Episode · The Daily Stoic · 2024-03-02
Books mentioned on Robert Greene and Ryan Holiday on Ego and Power | LIVE in LA
This discussion between Ryan Holiday and Robert Greene took place in September of 2023 at the Wilshire Ebell Theatre in Los Angeles, California.
Books mentioned, in the order they came up
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The 48 Laws of Power (Special Power Edition)
The 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene is a strategic guide on acquiring and navigating power dynamics.
Discussed“Well, look, he was a huge fan of the 48 Laws of Power; he called it his Bible. Yeah, he called me El Señor, which is deeply blasphemous!”
Where to get it
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What If?
Discussed“Yeah, there's a whole series of books out called 'What If,' and they're fascinating; I don't know if you've ever read them.”
Where to get it
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Meditations
Meditations by Marcus Aurelius is a collection of personal journals and philosophical reflections written by the Roman Emperor during his military campaigns, offering enduring insights on Stoic philosophy, duty, and emotional resilience.
Discussed“I think one thing that struck me as I'm reading Meditations is Marcus Aurelius thanks his philosophy teacher, Rusticus, who gives him his copy of Epictetus's lectures.”
Where to get it
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The Dialogues of Plato
Why people recommend it: The Dialogues of Plato is a collection of classical philosophical texts written by Plato that utilize conversational exchanges to explore ethics, truth, and governance.
Discussed“But he ends up in this, he ends up in this bookstore, and the bookseller is reading one of, uh, Plato's dialogues or, I know, I guess it would have been one of Zenon's books.”
Where to get it
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The Odyssey of Homer
The Odyssey of Homer is an ancient Greek epic poem that chronicles the arduous, ten-year journey of Odysseus trying to return home to Ithaca after the fall of Troy.
Discussed“And the the timelessness of that, and so, so many parts of the Odyssey are inexplicable; you know, as he gets there—not to spoil the ending—but you know he just, there's this sort of moment at the end where he just, you know, murders with his bare hands like a hundred people and just like, 'Of course he did!'”
Where to get it
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The Nineties
The Nineties by Chuck Klosterman is a cultural history book that examines the music, movies, politics, and technology that defined an eccentric and transitional decade in America.
Discussed“Chuck Klosterman wrote a great book called The 90s, and he was sort of talking about how, um, you know, September 10th, there were newspapers all over the country, and they were all doing their own headlines about what's happening in that city.”
Where to get it
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The First Three Minutes
Discussed“And you know, I read a book called The First Three Minutes, which is about the first three minutes of the universe.”
Where to get it
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Ego Is the Enemy
Ego Is the Enemy by Ryan Holiday is a philosophical guide that explores how unchecked ambition, arrogance, and self-absorption hinder personal success and fulfillment, drawing on historical examples to advocate for humility and discipline.
Discussed“Like, uh, obviously, I wrote Ego is the Enemy as American Apparel was pulling itself to pieces.”
Where to get it
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The Obstacle Is the Way
The Obstacle Is the Way by Ryan Holiday is a bestselling book that popularizes ancient Stoic philosophy by demonstrating how turning obstacles upside down can lead to growth, resilience, and professional success.
Discussed“I think I got lucky in the sense that, you know, I did a book when my first book came out when I was 25 and it hit a bestseller for a week, and then, you know, I had to take a big step back when I sold The Obstacle is the Way.”
Where to get it
