Many people think Stoicism is about suppressing emotions or accepting suffering with a stiff upper lip. But it’s really about learning to live well, to find peace, courage, and happiness in a chaotic world.

In this episode of Office Hours, I sit down with my friend Ryan Holiday, bestselling author and modern Stoic who has written several books about Stoicism, including his latest, Wisdom Takes Work. Together, we explore how ancient wisdom can help us live better today and why doing the right thing, even when it’s hard, leads to greater happiness.

We talk about how to stay centered in a world that constantly tests our integrity and attention, and what it means to live with temperance and purpose. Stoicism reminds us that we can’t always control what happens, but we can control how we respond, and that choice shapes the life we build.

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Where to find Ryan Holiday:

• Website: https://ryanholiday.net

• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYmBIKsrzIjdHRuqs2I8nHA

• X: https://x.com/RyanHoliday

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ryanholiday

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ryanholiday

• Podcast: https://dailystoic.com/podcast

Where to find Arthur Brooks: 

• Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://arthurbrooks.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

• Newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.arthurbrooks.com/newsletter⁠⁠⁠

• X: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/arthurbrooks⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

• Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/arthurcbrooks/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

• Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/ArthurBrooks/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

• YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGuyFRjJQFGCKzfHTBvWM6A⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

• LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/arthur-c-brooks/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

• Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠officehours@arthurbrooks.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Timestamps:

(00:00) Intro

(05:01) How Ryan Holiday got into Stoicism 

(10:04) Ryan’s definition of Stoicism 

(13:53) Who Cicero was, his Stoic leanings, and differences from the Stoics

(21:05) Seneca’s death 

(22:19) The three principles of Stoicism 

(25:40) Modern people who demonstrated Stoic principles 

(34:44) Stoicism’s work: finding a way to feel happy and grateful in spite of hardships

(43:30) Ryan’s advice to young Stoics 

(47:35) A case for making your own meaning

(49:02) How to stay in control when everything competes for your attention

(52:13) Where the Stoics fell short

(57:10) The Four Idols game

(1:04:35) Wrap up: Four ways to practice Stoicism

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Referenced:

• How to Build a Life: https://www.theatlantic.com/projects/how-build-life/

• The Happiness Files: Insights on Work and Life: https://www.amazon.com/Happiness-Files-Insights-Arthur-Brooks/dp/B0F4MFQ6VN

• Ryan Holiday’s website: https://ryanholiday.net/ 

•  Wisdom Takes Work: Learn. Apply. Repeat.: https://www.amazon.com/Wisdom-Takes-Work-Repeat-Virtues/dp/0593191730

• Robert Greene’s website: https://powerseductionandwar.com 

• The Stoics: The Philosophy of Seneca, Epictetus and Marcus Aurelius: https://www.amazon.com/Stoics-Philosophy-Seneca-Epictetus-Aurelius/dp/1398849103

• Meditations: https://www.amazon.com/Meditations-New-Translation-Marcus-Aurelius/dp/0812968255

• ...References continued at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.arthurbrooks.com/office-hours⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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