Episode · The Daily Stoic · 2026-09-26
Books mentioned on Inside the Final Years of Marcus Aurelius
By the final years of his life, Marcus Aurelius had lost nearly everyone he loved, endured years of war, and watched the Antonine Plague devastate the empire. In today’s episode, Professor William O.
Ryan Holiday recommended Marcus Aurelius by William O. Stephens, and discussed How to Think Like a Roman Emperor by Donald Robertson.
Books mentioned, in the order they came up
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How to Think Like a Roman Emperor
How to Think Like a Roman Emperor by Donald Robertson is a modern exploration of Stoic philosophy that combines the life and psychological practices of Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius with contemporary cognitive behavioral therapy techniques.
Discussed“I mean, he must have seen just—I think Donald Robertson writes about this very vividly in How to Think Like a Roman Emperor. Like, Rome would have smelled of burning bodies.”
Where to get it
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Marcus Aurelius
Marcus Aurelius by William O.
Recommended“And I thought the book is fantastic. Anyone who wants to learn more about Marcus should absolutely read it. And thank you very much. It was awesome.”
Where to get it
Other mentions in this episode (1) — ad reads, self-promotion and passing references, never counted
Plugged Marcus Aurelius
“And he's the author of this great new biography, Marcus Aurelius, Philosopher King. I've been raving about it. I've had him on. We've done a number of short episodes.”