Episode · The Daily Stoic · 2026-09-17
Books mentioned on You’re Going To Wish You Did This
Do you write down the important things you read? Do you take the time to understand those “helpful pieces of teaching” and what they could mean for you?
Ryan Holiday discussed Meditations by Aurelius Marcus and Moral letters to Lucilius.
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, offering timeless reflections on Stoic philosophy, self-discipline, and mortality.
Discussed“We're lucky that Marcus Aurelius wrote down his own thoughts, because that's how meditation survives to us.”
Where to get it
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Moral letters to Lucilius
Moral letters to Lucilius by Seneca is a collection of philosophical epistles offering timeless Stoic wisdom on virtue, mortality, and the art of living well.
Discussed“We're lucky that Seneca chose to write those letters to Lucilius. Because without them, not only would we be without his wisdom, but we'd be without many of the quotes from the early Stoics that were preserved only because Seneca wrote them down.”
Where to get it
Other mentions in this episode (2) — ad reads, self-promotion and passing references, never counted
Passing The True Believer
“When he was young, the future general James Mattis hitched hike to San Francisco to meet Eric Hoffer, the philosopher most famous for his book, The True Believer.”
Passing The Odyssey
“Whether you've just become hooked on Homer's Odyssey or are a dyed-in-the-wool nerd looking for a deep dive into the depths of myth and history,”