The Daily Stoic How To Have a Great Empire? | Ask Daily Stoic
Jul 8, 2022
This discussion tackles the struggle between personal freedom and authority, featuring historical figures like Nero and Epictetus. A new fable, 'The Girl Who Would Be Free,' highlights lessons on personal growth. The conversation also contrasts traditional knowledge with modern media, emphasizing the wisdom of history. Insights from Thich Nhat Hanh and Robert Greene offer strategies for confronting bullying. Finally, techniques for mastering anger are shared, encouraging patience and proactive emotional control for a more peaceful life.
12:16
True Power
- True power lies in self-mastery, not external control.
- Stoicism prioritizes ruling one's own mind, desires, and fears.
New Book Release
- Ryan Holiday's new book, "The Girl Who Would Be Free," is now available.
- It's a fable about Epictetus's childhood and Stoic principles.
Informed Citizenry
- Be an informed citizen through books, conversations, and firsthand observation.
- Avoid excessive news consumption; it can hinder true understanding.
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Intro
00:00 • 4min
Navigating News Consumption and the Wisdom of History
04:14 • 4min
Influential Texts and Stoic Responses to Bullying
08:23 • 2min
Confronting Bullying through Stoic Principles
10:22 • 2min
Mastering Anger: A Path to Calmness
12:24 • 3min
Life of Cato the Elder
Biographies by Plutarch and Cornelius Nepos
Plutarch
Cornelius Nepos
The 'Life of Cato the Elder' is typically covered in biographies by ancient historians like Plutarch and Cornelius Nepos.
These works provide insights into Cato's life as a Roman statesman, soldier, and writer, highlighting his conservatism and contributions to Roman literature.
Cato was renowned for his historical writings and his role as a censor, advocating for traditional Roman values.
This Kind of War
T. R. Fehrenbach
This Kind of War by T.R.
Fehrenbach provides a comprehensive analysis of the Korean War, exploring its geopolitical background, military tactics, and the challenges faced by soldiers.
The book is praised for its vivid storytelling and insightful analysis, offering a valuable perspective on this pivotal conflict.
It highlights the unpreparedness of the U.S.
military and the strategic decisions that shaped the war's outcome.
Reconciliation
Healing the Inner Child
Thich Nhat Hanh
This book offers practical mindfulness practices to help individuals heal from childhood suffering and trauma.
It focuses on transforming negative emotions like anger and fear into joy and tranquility, and provides tools for mending relationships and achieving inner peace.
The book is accessible to readers from all backgrounds and spiritual traditions.
History of the Peloponnesian War
Thucydides
Written by Thucydides, this work is a detailed and insightful historical account of the Peloponnesian War. It chronicles the conflict between the Peloponnesian League, led by Sparta, and the Athenian Empire, emphasizing the significant impact of this war on Greek society.
Thucydides outlines the historical context leading up to the war, tracing the evolution of Greek society and detailing the tensions and incidents that led to the conflict.
The narrative examines key events, alliances, and the complex interplay of human ambition and political motivations during the war.
The 33 Strategies of War
Don Leslie
Robert Greene
This book is a contemporary companion to Sun-tzu's 'The Art of War'.
It synthesizes strategies from various political, philosophical, and religious texts across world civilizations and thousands of years of conflict.
Each chapter outlines an approach to help readers win their life's wars, using illustrative examples from history, such as Lyndon Johnson, Julius Caesar, and Margaret Thatcher.
The book provides psychological ammunition to overcome patterns of failure and gain the upper hand in various situations.
Taming the Tiger Within
Meditations on Transforming Difficult Emotions
Thich Nhat Hanh
Taming the Tiger Within offers practical techniques grounded in Buddhist mindfulness and compassion to diffuse anger, conquer fear, and cultivate love.
It draws from Thich Nhat Hanh's bestselling works, providing a guide for bringing harmony and healing to life and relationships.
Mastery
Robert Greene
In 'Mastery', Robert Greene argues that mastery is not an innate talent but a skill that can be developed through a rigorous process.
The book outlines several key stages: finding your life's task, undergoing an ideal apprenticeship, finding the right mentor, acquiring social intelligence, and fusing intuitive with rational thinking.
Greene draws on the lives of historical and contemporary masters such as Mozart, Einstein, and Temple Grandin to illustrate his points.
He emphasizes the importance of deep practice, self-directed learning, and the ability to read and navigate social dynamics.
The book challenges the conventional notion of genius as a genetic gift and offers practical steps for anyone to achieve mastery in their chosen field.
The Enchiridion
Epictetus
Tony Darnell
Thomas Wentworth Higginson
The Enchiridion is a concise summary of the basic ideas of Stoic philosophy and provides techniques for transforming these principles into a way of life.
It was compiled by Arrian from the teachings of Epictetus and is notable for its practical advice on moral conduct in various life situations.
Unlike the Discourses, which present Epictetus' teachings in a more dynamic and situational context, the Enchiridion is a more structured and concise guide to Stoic living.
The 48 laws of power
Robert Greene
In 'The 48 Laws of Power', Robert Greene and Joost Elffers synthesize three thousand years of the history of power into 48 laws.
These laws are derived from the philosophies of Machiavelli, Sun Tzu, and Carl Von Clausewitz, as well as the lives of influential figures such as Henry Kissinger and P.T.
Barnum.
The book provides tactics, concepts, and lessons on how to achieve and maintain power, emphasizing prudence, confidence, and self-preservation.
Each law is illustrated with historical examples and is designed to help readers understand and navigate the dynamics of power in various aspects of life, including work, social hierarchies, and politics.
Letters from a Stoic
Seneca
Seneca's "Letters from a Stoic" comprises a collection of personal letters offering practical advice on living a virtuous life according to Stoic principles.
Written to Lucilius, a friend and student, the letters cover a wide range of topics, including dealing with adversity, managing emotions, and finding inner peace.
Seneca's writing style is engaging and relatable, making complex philosophical concepts accessible to a wider audience.
The letters offer timeless wisdom on self-improvement and ethical living.
They remain a valuable resource for anyone seeking guidance on navigating life's challenges.
The War of Art
Break Through the Blocks and Win Your Inner Creative Battles
Steven Pressfield
In 'The War of Art', Steven Pressfield identifies the internal force of 'Resistance' that hinders creative endeavors.
The book is divided into three sections: 'Resistance: Defining the Enemy', 'Combating Resistance: Turning Pro', and a final section that discusses the role of the muses and the battle between the Self and the Ego. Pressfield provides practical advice on recognizing and overcoming resistance, emphasizing the importance of professionalism, discipline, and continuous work in achieving creative success.
Man's Search for Meaning
Viktor Frankl
The book is divided into two parts.
The first part recounts Frankl's harrowing experiences as a prisoner in Nazi concentration camps, including Auschwitz, between 1942 and 1945.
He describes the inhumane conditions and the psychological and emotional struggles of the prisoners.
The second part introduces Frankl's theory of logotherapy, which posits that the primary human drive is the search for meaning, rather than pleasure.
Frankl argues that meaning can be found through three main avenues: work (doing something significant), love (caring for another), and suffering (finding meaning in one's own suffering).
The book emphasizes the importance of finding purpose and meaning in life, even in the most adverse conditions, as a key factor in survival and personal growth.
The Girl Who Would Be Free
Ryan Holiday
The Boy Who Would Be King
Ryan Holiday
Victor Juhasz
📕 The Girl Who Would Be Free is an all-ages fable written by the bestselling author Ryan Holiday and illustrated by the prolific illustrator Victor Juhasz. The 148-page book, produced entirely by Daily Stoic and printed here in the United States, is OFFICIALLY AVAILABLE online at dailystoic.com/girl or at The Painted Porch Bookshop in Bastrop, Texas.
😡 The Stoics have some of the smartest and most applicable insights about getting your anger contained. For a high level introduction to some of those insights, check out this article: Anger Management: 8 Strategies Backed By Two Thousand Years of Practice. Or if you really want to get serious about conquering your anger, sign up for our course: Taming Your Temper: The 11-Day Stoic Guide to Controlling Anger. 11 days of challenges, exercises, video lessons, and bonus tools based on Stoic philosophy and aimed at helping you deal with your anger in a constructive manner. Learn more here!
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