Assembly Required with Stacey Abrams Lessons from Ryan Holiday: How to Stay Grounded in Turbulent Times
Ryan Holiday, author and host of The Daily Stoic, joins to dive into the power of stoicism during turbulent times. They discuss resilience, drawing inspiration from historical freedom fighters. Ryan shares insights on media consumption, emphasizing the importance of staying informed without succumbing to anxiety. The duo highlights the balance between accepting what we can't control and taking small, impactful actions in our communities. From historical lessons to civic engagement, they explore how to navigate chaos while fostering personal growth.
59:09
Stoicism as a Philosophy
- Stoicism is a philosophy for navigating challenges and opportunities.
- Stacey Abrams, a Christian, also finds value in Stoicism.
Stoicism's Core Principle
- Stoicism is about controlling your response to events, not the events themselves.
- It emphasizes virtues like courage, discipline, justice, and wisdom.
Living in Interesting Times
- Ryan Holiday's book, "The Obstacle is the Way," discusses navigating turbulent times.
- Ancient Stoics also faced unrest and upheaval.
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Intro
00:00 • 5min
Embracing Stoicism in Turbulent Times
05:17 • 12min
Stoicism in Chaos
17:21 • 7min
Navigating News for Mental Well-Being
23:57 • 11min
Cautionary Tales of Ambition in Fashion
35:11 • 3min
The Dual Edge of Ambition
38:07 • 19min
The Power of Local Civic Engagement
57:23 • 3min
Parting the Waters
America in the King years 1954-63
Taylor Branch
Parting the Waters chronicles the struggle for racial equality in America from the twilight of the Eisenhower years through King’s fiery political baptism, the ascension of John F. Kennedy, and the dawning of the New South. The book covers significant events such as the Montgomery bus boycott, the Freedom Rides, the Birmingham campaign, and the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. It provides a vivid, panoramic portrait of America during this transformative period, highlighting the roles of key figures including Martin Luther King Jr., the Kennedy brothers, and J. Edgar Hoover.
Team of Rivals
The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln
Doris Kearns Goodwin
This book is a multiple biography centered on Abraham Lincoln's mastery of men and how it shaped the most significant presidency in the nation's history. It explores how Lincoln, despite being a one-term congressman and prairie lawyer, rose to become president by incorporating his rivals—William H. Seward, Salmon P. Chase, and Edward Bates—into his cabinet. The book details Lincoln's extraordinary ability to understand and empathize with others, which enabled him to create an unusual but effective cabinet. It also delves into the challenges Lincoln faced, including incompetent generals, hostile congressmen, and the internal dynamics of his cabinet, highlighting his political genius and managerial skills[1][3][5].
Lives of the Stoics
The Art of Living from Zeno to Marcus Aurelius
Ryan Holiday
Stephen Hanselman
This book presents the fascinating lives of twenty-six ancient Stoics, from Zeno to Marcus Aurelius, organized in digestible mini-biographies. It vividly brings to life the stories of key Stoic philosophers, such as Seneca, Epictetus, and Cicero, and demonstrates how their philosophies shaped their actions and legacies. The authors intertwine historical context with philosophical insights, making the book both educational and entertaining. It shows how Stoic principles can be applied to modern life, emphasizing virtues like Courage, Justice, Temperance, and Wisdom[1][3][5].
Ego is the Enemy
Ryan Holiday
In *Ego Is the Enemy*, Ryan Holiday delves into the concept of ego and its detrimental effects on personal and professional success. The book is divided into three sections: Aspiration, Success, and Failure, each offering valuable lessons and perspectives. Holiday draws on a vast array of stories and examples from literature, philosophy, and history, featuring figures such as George Marshall, Jackie Robinson, Katharine Graham, Bill Belichick, and Eleanor Roosevelt. These individuals achieved great success by conquering their own egos, and their strategies and tactics are presented as models for readers. The book emphasizes the importance of staying grounded, continually learning, and embracing a mindset of growth rather than letting ego hinder development.
Trust Me, I'm Lying
Confessions of a Media Manipulator
Ryan Holiday
In 'Trust Me, I'm Lying,' Ryan Holiday exposes the inner workings of the online media system, detailing how rumors and false information can quickly spread from low-level blogs to major news outlets. The book highlights the role of marketers and media manipulators in this process, driven by the toxic economics of the news business. Holiday shares his own experiences as a media manipulator and provides insights into the social science behind why this system is so vulnerable to manipulation. He also offers advice on how to spot and combat these manipulative tactics[1][3][5].
Bomb Shelter
Mary Philpott
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.
The obstacle is the way
Ryan Holiday
In 'The Obstacle Is the Way', Ryan Holiday presents a framework for turning obstacles into successes. Drawing from the philosophy of Stoicism and the writings of Marcus Aurelius, Holiday outlines three disciplines: perception, action, and will. He illustrates these principles with historical anecdotes from figures such as John D. Rockefeller, Amelia Earhart, Ulysses S. Grant, and Steve Jobs. The book emphasizes the importance of perception in shaping one's response to obstacles, the need for intentional and creative action, and the cultivation of will to persist through challenges. Holiday argues that by adopting these Stoic principles, individuals can transform their obstacles into opportunities for growth and success.
Right Thing, Right Now
Justice in an Unjust World
Ryan Holiday
In 'Right Thing, Right Now', Ryan Holiday argues for the necessity of doing what’s right, even when it isn’t easy. He draws on stories of historical figures such as Marcus Aurelius, Florence Nightingale, Jimmy Carter, Gandhi, and Frederick Douglass to illustrate the importance of justice, kindness, honesty, integrity, and loyalty. The book emphasizes that justice is not an abstract concept but a daily practice that shapes one’s character and impacts those around us. Holiday challenges readers to develop their own moral code and uphold it consistently, providing concrete steps and exercises to help incorporate these values into their lives[1][3][4].
On Tyranny
Victor Gourevitch
Leo Strauss
Michael S. Roth
This book is a comprehensive analysis of Xenophon's dialogue Hiero, in which the tyrant Hiero and the poet Simonides discuss the advantages and disadvantages of exercising tyranny. The work includes a translation of the dialogue from its original Greek, Strauss's commentary on it, a critique of Strauss's commentary by Alexandre Kojève, and the complete correspondence between Strauss and Kojève. The discussion delves into the nature of tyranny, the distinction between tyrants and kings, and the philosophical implications of these concepts. The book also explores the debate between Strauss and Kojève on the role of philosophy in ruling the world and the concept of the Universal Homogenous State[1][3][5].
Whether your instinct now is fight or flight, many of us are searching for the way to navigate these turbulent times. In this episode, Stacey shares her practice of stoicism: an ancient philosophy built to make us more resilient, knowledgeable and grounded in the face of adversity. She’s joined by author, entrepreneur, and host of The Daily Stoic podcast, Ryan Holiday, to explore how we can apply the art of stoicism to this political moment —and use it as a tool to build our capacity and organize action. They talk about everything from lessons from past freedom fighters to smart media consumption, as well identifying the small ways we can make a difference and regain a sense of power and stability.
For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here. For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@crooked.com and include the name of the podcast.
Learn & Do More:
- BE CURIOUS: Check out our guest Ryan Holiday’s podcast The Daily Stoic for more ways we can harness stoicism to find stability and resilience.
- SOLVE PROBLEMS: Make sure to think about your news diet. Focus on constructive consumption of the news that helps you stay informed instead of being a consumer of endless information. Seek out other sources like historical biographies that can better help you understand the current moment.
- DO GOOD: In addition to trying to do big, audacious things to change the world, remember that small things can also make a difference. Picking up trash in your community, showing up to a city council meeting, or providing comfort to a friend who's having a hard time is all worthwhile.