stillness Is the Key by Ryan Holiday is a bestselling book on Stoicism that argues for the necessity of inner calm, mental clarity, and emotional balance as the ultimate path to achieving greatness. The book has resonated deeply with athletes, entrepreneurs, and podcast hosts alike. On ChooseFI, Brad Barrett shared that he and a group of friends incorporated the book into a pseudo-book club format ahead of an outdoor trip, focusing on the tenets of Stoic stillness. NFL legend Tony Gonzalez revealed on The Daily Stoic that, among all the author's works, this particular book touched him the most and helped him navigate the immense pressures and personal struggles he faced during his career. Chris Williamson recommended the book on Modern Wisdom while discussing the fascinating psychological research surrounding high achievers like Tiger Woods. James Altucher also highlighted the book's massive New York Times bestseller status on Modern Wisdom, using its lessons to illustrate how taking strategic steps backward can ultimately lead to long-term success. Ryan Holiday himself has referenced the text on The Daily Stoic, using anecdotes from the book—such as stories about movie executives learning to separate personal identity from professional feedback—to teach listeners practical emotional regulation. The book remains a definitive modern guide to maintaining composure.
Who recommended it
- Camila Cabello Discussed
- Chris Williamson Recommended
- Brad Barrett Recommended
- Ryan Holiday Discussed
- John Mackey Discussed
- Tony Gonzalez Recommended
- James Altucher Recommended
Camila Cabello — 2 mentions
“then like two two years later um i read stillness is the key and that was actually when i was when i was that was like a year ago actually”
“but in stillness is the key when you talk about this metaphor for it's like if everybody on this planet plus the planet is one human body”
Chris Williamson — 2 mentions
“I was listening to really ryan holidays most recent book not ego is the enemy stillness is the key and he talks a lot”
“but if you find out about Tiger especially if you read stillness is the key by Ryan holiday he's got some amazing research in that about Tiger”
Brad Barrett — 1 mention
“it's, you know, we're trying to add some little extra things into it like we're reading a particular book by Ryan Holiday on stoicism about stillness and we're all kind of making it like a pseudo book club.”
Ryan Holiday — 1 mention
“I shared a story from 'Stillness is the Key' about Jed Apatow, who took many movies to realize the studio was not his parents. They would give him notes, and he felt personally attacked, projecting his feelings onto executives.”
John Mackey — 1 mention
“but I I did read your book Stillness is the key and I bought I bought”
Tony Gonzalez — 1 mention
“of all the books i've read a majority of your books stillness is the one that that touched that that oh man for me the most because i was you know that i think that that was part of my problem”
James Altucher — 1 mention
“his last book stillness is the key was number one on the New York Times bestseller list came out a few months ago”
Mentioned on the show without a named speaker — 5
“You had just finished Stillness. No, 2019. Stillness finished. Oh, Stillness came out in 2019.”
“But some of the guys are now calling it like a treat; we're trying to add some little extra things into it; like we're reading a particular book by Ryan Holiday on Stoicism about Stillness, and we're all kind of making it like a pseudo-book club.”
“Um, I, as a person who's found a lot of healing and recovery in the 12-step rooms, I was very surprised to see you write about it in both "Stillness Is the Key" and "Discipline Is Destiny."”
“Um, I, as a person who's found a lot of healing and recovery in the 12-step rooms, I was very surprised to see you write about it in both Stillness Is the Key and Discipline Is Destiny.”
“I was listening to really ryan holidays most recent book not ego is the enemy stillness is the key”
Also mentioned in the same episodes
- The 48 Laws of Power
- The Obstacle Is the Way
- Ego Is the Enemy
- Meditations
- 10 Rules for Talking
- Atomic Habits
Other mentions (15: passing, ad reads, own books)
“I don't remember what book it was for, but Stillness is the key.”
“So I have noticed like even in The Obstacle, Ego, Stillness, each one is a little bit longer than the one that came before it.”
“The first time I hit number one on the New York Times bestseller list, I remember I was in Los Angeles, I was on book tour for 'Stillness is the Key.' And so I was a different time zone, and so I started getting lots of texts and emails. And my thing is I get up early and I don't”
“uh stillness is the key”
“uh I talk about I tell the story of the Cuban Missile Crisis in Stillness is the key which I think is another example of of this idea of stepping back and seeing the big picture”
“i talk about i tell the story of the cubican missile crisis in Stillness is the key which i think is another example of of this idea of stepping back and seeing the big picture”
“but then the book I did after was about Stillness was me trying to rebuild my life after out of the destruction”
“I talked about this in in my Stillness book”
“I mean, like if you if you I would not recommend writing a book called The Obstacle Is the Way, a book called Ego Is the Enemy, a book called Stillness Is the Key, a book called Courage Is Calling, Discipline Is Destiny because then people expect you to be all those things”
“If you, I would not recommend writing a book called 'The Obstacle is the Way,' a book called 'Ego is the Enemy,' a book called 'Stillness is the Key,' a book called 'Courage is Calling,' or 'Discipline is Destiny.' Because then people expect you to be all those things, which is of course impossible.”
“As a person who has found a lot of healing and recovery in the 12-step rooms, I was very surprised to see you write about it in both Stillness is the Key and Discipline is Destiny. So I'm curious as to how that came about or why you were inspired to do that because the only other one I found”
“I think it was with Stillness it might have been after Definitely with this series”
“and I did this in Stillness and if I could rewrite ego I would change it”
“is a book called Stillness is the key going to sell like attract the audience sell better”
“but then when i read talking with strangers last year i read it actually before last year i read it when i was on my book tour for stillness is the key”