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It Doesn’t Take Long to Do This | Mark Manson's Reading List (From Ryan Holiday)

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Dec 26, 2025

Guest

Mark Manson

Mark Manson, an author and blogger renowned for his insights on self-improvement, discusses fascinating reads with Ryan Holiday. They explore transformative books like 'Die With Zero' and 'Going Infinite,' offering fresh perspectives on life and leadership. Manson shares intriguing anecdotes from a writers' group and highlights lesser-known favorites, such as a biography of Pontius Pilate. Their chat underscores how books not only influence personal philosophy but also inspire actions for the New Year, pushing for meaningful change.

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ADVICE

Reboot Habits With Short, Focused Runs

Start small and consistent: a week or three weeks is enough to reboot habits and momentum.
Join structured challenges like the Daily Stoic New Year New You to build daily practices and sustain change.

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ANECDOTE

Truck Transformed Ranch Life

Ryan bought a Toyota Tacoma after finding a car couldn't handle his dirt road and ranch life.
The truck unlocked new places and adventures for his family on unpaved roads and long trips.

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ANECDOTE

Reading Through Upcoming Guests

Mark and Ryan trade recent reads and often read books by upcoming podcast guests to prepare.
This habit forces them to explore books they might otherwise delay or never read.

Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode

A Week Is Enough to Turn Things Around

00:56 • 1min

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Why 21 Days Builds Momentum

02:01 • 1min

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Sign-up Details and Invitation

What Have You Been Reading?

05:32 • 32sec

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Books They Recommend and Die With Zero

06:04 • 12sec

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The Writing Group and Notable Authors

06:16 • 34sec

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Reactions to Going Infinite

06:49 • 2min

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Using Smart-Stupid as a Character Example

09:10 • 25sec

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Obscure Favorites: Pontius Pilate Biography

09:35 • 2min

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Jan Morris Memoir and Trans Experience

11:45 • 2min

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Business and Management Reads

13:16 • 1min

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Bookstore Curation Philosophy

14:26 • 1min

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Personal Vehicle Anecdotes

• Mentioned in 952 episodes

Meditations

Marcus Aurelius

Meditations is a series of private writings composed by Marcus Aurelius, one of Rome's greatest emperors, as he struggled to understand himself and make sense of the universe. Written between 170 and 180 CE while on military campaigns, this work combines Stoic philosophy with personal observations on leadership, duty, mortality, and human nature. Through twelve books of intimate thoughts never intended for publication, Marcus Aurelius explores themes of self-improvement, resilience in the face of adversity, and living virtuously while accepting what cannot be changed.

#5597

• Mentioned in 8 episodes

The Daily Drucker

366 Days of Insight and Motivation for Getting the Right Things Done

Peter Drucker

The Daily Drucker distills Peter Drucker's teachings into 366 daily readings, covering topics such as leadership, innovation, decision-making, and time management. Each entry includes a Drucker proverb, a teaching, and an action point to apply his insights in practice. The book is designed to inspire and guide managers, entrepreneurs, and business professionals in their daily work.

#106

• Mentioned in 152 episodes

The hard thing about hard things

building a business when there are no easy answers

Ben Horowitz

In this book, Ben Horowitz shares his personal and often humbling experiences in the tech industry to offer essential advice and practical wisdom. He addresses various hard decisions and challenges that business leaders face, such as firing friends, managing company culture, handling layoffs, and making tough strategic decisions. Horowitz emphasizes the importance of honesty, resilience, and adaptability in leadership, drawing from his experiences with companies like Loudcloud and Andreessen Horowitz.

#328

• Mentioned in 73 episodes

Going Infinite

The Rise and Fall of a New Tycoon

Michael Lewis

In 'Going Infinite', Michael Lewis delves into the life of Sam Bankman-Fried, the enigmatic founder of the failed cryptocurrency exchange FTX. The book provides a psychological portrait and a financial roller-coaster ride, tracing Bankman-Fried's trajectory from becoming the world's youngest billionaire to his eventual downfall. It covers topics such as high-frequency trading, cryptocurrencies, effective altruism, and the justice system. Despite criticism for its sympathetic portrayal of Bankman-Fried, the book offers a fascinating insight into the complex world of cryptocurrencies and the character of its central figure.

#69

• Mentioned in 198 episodes

Range

Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World

David Epstein

In this book, David Epstein examines the success of generalists in various fields, including sports, arts, music, invention, forecasting, and science. He argues that generalists, who often find their path late and juggle multiple interests, are more creative, agile, and able to make connections that specialists cannot. Epstein uses stories and research studies to show that wide sampling and late specialization can be more valuable than early specialization, especially in complex and unpredictable environments. He also discusses the distinction between 'kind' and 'wicked' learning environments and the importance of balancing specialization with range for long-term success.

#7998

• Mentioned in 5 episodes

Conundrum

Jan Morris

Jan Morris's 'Conundrum' is a deeply personal and poetic memoir that explores her journey from being James Morris to Jan Morris. The book delves into her experiences with gender identity, her transition, and the societal and personal challenges she faced. It is a powerful exploration of identity, belonging, and the human quest for authenticity.

#34

• Mentioned in 270 episodes

Die with Zero

Bill Perkins

Die with Zero presents a provocative philosophy and practical guide on how to get the most out of your money and your life. Bill Perkins argues against over-saving and under-living, advocating for investing in experiences early and maximizing positive life experiences. The book introduces concepts like 'time-bucketing,' 'net worth curve,' and 'fulfillment curve' to help readers optimize their life stages and make the most of their resources. Drawing from his own life experiences and insights from psychological science and behavioral finance, Perkins makes a compelling case for living large and accumulating memorable experiences rather than wealth.

It was a bad year. You picked up some bad habits. You let some good habits slip. You wasted time on stuff that didn’t matter. But just because that’s true doesn’t mean things have to continue that way.

👉 Make 2026 the year where you finally bring yourself closer to living your best life. No more waiting. Demand the best for yourself. The Daily Stoic New Year New You challenge begins January 1, 2026. Learn more and sign up today at dailystoic.com/challenge.

Get The Daily Stoic New Year New You & all other Daily Stoic courses for FREE when you join Daily Stoic Life | dailystoic.com/life

📚 Books Ryan gave Mark:

Die With Zero
Range
Going Infinite
Montaigne
Pontius Pilate
Conundrum
The Daily Drucker

🎥 Watch Ryan give Mark book recommendations at The Painted Porch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZR-j9QxyQdc

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