Podcast
The Daily Stoic book recommendations
For centuries, all sorts of people—generals and politicians, athletes and coaches, writers and leaders—have looked to the teachings of Stoicism to help guide their lives. Each day, author and speaker Ryan Holiday brings you a new lesson about life, inspired by the thoughts and writings of great Stoic thinkers like Marcus Aurelius and Seneca the Younger. Daily Stoic Podcast also features Q+As with …
Latest mentions
-
The Pentagon Papers
-
Seneca's Letters from a Stoic: Moral Letters to Lucilius
-
How to Read the Bible
-
Main Street Millionaire
-
Meditations
-
A Selection from the Discourses of Epictetus with the Encheiridion
-
Blue Nights
-
Finnegans Wake
-
Secrets of Shaolin Temple Boxing
-
The Arcadian
-
The War of Art
-
A Man at Arms
-
Tides of War
-
The Virtues of War
-
The Legend of Bagger Vance
-
Range
-
Gates of Fire
-
Hitler's Willing Executioners
-
Your Fellow Americans
-
A Journey through Texas
Most recommended on The Daily Stoic
-
Meditations
Marcus Aurelius's 'Meditations' featured prominently across multiple episodes of The Daily Stoic. Ryan Holiday called it the book that influenced his life the most and cited it in discussions about recommending Stoic literature. Brigid Delaney praised its literary excellence, describing the private writings as a brilliant work of art filled with poetry. Troy Baker recounted receiving a specific translation recommendation for the book, while Holiday also referenced its opening lines during various historical discussions.
Discussed“Marcus Aurelius opens meditations by thanking the teacher who taught him to read attentively, and who loaned him the copy of Epictetus that shaped the rest of his life.”
-
The 48 Laws of Power
"The 48 Laws of Power" by Robert Greene and Joost Elffers was frequently discussed on The Daily Stoic. Ryan Holiday and Tim Ferriss recommended the work, with Holiday reflecting on its amoral presentation of historical strategies and sharing how he kept a copy on his desk early in his career.
Discussed“because the 40 laws of power had been out for a long time by the time I read it. 10 years.”
-
The Obstacle Is the Way
Ryan Holiday's book The Obstacle Is the Way was discussed on various episodes of The Daily Stoic. Guests including Patrick Dempsey, Ali Abdaal, Robert Greene, Garland Robinette, and Troy Baker highlighted the book's impact on their personal lives, business goals, creative work, and athletic challenges, with several contributors noting that they frequently reread or recommend it to others.
Discussed“Like I I imagine there's a lot of people who this book means a lot to. That means a lot to me. It was It was a really impactful book. Um at various times in my life. And if if somebody thinks, "Well, I've read that book." Yeah. Why would they want the 10th anniversary edition?”
-
The Daily Stoic
"The Daily Stoic" by Ryan Holiday and Stephen Hanselman was featured on its namesake podcast. Guests such as Maria Semple, Ron Chernow, and Dr. Rangan Chatterjee praised the daily meditations and discussed how the book influenced their perspectives on historical figures and personal philosophy.
Discussed“And so so what I did was I and then of course like I got your book The Daily Stoic which I just loved and I have my copy here.”
-
The War of Art
Steven Pressfield's The War of Art was frequently recommended on The Daily Stoic. Host Ryan Holiday, alongside guests like Christina Pazsitzky, shared their admiration for the book, noting that they often reread it before starting new creative projects and praising it as one of the best works ever written on the creative process and overcoming resistance.
Discussed“But then I have another one another sort of war of art type book that I'm starting on now.”
-
Man's Search for Meaning
Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl was discussed extensively on The Daily Stoic. Guests such as Chip Conley, Michael Gervais, Mel Robbins, Sharon McMahon, Brad Stulberg, and Arthur Brooks referenced the book across multiple episodes. They highlighted Frankl's insights on finding joy and purpose despite horrific circumstances, the psychological value of personal case studies, the difficulty of applying wisdom under stress, and the critical space between stimulus and response that allows individuals to choose their reactions.
Discussed“Every time you look at someone's story, I think of Victor Frankle. Yeah. You look at all these stories and you go, it's the same.”
-
The 48 Laws of Power (Special Power Edition)
Robert Greene's book 'The 48 Laws of Power (Special Power Edition)' was frequently discussed on The Daily Stoic. Host Ryan Holiday reflected on reading it in high school and later recalled working as a research assistant for Greene, praising the book as essential reading and noting that its final law addresses strategic flexibility and formlessness. Guests such as Arthur Brooks and Brad Stulberg also referenced the text to illustrate how to navigate life strategically and adapt to change. Additionally, Mark Manson mentioned that listeners often mistakenly believe he authored the book.
Discussed“Achieving such a milestone may initially feel fulfilling, but once it’s attained, expectations often lead to disappointment, demonstrating the arrival fallacy. Roberts Green’s work 'The 48 Laws of Power' illustrates the strategic navigation required to embrace life while maintaining healthy boundaries. Approaching it without preordained notions allows you to leverage insights from his work while embracing your unique journey.”
-
Atomic Habits
On The Daily Stoic, Ryan Holiday frequently recommended James Clear's book Atomic Habits, praising its focus on small choices that trigger explosive positive changes. Holiday highlighted the dual meaning of the title and recommended the work to guests like Brooke Wells, who noted it as a book that impacted her. Later episodes featured discussions on how the book's structure emerged during the writing process and its massive commercial success relative to other nonfiction titles.
Discussed“And I remember I was talking to James Clear like a year ago and I asked him when did he come to the four parts of Atomic Habits. It was like he had finished the book.”
-
Ego Is the Enemy
On The Daily Stoic, host Ryan Holiday and various guests frequently discussed his book Ego Is the Enemy. Guest Kevin Rose credited the book with fundamentally shifting his perspective on life and ambition. Other guests, such as comedy group Chad Goes Deep, mentioned listening to the audiobook during professional milestones to keep their egos in check. Holiday also reflected on the editorial decisions behind the book's preface and how his perspective on historical figures discussed in the text evolved over time.
Discussed“the stoic thing for you guys is like I was listening to ego's enemy a lot during it cuz I'm like got to keep the ego in check in a way like a bad audience is a good audience for you and a good audience is kind of a bad audience.”
-
The Great Gatsby
F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby was referenced multiple times on The Daily Stoic. Ryan Holiday brought up the novel in various episodes, including discussions with Kate Flannery and Eric Holder, to highlight specific literary passages, analyze character interactions like Gatsby approaching Nick, and comment on high school reading lists. Holiday also used the book's enduring sales to illustrate publishing cycles.
Discussed“in in Gatsby, there's this moment where Gatsby comes to Nick when he's trying to get in his good graces and he says like, "Hey, like I have maybe like I know you don't make a ton of money doing what you do. I have maybe this business opportunity you could help me with."”
-
Gates of Fire
Steven Pressfield's novel Gates of Fire was frequently praised on The Daily Stoic by host Ryan Holiday. Holiday discussed reading the book early in his journey and noted that it possessed a rare, timeless quality despite being relatively modern. Holiday often recommended the novel alongside Pressfield's other works, highlighting its historical depth and philosophical conversations in dialogue with guests like Brooke Wells and Steven Pressfield himself.
Discussed“It's like for me writing Gates of Fire and setting a story in ancient Greece with the Spartans, the part of the reason I did that was so you could talk about honor with a straight face.”
-
Mastery
Mastery by Robert Greene was referenced on The Daily Stoic by Ryan Holiday, Sam Parr, and Tim Ferriss. Sam Parr shared that reading the book changed his life and influenced how he viewed his career. Ryan Holiday brought up the work in episodes with Tom Segura and Cal Newport to discuss finding one's life task, mastering a craft, and the importance of mentorship and systems.
Recommended“and then when you read his other books particularly Mastery then then then you sort of unlock the puzzle”
-
Stillness Is the Key
Ryan Holiday's book Stillness Is the Key was discussed on several episodes of The Daily Stoic. Guests such as Tony Gonzalez and Camila Cabello shared how the book helped them navigate mental health struggles and find calmness. Holiday also referenced the work himself, using stories from the book to illustrate lessons on coping with professional feedback and stress.
Discussed“You had just finished Stillness. No, 2019. Stillness finished. Oh, Stillness came out in 2019.”
-
Yes to Life
On The Daily Stoic, host Ryan Holiday and guests Arthur Brooks and Brad Stulberg discussed Viktor E. Frankl's Yes to Life across multiple episodes, including in 2024 and 2023. The speakers noted that the book consists of previously lost lectures and writings published after the pandemic. They praised its perspective on tragic optimism, endurance, and saying yes to life in spite of everything, contrasting it with standard modern optimism.
Discussed“but then during the pandemic uh they they put out an addition they found this sort of lost work of Victor Frankle and Daniel Goldman wrote the the intro but it's called yes to life and it's a like a series of lectures and some letters I hav't read it's it's in the book s I'm going to give it”
-
A Farewell to Arms
Ernest Hemingway's 'A Farewell to Arms' was discussed across multiple episodes of The Daily Stoic. Ryan Holiday and Zach Braff examined Hemingway's writing process, noting how he rewrote the ending and opening lines numerous times. Holiday, Zach Braff, and Kevin Rose also quoted a prominent line from the novel about life breaking everyone, using the text to explore themes of resilience, poetic artistry, and vulnerability.
Discussed“Well, we talked about Hemingway um in A Farewell to Arms. He rewrote the ending like 35 times and each one of the endings is pretty [ __ ] good, you know.”
-
Discipline Is Destiny
Ryan Holiday's 'Discipline Is Destiny' was discussed and recommended on The Daily Stoic. Steven Pressfield praised and recommended the book to listeners, referencing its core themes. Ali Abdaal mentioned the title when discussing video concept brainstorms, an audience member noted the book in relation to recovery concepts, and Alexander Ludwig brought it up to highlight reflections on sobriety and discipline.
Discussed“we were like okay cool we can't call it discipline as Destiny because that would be a bit weird”
-
Range
On The Daily Stoic, Ryan Holiday discussed Range by David J. Epstein in multiple episodes in August 2026. Holiday praised the work, describing it as a parenting book in disguise and noting how Epstein transitioned from a successful first book to a smash hit with Range. He also brought up the book to illustrate broader concepts regarding constraints and creativity.
Recommended“David Epstein do you know who that is he wrote this book called range that's really good he's a sports journalist is really great”
-
The Book: A Cover-to-Cover Exploration of the Most Powerful Object of Our Time
On The Daily Stoic, host Ryan Holiday frequently discussed Keith Houston's book across multiple episodes. In December 2023, Holiday spoke with Shane Parrish, discussing the writing process, time management, and the book's concluding memento mori theme. Earlier, in June 2023, Holiday touched on the creative decisions involved in finishing a book with Rick Rubin. In February 2023, Eric Holder referenced arguments presented in the book regarding the Obama coalition, and in August 2022, Holiday expressed his admiration for the work to guest Justin Gregg.
Discussed“Which projects would I take off my plate? So you finally did the book. When did you sell it?”
-
The Great Influenza
John M. Barry's book The Great Influenza was discussed across multiple episodes of The Daily Stoic. Ryan Holiday recommended it as an incredible read for understanding historical parallels to the COVID-19 pandemic. Brad Stulberg also referenced the book, noting how closely the historical details of the Spanish flu mirrored modern events down to masking. Additionally, Holiday brought up the book to illustrate how passionate writing can lead to unexpected real-world outcomes when George W. Bush read it.
Discussed“Another great example of this is is the book The Great Influenza by John M. Barry. He becomes fascinated with the the the Spanish flu and he writes this book about it that George W. Bush reads...”
-
The Laws of Human Nature
Robert Greene's book The Laws of Human Nature was discussed on multiple episodes of The Daily Stoic. Ryan Holiday and guest Morgan Housel talked about the book's central theme regarding the human tendency to deny reality and human nature itself. Holiday also reflected on the book's unusual commercial success given its substantial length and depth.
Discussed“Just as The Laws of Human Nature should not be—The Laws of Human Nature is a 600-page book about, you know, everything that makes humans both rational and irrational; that should not be a commercially viable book, you know? Especially for someone who, again, it’s not like he’s a—you know, Adrian would turn it down.”
-
Trust Me, I'm Lying
Ryan Holiday's 'Trust Me, I'm Lying' came up across multiple episodes of The Daily Stoic. Drew Michael recommended the book, noting he sends it to people often. Timothy Denevi and Holiday discussed its epigraph and how journalism manipulates narratives. Garland Robinette shared that his staff introduced the book to him, prompting him to invite Holiday onto the show, and recounted how Holiday wanted to pivot to writing about Stoicism after its success. Additionally, Holiday reflected on writing the book at a young age and pondered whether he would rewrite or republish it today.
Discussed“Well, I I actually, this is the epigraph—is to trust, me, lying is the James Agy quote where it’s basically saying that fundamentally journalism is a form of lying because you’re taking disparate events and coordinating them to tell a story that you want to tell. And you’re leaving things out, and then there’s that famous, what’s her name, the”
-
A Calendar of Wisdom
On The Daily Stoic, Leo Tolstoy's 'A Calendar of Wisdom' was discussed on the February 29, 2024 episode featuring Morgan Housel. Host Ryan Holiday enthusiastically recommended the book, describing it as a popular collection of Tolstoy's favorite quotes from figures like Thoreau and the Stoics, and noting that he frequently has to keep restocking it in his bookstore.
Recommended“What's interesting too about that Tolstoy book is that A calendar of wisdom. That's right.”
-
A Selection from the Discourses of Epictetus with the Encheiridion
On The Daily Stoic, Epictetus's 'Discourses' was discussed across multiple episodes. Ryan Holiday cited the work to illustrate Stoic training concepts and compared it to the 'Enchiridion', while guest Karen Duffy shared how receiving a copy of the 'Discourses' from her husband fostered a deep sense of gratitude.
Discussed“"We must undergo a hard winter training and not rush into things for which we haven't prepared." That's Epictetus and his discourses.”
-
Bury the Chains
Adam Hochschild's book Bury the Chains was featured on The Daily Stoic when host Ryan Holiday and guest Mark Manson discussed the British abolitionist movement and Thomas Clarkson. Holiday referenced the book multiple times across episodes to illustrate historical examples of individual impact, the role of sugar consumption in driving the slave trade, and Clarkson's pivotal moment of realization while riding away from a significant encounter.
Recommended“and so Adam hos child has an amazing book on this called bury the chain”
-
Catch-22
Joseph Heller's Catch-22 was mentioned on The Daily Stoic by host Ryan Holiday across multiple episodes. Holiday brought up the famous novel to share an illustrative anecdote involving Heller and Kurt Vonnegut visiting a billionaire in the Hamptons, using the story to discuss themes of wealth, the concept of enoughness, and financial comparison.
Discussed“And Vonagget is teasing Heler and he says, "You know, this guy made this week more than all of the sales of Catch 22. How does that make you feel?”
-
Deep Work
Cal Newport's book Deep Work came up across multiple episodes of The Daily Stoic. Ryan Holiday recommended it in the show's intro and discussed time blocking with Newport himself. Jonathan Haidt mentioned using the book in his flourishing class at NYU to teach focus and attention techniques. Additionally, H.R. McMaster talked about connecting with Sheikh Tanoon over the book, specifically regarding the practice of setting aside a dedicated space for deep concentration.
Discussed“um but we read in my in my flourishing class at NYU we we read his book deep work yeah amazing book”
-
Dying Every Day
Brigid Delaney and Ryan Holiday recommended Dying Every Day by James Romm on The Daily Stoic, using the book to explore Seneca's character and the complexities of his service under Nero. H. R. McMaster also referenced Romm's work during a discussion on Seneca's choices within Nero's court. Furthermore, Ryan Holiday reflected on reading the book during the takeover and restructuring of American Apparel, noting how its themes resonated with his personal experiences.
Recommended“I mean, there are different accounts of how culpable Seneca was. I love the James Romm book 'Dying Every Day', it's extraordinary. What I love about Seneca is his humanness; he had this ideal that he tried to reach, and the reality was working for Nero.”
-
F. Scott Fitzgerald: The Great Gatsby
F. Scott Fitzgerald: The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald was discussed across multiple episodes of The Daily Stoic. Ed Helms referenced it regarding decorative book owners, while the host and guest Thomas Chatterton Williams discussed high school reading curricula and specific scenes involving characters like Meyer Wolfsheim.
Discussed“It's like it's very Great Gatsby. It's like it has nothing to do with the book itself.”
-
Good Inside
Dr. Becky Kennedy's book Good Inside was discussed on The Daily Stoic by Ryan Holiday and the author herself. Holiday recommended the parenting book, noting that its insights on emotional regulation and repair deeply impacted him and his wife. During Kennedy's guest appearance, they explored Stoic parenting concepts, the foundational idea that kids are fundamentally good, and practical scripts for communicating with children.
Recommended“Have you read Dr. Becky's stuff? She wrote this book good inside. She's incredible.”
-
Good to Great
Jim Collins's book 'Good to Great' was featured on The Daily Stoic in an episode featuring the author. Host Ryan Holiday expressed deep admiration for Collins's work and discussed the origin of the Stockdale paradox, which is introduced on page 83 of the book. Jim Collins explained how meeting Admiral Stockdale inspired the concept, and reflected on the massive impact the book had on his life and career. Guest Les Snead also referenced the book while discussing leadership and institutional priorities.
Discussed“I love his books, uh, Good to Great, of course, How the Mighty Fall.”
-
Lives of the Stoics
On The Daily Stoic, 'Lives of the Stoics' by Ryan Holiday and Stephen Hanselman was referenced in several episodes. On November 19, 2021, host Ryan Holiday discussed a story from the book about the philosopher Diotimus to illustrate the differences between Stoics and Epicureans. Additionally, H.R. McMaster praised the book on October 29, 2021, as part of his appreciation for Holiday's written works.
Recommended“Two days later, one year later, I started Lives; like I realized I was sort of almost unconsciously on a schedule of starting a book on this day five years in a row. Wow.”
-
On Writing
On The Daily Stoic, 'On Writing' by Stephen King came up during the March 21, 2024 episode titled 'Cal Newport: Take The Pressure Off Productivity'. Guest Cal Newport brought up the book to discuss how many literary novelists do not plan out their stories in advance, noting that Stephen King famously follows this approach.
Discussed“You had Plato and Socrates, and they created great dialogues, but your first book had nothing to do with Stoicism.”
-
Painting as a Pastime
On The Daily Stoic, Winston Churchill's book was repeatedly cited by Ryan Holiday to advocate for the psychological value of hobbies. Across episodes featuring guests like Garland Robinette, Olga Khazan, and Nate Silver, Holiday and his guests discussed how Churchill used painting as a therapeutic outlet following the trauma of World War I, arguing that public figures benefit from embracing hobbies where they can comfortably be beginners.
Discussed“Churchill wrote this book called Painting as a Pastime. Have you read it?”
-
Papyrus
Irene Vallejo's Papyrus was discussed on The Daily Stoic. Ryan Holiday recommended the book to Ezra Klein and praised it as an incredible read about the history of literature and books. In another episode, guest Francis Ford Coppola referenced Vallejo's work while discussing the history of paper, early writings, and how ancient scrolls were stored in specific boxes.
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”
-
So Good They Can't Ignore You
On The Daily Stoic, host Ryan Holiday and author Cal Newport discussed Newport's book So Good They Can't Ignore You across multiple episodes. Holiday recommended the work to emphasize the importance of building rare and valuable skills rather than blindly following one's passion, while Newport reflected on how the concepts in the book relate to lifestyle-centric career philosophies and avoiding overreactions to job dissatisfaction.
Recommended“My friend Cal Newport has a book. I'll give it to you in there. It's called um So Good They Can't Ignore You.”
-
The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse Fifth Anniversary Limited Edition
Charlie Mackesy's book The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse was highlighted on The Daily Stoic by Ryan Holiday. Holiday recommended the children's fable to guests like Matthew McConaughey, praising its illustrations and themes of family and connection. Holiday also shared a specific lesson from the book with his audience, noting the horse's reminder that asking for help is an act of perseverance rather than giving up.
Recommended“Have you read uh The Boy, the Fox, the Horse, and the Mole? It's this little children's fable.”
-
The Brass Check
On The Daily Stoic, Ryan Holiday repeatedly referenced Upton Sinclair's 'The Brass Check' to examine historical media criticism, industrial propaganda, and conflicts of interest in journalism. Holiday recommended the book to listeners as a timeless exposé on media integrity.
Discussed“I don't know if you read for did you read Upton Sinclair's book the brass check um no I've never read the brass check so so after he after he writes the jungle he writes basically because he becomes this famous guy, right?”
-
The Night of the Were-Boy
On The Daily Stoic, the host referenced various writing and reading topics, including the guest's recommended reading lists and the intellectual property aspect of writing books.
Discussed“but that's what Mont was doing he he retires and he retreats to his Library cuz the world is [ __ ] insane and people are killing each other... he goes in he read he's reading the stoics he's reading Socrates reading and then he's translating it”
-
The Nineties
Ryan Holiday and Robert Greene discussed Chuck Klosterman's The Nineties on The Daily Stoic to illustrate cultural and media changes, including the different headlines newspapers across the country featured on September 10th. Ryan Holiday also mentioned the book to examine the passage of time and how far removed contemporary society is from the 1990s. Additionally, Chuck Klosterman appeared as a guest on the podcast to reflect on his exploration of iconic artists and music genres in the book.
Recommended“Chuck cluster wrote a great book called The 9s and he was sort of talking about how”
-
The Odyssey of Homer
Homer's epic poem The Odyssey was mentioned across multiple episodes of The Daily Stoic. In one episode, the host discussed its themes and interpretations, noting that Odysseus can in many ways be viewed as the bad guy and that the work explores a man's tragic flaws rather than serving as a pure celebration. In another appearance, Ryan Holiday highlighted the timelessness of the epic and discussed its surprising, violent conclusion where Odysseus kills numerous people. Additionally, the phrase wine-dark sea from the text was referenced to reflect on how the author describes the ocean.
Discussed“but not like the Odyssey is an exploration of a man's tragic flaws not a celebration of o like Odus is the bad guy in many ways you know what I mean”
-
The Right Stuff
Ryan Holiday recommended The Right Stuff by Tom Wolfe on The Daily Stoic, agreeing with guest Adam Kinzinger that it is one of the greatest books. Holiday also referenced the book in other episodes to highlight John Glenn's surprisingly low heart rate during spaceflight and to discuss the alienating nature of being a quarterback with Seth Wickersham.
Discussed“Well, in in in The Right Stuff, the line that I was always struck by is Tom Wolfe points out that like John Glenn's heart rate never goes above 100 during the the thing.”
-
The Road
Cormac McCarthy's novel The Road was discussed across multiple episodes of The Daily Stoic. Troy Baker brought up the book while reflecting on stories that provoked an emotional response. Ryan Holiday and Kathryn Schulz discussed their admiration for McCarthy's writing and explored the dark themes of carrying the fire. Additionally, Sebastian Junger mentioned that he reread the novel at the beginning of the pandemic.
Discussed“um believe it or not I didn't cry in the road um the book or the movie we don't talk about the movie we'll talk about the book”
-
The Storm Before the Storm
On The Daily Stoic, Mike Duncan's book on the collapse of the Roman Republic was frequently recommended. In September 2024, Francis Ford Coppola praised the work as a favorite, noting how it highlights the overlooked history preceding major events like Caesar crossing the Rubicon. Ryan Holiday also recommended the book in November 2023 and discussed it with Professor Josiah Osgood in December 2022 to explore the turbulent sociopolitical backdrop of ancient Rome.
Recommended“one of my favorite books is this book called The Storm before the storm and uh the idea is that we kind of just see Caesar Crossing the Rubicon one day as if it it just popped into his head as if there wasn't all this history and all these other events leading up to this other major event yes”
-
The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck
Mark Manson's book The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck was referenced on The Daily Stoic by Ryan Holiday and guest Christina Pazsitzky. Pazsitzky praised the author and used the book's title to illustrate focusing on what truly matters. Holiday discussed the immense sales success of Manson's work in comparison to his own books, and cited their shared use of the Dave Mustaine story to explore ego and personal growth.
Discussed“like my ego is the enemy came out basically the same month as the subtle art of not giving a and yeah that book probably cumula cumulatively has sold more than all of my books combined”
-
The Theory of Moral Sentiments
On The Daily Stoic, Adam Smith's lesser-known philosophy book was discussed to highlight his broader views on morality alongside his work in capitalism. In November 2024, Dr. Jennifer Baker and the host discussed the text in the context of Stoic influences. In May 2024, Admiral Bill McRaven and Ryan Holiday explored how Smith wrote the book prior to The Wealth of Nations, noting its roots in Stoic teachings passed down by his professor.
Discussed“it's like have you read um a theory of moral sentiments yeah it's so hard for me cu the stoicism comes in and out”
-
12 Rules for Life
On The Daily Stoic, Ryan Holiday mentioned Jordan B. Peterson's 12 Rules for Life when discussing its popularity among young men. Donald Robertson also critiqued the book on the podcast, contrasting its rigid, formulaic rules with Socratic flexibility.
Discussed“because if you read his book 12 rules for life which kicked around our house for a bit like like most kind of sons raised in mostly liberal households”
-
A Man at Arms
Steven Pressfield's A Man at Arms came up on The Daily Stoic in discussions with Ryan Holiday. Holiday praised Pressfield as a long-time mentor and highlighted his new book. In another context, Holiday noted a strong thematic and character continuity between Pressfield's historical fiction and the work of his guests.
Discussed“I it was very obvious to me that he's the same that that he's a reincarnation of the character from A Man at Arms.”
-
Antkind
On an episode of The Daily Stoic released on September 14, 2024, guest Francis Ford Coppola discussed Charlie Kaufman's massive novel Antkind. Coppola explained that he picked up the seven-to-eight-hundred-page book after reading about it online, noting that it profoundly impacted his perspective. He reflected on how reading deeply challenging works alters his creative outlook and ultimately changes his life and cinematic projects.
Discussed“Sure, he wrote a book, a novel called 'Antkind,' a seven- or eight-hundred-page book called 'Antkind.' And that's what Google said: if you want to read something about being a... so I got it, and damned, if you know, as I said, everything I read changes my movie, but this book is changing my life because it's so, I finished”
-
Atlas Shrugged
Ayn Rand's Atlas Shrugged was discussed on The Daily Stoic by host Ryan Holiday and guest Les Snead. Holiday referenced the book to draw a parallel between Galt's Gulch and Plato's allegory of the cave. Les Snead talked about reading the classic novel for the first time, noting that it took him two summers to finish the thousand-page book.
Discussed“I've always felt that like there's an interesting parallel or contrast between the allegory of the cave which we're talking about and Galt's Gulch in in Atlas Shrugged.”
-
Blood Meridian
Cormac McCarthy's Blood Meridian was discussed on The Daily Stoic. Ryan Holiday identified a famous paragraph from the book referenced by Sebastian Junger. Additionally, Kathryn Schulz mentioned reading Blood Meridian recently during a conversation about her reading habits regarding Cormac McCarthy.
Discussed“Oh, that is a famous paragraph, right, from Blood Meridian.”
Host picks
- Meditations
- The 48 Laws of Power
- The War of Art
- The Great Gatsby
- The 48 Laws of Power (Special Power Edition)
- The Daily Stoic
- A Farewell to Arms
- Atomic Habits
- Gates of Fire
- Mastery
- Range
- The Laws of Human Nature
- The Obstacle Is the Way
- Bury the Chains
- Catch-22
- Good Inside
- Good to Great
- Man's Search for Meaning
- Painting as a Pastime
- So Good They Can't Ignore You
Guest picks
- Meditations
- The Obstacle Is the Way
- The Daily Stoic
- Man's Search for Meaning
- Ego Is the Enemy
- The 48 Laws of Power
- Discipline Is Destiny
- Stillness Is the Key
- Deep Work
- Gates of Fire
- Mastery
- On Writing
- The 48 Laws of Power (Special Power Edition)
- The Night of the Were-Boy
- The Odyssey of Homer
- The Road
- The War of Art
- Antkind
- Atomic Habits
- Conspiracy
Guests who recommended books
- Timothy Denevi (23)
- Thomas Chatterton Williams (18)
- Robert Greene (16)
- Steven Pressfield (15)
- Francis Ford Coppola (15)
- Troy Baker (14)
- Brigid Delaney (12)
- Cal Newport (12)
- Ali Abdaal (12)
- Morgan Housel (11)
- H. R. McMaster (10)
- Camila Cabello (10)
- Jonathan Haidt (9)
- James Stavridis (9)
- Arthur Brooks (8)
- Tim Ferriss (8)
- Garland Robinette (8)
- Brooke Wells (8)
- Rick Rubin (7)
- Chip Conley (7)
- Brad Stulberg (7)
- Rainn Wilson (7)
- Kevin Rose (7)
- Paul Kix (7)
- Daniel Pink (6)
- Renee DiResta (6)
- Christina Pazsitzky (6)
- Les Snead (5)
- Ron Chernow (5)
- Dr Rangan Chatterjee (5)
- Donald Robertson (5)
- Sam Parr (5)
- Alexander Ludwig (5)
- Dr. Edith Eger (5)
- Jim Collins (4)
- Austin Kleon (4)
- Dan Jones (4)
- Billy Oppenheimer (4)
- Wright Thompson (4)
- Amanda Knox (4)
Latest mentions
“Like I was just reading this interview with Daniel Ellsberg for this book that I'm writing, and the interviewer points out like that hundreds, if not thousands of people knew at some level one of the lies about Vietnam, right? He's not the only one, for instance, that knows the Pentagon papers.”
“But there is no reason to live and no limit to our miseries if we let our fears predominate. That's Seneca's moral letters.”
“Do you know what is the most repeated phrase in the Bible? It's be not afraid. Over and over again, these words appear a warning not to let first impressions rule the day.”
“she wrote a really good book published by the same publisher that I have called Main Street Millionaire.”
“Marcus Aurelius opens meditations by thanking the teacher who taught him to read attentively, and who loaned him the copy of Epictetus that shaped the rest of his life.”
“"We must undergo a hard winter training and not rush into things for which we haven't prepared." That's Epictetus and his discourses.”
“I thought I thought Blue Nights was I like Blue Nights.”
“It begins it begins with Finnegan's Wake and then the Bible and it ends with so there's two copies of Finnegan's Wake.”
“But the beginning I made my first movie called the Shaolin temple. Yeah, that is a big hit in Ming and China in the whole Asia make me career changed become actor.”
“his new novel, The Arcadian, which is incredible.”
“But then I have another one another sort of war of art type book that I'm starting on now.”
“I it was very obvious to me that he's the same that that he's a reincarnation of the character from A Man at Arms.”
“But the first he was in he was in Tides of War and he was in the Virtues of War.”
“But the first he was in he was in Tides of War and he was in the Virtues of War.”
“And then I realized as as I'm working on this, I flash back to The Legend of Bagger Vance, the book, not the movie.”
“David Epstein do you know who that is he wrote this book called range that's really good he's a sports journalist is really great”
“It's like for me writing Gates of Fire and setting a story in ancient Greece with the Spartans, the part of the reason I did that was so you could talk about honor with a straight face.”
“I mean right maybe you personally but you can't just say there are people that I mean that book Hitler's Willing executioners you know it's it's about your neighbors”
“She has this really great new book called Your Fellow Americans. More pumped on the country than ever before, which sounds odd to most people.”
“like there's this story that Robert Carro tells in in his book on Lyndon Johnson where uh one of the first sort of foreign leaders that Johnson entertains”