The Daily Stoic Ryan and Stephen Hanselman Talk About Their Newest Book, Lives of the Stoics
Sep 30, 2020
In this engaging conversation, Stephen Hanselman, a seasoned collaborator with Ryan Holiday and a Harvard Divinity School graduate, shares insights on their latest book, Lives of the Stoics. They discuss the challenges of introducing Stoicism to modern audiences, emphasizing resilience and the creative process amidst adversity. Hanselman highlights the nurturing of positive emotions within Stoicism and the innovative potential of constraints in creativity. They also explore lesser-known Stoic philosophers and the significance of personal narratives in making their teachings accessible.
42:09
Stoic Approach to Creative Projects
- Creative projects require letting go of control after completion.
- Focus on the effort, not external validation like sales or media attention.
Internal Scorecard vs. External Results
- Ryan Holiday discusses the mixed success of his books.
- He emphasizes judging success by effort, not external results, using an internal scorecard.
History Repeats Itself
- The current pandemic mirrors historical crises, highlighting Stoic ideas of recurring patterns.
- The Antonine Plague, like COVID-19, began in the East, spread slowly, and caused widespread disruption.
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Intro
00:00 • 2min
Embracing Stoicism: A Book Launch Journey
02:13 • 12min
Embracing Emotion: The Poetic Nature of Stoicism
14:38 • 2min
Embracing Constraints in Creativity and Stoic Philosophy
16:20 • 3min
Exploring the Roots of Stoic Literature
19:30 • 19min
Exploring Stoic Philosophers and Their Teachings
38:32 • 6min
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.
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.
Discourses
Epictetus
The Discourses of Epictetus are a series of informal lectures written down by his pupil Arrian around 108 AD. The philosophy of Epictetus is intensely practical, directing students to focus on their opinions, anxieties, passions, and desires to distinguish what is within their control from what is not.
The teachings aim to make people free and happy by living virtuously and 'according to nature.
' The Discourses cover a wide range of topics, including friendship, illness, fear, and poverty, and how to acquire and maintain tranquility.
They are set in Epictetus' classroom in Nicopolis and reflect his earnest and often humorous style of teaching.
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 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.
Meditations for Women Who Do Too Much
Anne Wilson Schaef
This book provides 365 meditations combined with quotations from women of different ages, cultures, and perspectives.
It aims to help women recognize and break the cycle of overextension by offering wisdom, insight, and humor.
The meditations are designed to inspire positive change and provide relief from the pressures of modern life.
Art of Living
Epictetus
Sharon Lebell
This book presents Epictetus's teachings in a modern and accessible way, focusing on the ninety-three instructions that make up 'The Art of Living'.
It stresses the importance of distinguishing between what is within one's control and what is not, and offers practical advice on meeting everyday challenges and facing life's inevitable losses with grace.
The book is based on Epictetus's original works, 'The Discourses' and 'Enchiridion', and is interpreted by Sharon Lebell to capture the essence of Stoic philosophy for a contemporary audience.
A MAN IN FULL
Tom Wolfe
A Man in Full is a satirical novel that delves into the lives of several characters in Atlanta, Georgia, during the late 1990s.
The story centers around Charles 'Cap'm Charlie' Croker, a wealthy real estate developer facing financial ruin.
The novel explores themes of masculinity, racial dynamics, and the conflicts arising from wealth and power.
It also introduces Conrad Hensley, a young man in prison who discovers Stoic philosophy, which becomes a recurring theme.
The narrative critiques American society, particularly the societal issues of contemporary Atlanta, including boosterism, expansion, and racial tensions.
Wolfe's writing style combines humor and social commentary, reflecting his journalistic approach to fiction.
On the Shortness of Life
Seneca
In this essay, Seneca addresses the common complaint that life is too short by arguing that life is sufficiently long if one uses it wisely.
He contends that people waste much of their time in luxury, carelessness, and pointless activities.
Seneca emphasizes the importance of living in the present, pursuing philosophical wisdom, and avoiding the distractions that make life seem short.
He advises readers to organize each day as if it were their last and to avoid procrastination and the preoccupation with future or past concerns.
Conspiracy
Ryan Holiday
In 'Conspiracy', Ryan Holiday chronicles the intricate and ambitious plot by Peter Thiel to take down Gawker Media.
The book is based on interviews with key players and delves into the strategic and philosophical underpinnings of Thiel's actions.
It examines the intersection of power, privacy, and free speech in the digital age, highlighting the ruthless and brilliant tactics employed by Thiel.
The narrative transcends a simple tale of a billionaire vs.
a media empire, offering insights into the broader implications for culture and society.
The Daily Stoic
366 Meditations on Wisdom, Perseverance, and the Art of Living
Ryan Holiday
Stephen Hanselman
This book provides 366 meditations on Stoic wisdom, featuring new translations of passages from Epictetus, Marcus Aurelius, Seneca, and other Stoic philosophers.
Each day, readers are presented with a Stoic lesson explained in modern language, along with advice on how to apply these lessons in everyday life.
The book is organized temporally and thematically across the twelve months of the year, making it a daily resource for practicing Stoicism.
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.
The Daily Stoic Journal
Ryan Holiday
Stephen Hanselman
This journal is designed to help readers apply Stoic principles to their daily lives.
It features space for morning and evening notes, weekly explanations of powerful Stoic practices, related quotations, and daily prompts to inspire deeper reflection and application.
Created with a durable, Smyth-sewn binding and including resources for further reading, it is a companion volume for those who love 'The Daily Stoic' and can also be used as a stand-alone journal.
It aims to help readers achieve inner peace, clarity, and effectiveness in their lives.
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.
On today’s podcast, Ryan talks with co-author Stephen Hanselman about their latest book, Lives of the Stoics, and what their experience has been writing it for the past year. This is the first part of the interview that Ryan recorded as a bonus gift for pre-ordering Lives of the Stoics; to hear the rest, just visit DailyStoic.com/Lives.
Stephen Hanselman is a longtime collaborator of Ryan’s, having worked with him on their previous books, The Daily Stoic and The Daily Stoic Journal. Stephen has worked in the publishing business in various roles for over three decades. He is also a graduate of Harvard Divinity School.
Get Lives of the Stoics now: http://DailyStoic.com/lives
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