Episode · The Daily Stoic · 2026-10-10
Books mentioned on The New Gilded Age Has an Old Problem | Nathaniel Philbrick
From the California Gold Rush to the railroad boom to Silicon Valley, the promise of instant riches keeps convincing us that this time will be different.
Ryan Holiday discussed In the Heart of the Sea by Nathaniel Philbrick, Mayflower by Nathaniel Philbrick, Travels with George by Nathaniel Philbrick, and The Rush by Nathaniel Philbrick. Nathaniel Philbrick recommended Endurance by Alfred Lansing, and discussed Two Years Before the Mast by Richard Henry Dana.
Books mentioned, in the order they came up
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In the Heart of the Sea
In the Heart of the Sea by Nathaniel Philbrick is a work of maritime history chronicling the tragic 1820 sinking of the American whaling ship Essex by a massive sperm whale, an event that ultimately inspired Herman Melville's classic novel Moby-Dick.
Discussed“If you've read In the Heart of the Sea, probably his magnum opus, his incredible book about the whaling industry and Moby Dick and the real story it's based on.”
Where to get it
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Mayflower
Discussed“He's also got a great book on the Mayflower, which is a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize.”
Where to get it
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Travels with George
Discussed“He has a great book on George Washington, just one of our great narrative nonfiction writers.”
Where to get it
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The Rush
The Rush by Nathaniel Philbrick is a historical non-fiction work that chronicles the sweeping events of the California Gold Rush, the American Civil War, and their collective impact on forging the modern world.
Discussed“And this book is ostensibly about events, you know, 150 plus years ago, but you cannot read this new book and not feel it is about this exact moment.”
Where to get it
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Two Years Before the Mast
Discussed“I mean, it was that, you know, there was one sort of early account two years before the mast, Richard Henry Dana, and that had come out well before the gold rush.”
Where to get it
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Endurance
Endurance by Alfred Lansing is a gripping historical account of Ernest Shackleton's ill-fated 1914 Antarctic expedition, widely regarded as a masterclass in leadership and resilience.
Recommended“Endurance. Sure. Um, is one of the great, great books.”
Where to get it
