Episode · The Daily Stoic · 2026-07-25
Ryan Holiday & Ezra Klein: books mentioned on The Daily Stoic
Navigating A Hostile Society With Ezra Klein
Ryan Holiday recommended Buddha by Karen Armstrong, Papyrus by Irene Vallejo, Roosevelt: The Lion and the Fox (1882–1940) by James MacGregor Burns, and President Lincoln by William Lee Miller, and discussed Meditations by Aurelius Marcus and The Bully Pulpit by Doris Kearns Goodwin.
Books mentioned, in the order they came up
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Meditations
Meditations by Marcus Aurelius is a collection of personal journals and philosophical notes written by the Roman emperor during his military campaigns, offering profound insights into Stoic philosophy, self-discipline, and personal endurance.
Discussed“You famously at the end of the episodes you talk about some books the guest would recommend to the audience and he brings up Marcus Aurelius' Meditations.”
Where to get it
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Buddha
Buddha is an insightful biographical work by Karen Armstrong that traces the life, spiritual quest, and foundational teachings of Siddhartha Gautama.
Recommended“Have you read Karen Armstrong's biography of Buddha?”
Where to get it
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Papyrus
Papyrus by Irene Vallejo is a narrative history of books and the written word in the ancient world, tracing the origins of libraries, scrolls, and literature.
Recommended“Well, so you the first one you already read. No, I'm not sure if I fully so I Uh, this book is great. Have you read this? Yeah. Okay. I thought this was incredible. So good. So good. All right, well then if you've read this one then the other one I would give you is papyrus by Irene Vallejo”
Where to get it
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Roosevelt: The Lion and the Fox (1882–1940)
Roosevelt: The Lion and the Fox (1882–1940) by James MacGregor Burns is a notable historical and political analysis of Franklin Delano Roosevelt's early life and political career.
Recommended“Have you read this? This is a very old one. No, I've not read this. This is The Lion and the Fox, the first political biography of Franklin Delano Roosevelt.”
Where to get it
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President Lincoln
President Lincoln by William Lee Miller is a political biography examining the life and career of Abraham Lincoln.
Recommended“And a companion book I would give you is President Lincoln by William Lee Miller, which is a political biography of Lincoln as a politician.”
Where to get it
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The Bully Pulpit
The Bully Pulpit by Doris Kearns Goodwin is a sweeping historical examination that contrasts the political strategies, media savvy, and presidencies of William Howard Taft and Theodore Roosevelt.
Discussed“I think Doris Kearns Goodwin's The Bully Pulpit is another good example of this, the contrast between Taft and Roosevelt, their understanding of the media.”
Where to get it
Other mentions in this episode (1) — ad reads, self-promotion and passing references, never counted
“and this is straight out of my first book, Why We're Polarized, over time we've developed highly ideologically unified parties that now compete across the branches.”