11 Stoic Books That Will Improve Your Life

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The best part about Stoicism is that you can go to the primary texts, read them and feel like they were written yesterday, not 2000 years ago. You can pick up Seneca, Marcus Aurelius or Epictetus and find the writing fresh as ever. In them, we find the wisdom to help us overcome adversity, find serenity and live well. They contain timeless truths and wisdom for any era.

But what if you wanted to go deeper? What if you wanted to read commentary and biographies on the practitioners? How did the philosophy develop over the years? What do the critics have to say? How did Stoicism inspire Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy? Or maybe you want to find a fiction book that is inspired by Stoicism? Or just a simple introductory text for beginners?

In this video Ryan Holiday talks about some of the essential books that you should read about Stoic philosophy.

#Stoicism​ #DailyStoic​ #RyanHoliday

[robtscience]

1. Meditations - Marcus Aurelius
2. Discourses - Epictetus
3. Letters From a Stoic - Seneca
4. That One Should Disdain Hardships - Musonius Rufus
5. Man's Search for Meaning - Viktor E. Frankl
6. The Enchiridion - Epictetus
7. Courage Under Fire - James Stockdale
8. The Inner Citadel - Pierre Hadot
9. How To Think Like a Roman Emperor - Donald Robertson
10. Lives of the Stoics - Ryan Holiday
11. The Daily Stoic - Ryan Holiday

[JesusGonzalez-jhwv]

In my opinion, I would add the book “A handbook for new stoics” by Massimo Pigliucci. It’s a practical book.

[SlimRhyno]

Your passion is so palpable that I can almost run my fingers through it! My brother, I hope you know the positive values that reverberate out from what you create/share. Anywho, thank you, and please take care.

[ShiroiTengu]

I recently bit the bullet and bought your beautiful leather bound edition of Meditations and thanks to this video i got the new Waterfield translation of Epictetus and ordered Rufus from the UK. Cheers!

[mikedaniels]

I’m on vacation in Milan. Went into a bookstore today and happened upon the English section. It was all Christmas or philosophy books. I was very pleased to see that alongside Nietzsche, Aurelius, Seneca, and Machiavelli, there was a stack of a certain “366 Meditations on Wisdom, Perseverance, and the Art of Living” - I even took some pictures.
Well done, Ryan. Truly inspiring 😊

[ms.payton]

I ordered "Meditations" yesterday and shall be arriving later on today! I've been reading "The Daily Stoic" daily for the past few weeks. Lately, I've been more interested in stoicism and philosophy, and have been learning more about them daily while applying the learning to my life. Thank you so much for the book recommendations ❤

[aaronwimberleymbamsf]

Love this!! Leaders read. I carry a vintage version Meditations by Marcus Aurelius in the glove box of my car in case of the worst possible "situation". It also offers comfort on those breaks that I allow myself to take while on this path. Having the book in my car is also a great present moment reminder that rarely "the path of least resistance" is part of the divine journey, but instead- "the obstacle is the way" All of the other ones are great as well- they all give a sense of solace in knowing that the "road less traveled" bears more fruit. I would also add the Harvard Press' biography of Metternich as well to this list.

[Pologram]

Enchiridion, chira is the ancient greek word for hand (modern greek : cheri)
Hence chiropractor : a person who practises by hand.
En is a connective word, so it means “to the hand”, your manual to work with.
Examples of en + word.
En & pathos(passion) : empathy
En & phasi(phase): emphasis
Etc

[chrisakins]

I prefer to think that Frankl's message is man can MAKE meaning, not FIND it. He actively pursued meaning during his internment. I love this list! And your book, The Daily Stoic. Thank you!

[brockcarlson]

Oh how true it is that real peace is only found in the calm and mild light of philosophy.

[sharonmaberry-bourke]

One thing I truly love is a book recommendation! Thank you for these~

[maxgelberk]

Hello everyone! A special big greeting to the creator of the video who made this possible for us, I have to mention the book Astro Money Alchemy, a book full of secrets of attracting money, something abnormal, all recommendations, and once again congratulations to the author of the video

[ninik]

Hi, Ryan! Thank you for the recos. The first time I heard you was on Spotify podcast and I initially fell in love with Stoicism. I was in my downtime when I heard you. Since I began to have my interest on Stoicism and Marcus Aurelius, everything is starting to feel a little lighter. I used to be a non-reader. Now I recently bought two books (Meditations and Obstacle is the Way) and enjoying reading both. I have one coming, I had it reserved because it's an out of stock item here in our city! It's your The Daily Stoic. The way you delivered the idea of this philosophy is helping me pick myself up.

[generationTEOTWAWKI]

You have your own bookstore? That’s like a piece of heaven.. Anytime you could lock me in there, I would stay and read and never stop. Reading books is like having the key set to the past, present and future. Kids, real books will never die so start reading and put away that phone.. ❤

[smokypoo]

Love the Daily Stoic, it's always so inspiring to me. I wish there were more women stoics ya know...just to get a differnt view. Cheers from France!

[CAROLINASTOIC]

Man I'd love to visit your book store. You introduced me to Robert Green and Marcus. I'm 15 months clean now. Off disability after 12 years..I'm a former police officer and broke my neck. Opiates ruined my life. I was homeless, terrible credit. No way out. #wedorecover. Thank you Ryan. Just signed up for the free 7day thing....(writing my first book! "Rookie School to rehab..a stoics perspective"

[ruchisayal]

thanks for sharing really insightful...important is to know how one is making progress in life

[leondeiak]

It is possible to write without reading. Example? Simon Sinek.
But also, like Marcus Aurelius said: "Throw away thy books; no longer distract thyself: it is not allowed..."
and: "But cast away the thirst after books, that thou mayest not die murmuring, but cheerfully, truly, and from thy heart thankful to the gods."
and: "No longer wander at hazard; for neither wilt thou read thy own memoirs, nor the acts of the ancient Romans and Hellenes, and the selections from books which thou wast reserving for thy old age."

[mysidestitches]

Can you pls do a tour of your bookstore? I love your shelving!

[robert]

I'd add Seneca's "On the shortness of life", James Romm's "Dying every day: Seneca at the court of Nero" and anything written by Massimo Pigliucci to the list.