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BONUS | Ryan Holiday Curates a Reading List for Nick Thompson

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Nov 6, 2025

Guest

Nick Thompson

In this engaging discussion, Nick Thompson, the CEO of The Atlantic and author of The Running Ground, shares his passion for literature. He and Ryan Holiday dive into fascinating book recommendations, from the harrowing true story of Tunnel 29 to Seneca's moral dilemmas with Nero. They explore Kafka's influence on parenting and Murakami's insights on running and writing. The duo also reflects on powerful memoirs dealing with death and the impactful role of journalists. This chat is a treasure trove for book lovers and aspiring writers alike!

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ANECDOTE

Tunnel 29 And A Journalist's Moral Dilemma

Ryan recounts Tunnel 29 and the CBS ethical dilemma about paying tunnelers to film their escape attempt.
The story highlights Cold War stakes where journalism funding could enable dangerous, illegal actions.

insights

INSIGHT

The Double-Edged Role Of Advisers To Power

Ryan observes that advising or serving tyrants both constrains and enables their worst actions.
That dual role makes counsel to power morally ambiguous and historically recurrent.

question_answer

ANECDOTE

Kafka's Letter As A Parenting Window

Ryan and Nick discuss Kafka's Letter to the Father as a parenting book and its family-dynamic revelation.
Ryan highlights the moment Kafka sends the letter via his mother, exposing parental dynamics that shaped him.

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

Books That Surprised Us

02:23 • 2min

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Tunnel 29 and Cold War Ethics

04:11 • 2min

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Seneca, Power, and Moral Compromise

05:42 • 2min

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Books on Churchill and Moral Philosophy

07:25 • 33sec

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Kafka, Parenting, and Letter to the Father

07:57 • 1min

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Murakami, Running, and Writing

09:09 • 3min

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Born to Run and Running Myths

11:51 • 3min

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Journalism, The Atlantic, and Influential Writers

John Green and Contagion Lessons

17:14 • 46sec

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Moving Books on Death

18:00 • 2min

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Unexpectedly Great Memoirs

19:51 • 21sec

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Joan Didion's Notes to John

20:12 • 2min

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Books as Office Decoration

21:52 • 1min

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Running Gear and Training Habits

23:22 • 28sec

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James Stockdale and Stoicism

23:50 • 5min

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Stockdale's Life Arc and Political Duty

29:18 • 2min

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Ryan's Monthly Reading List

31:33 • 24sec

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The World Is Full of Detours

31:56 • 31sec

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Ryan's Favorite Vehicle and Closing Notes

• Mentioned in 10 episodes

What I Talk About When I Talk About Running

Haruki Murakami

In this memoir, Haruki Murakami reflects on his experiences with long-distance running and how it has influenced his writing. He started running in the early 1980s and has since completed over twenty marathons and an ultramarathon. The book delves into the parallels between running and writing, highlighting the discipline, perseverance, and mental fortitude required for both. Murakami shares his training regimens, memorable races, and the philosophical insights he has gained from his running experiences, which have significantly impacted his creative life.

#26644

Letter to the Father

Brief an den Vater: Bilingual Edition (The Schocken Kafka Library)

Franz Kafka

Franz Kafka's "Letter to His Father" is a deeply personal and emotionally charged account of his complex relationship with his father, Hermann. Written in 1902 but not published until after Kafka's death, the letter reveals Kafka's feelings of inadequacy and his father's overwhelming presence in his life. It explores themes of parental authority, filial resentment, and the struggle for self-discovery. The letter's raw honesty and introspective nature offer a poignant exploration of the father-son dynamic and the lasting impact of parental influence. It remains a powerful testament to the complexities of family relationships and the enduring search for understanding and acceptance.

#1959

• Mentioned in 17 episodes

Everything is Tuberculosis

Hank Green

#13138

• Mentioned in 3 episodes

Tunnel 29

Helena Merriman

Tunnel 29 tells the story of Joachim Rudolph and a group of students who dug a tunnel under the Berlin Wall to help people escape from East Germany. Despite numerous challenges, including infiltration by a Stasi agent and technical setbacks, they eventually succeeded in freeing 29 people. The book also explores the involvement of an American TV network and the U.S. government's attempts to suppress the documentary about the escape.

• Mentioned in 3 episodes

Novelist As a Vocation

村上春樹

In 'Novelist as a Vocation', Haruki Murakami shares his thoughts on the role of the novelist, his own origins as a writer, and his musings on various aspects of writing and literature. The book is a collection of essays that delve into Murakami's work ethic, his daily routine, and his opinions on topics such as literary prizes and the Japanese school system. While it offers insights into his writing process and personal history, it also includes candid and sometimes controversial views on the writing profession. The essays blend writing advice with personal anecdotes, providing a unique look into the mind and methods of one of Japan's most celebrated authors.

#4946

• Mentioned in 7 episodes

Death Be Not Proud

John Gunther

Death Be Not Proud is a poignant memoir by John Gunther, detailing his son Johnny's valiant fight against a malignant brain tumor. The book chronicles Johnny's intellectual curiosity, courage, and resilience during his illness, as well as the efforts of his parents to save him. It explores themes of courage, willpower, and the human experience in the face of mortality.

#919

• Mentioned in 30 episodes

The Pursuit of Happiness

How Classical Writers on Virtue Inspired the Lives of the Founders and Defined America

Jeffrey Rosen

#1445

• Mentioned in 21 episodes

Dying Every Day

Seneca at the Court of Nero

James Romm

This book delves into the life of Seneca, a Stoic philosopher, as he navigated the complexities and dangers of serving as an advisor to the Roman Emperor Nero. It examines Seneca's philosophical writings and their relevance to his personal and political struggles, providing insights into the intersection of philosophy and politics in ancient Rome.

#15708

• Mentioned in 2 episodes

Notes to John

Joan Didion

Notes to John is a posthumous publication of Joan Didion's diary entries, detailing her therapy sessions and personal reflections on her family, particularly her relationship with her daughter Quintana. The book offers a raw and unfiltered look into Didion's life, covering topics such as addiction, depression, and the complexities of family dynamics. It is an unprecedentedly intimate account that reveals new facets of Didion's life and writing.

After their interview, Ryan and Nick Thompson, CEO of The Atlantic and author of The Running Ground, headed into The Painted Porch to talk about their favorite books and swap recommendations.

🎥 You can watch this episode on Ryan Holiday's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XHT1krHB6Wg

🎙️ Listen to Nick Thompson's episode on The Daily Stoic Podcast | Apple Podcasts, Spotify

📚 Full list of books that Ryan gave to Nick:

Tunnel 29: The True Story of an Extraordinary Escape Beneath the Berlin Wall by Helena Merriman

Dying Every Day: Seneca at the Court of Nero by James Romm

The Pursuit of Happiness: How Classical Writers on Virtue Inspired the Lives of the Founders and Defined America by Jeffrey Rosen

Notes to John by Joan Didion

Necessary Trouble by Drew Gilpin Faust

Meditations by Marcus Aurelius (Gregory Hays Translation)

Novelist as a Vocation by Haruki Murakami

Letter to the Father by Franz Kafka

What I Talk about When I Talk about Running: A Memoir by Haruki Murakami

Everything Is Tuberculosis by John Green

Death Be Not Proud by John Gunther

Check out Nick’s new book The Running Ground: A Father, a Son, and the Simplest of Sports

Follow Nick on Instagram and X @NXThompson

📚 Sign up for Ryan’s free monthly reading list newsletter: https://ryanholiday.net/the-reading-list/

📖 Wisdom Takes Work by Ryan Holiday is out NOW! Grab a copy here: https://store.dailystoic.com/pages/wisdom-takes-work

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