Overview
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The 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene: A controversial primer on how power operates throughout history. Understanding these often-ugly dynamics protects you from those who would use them against you.
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Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl: A Holocaust survivor's meditation on choosing our attitude regardless of circumstances. Frankl argues suffering is inevitable, but we can find meaning and growth within it.
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The War of Art by Steven Pressfield: The definitive book on overcoming creative resistance—that inner voice telling you to wait, delay, or doubt yourself. Holiday rereads it before every creative project.
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Ask the Dust by John Fante: A forgotten Los Angeles masterpiece rediscovered by Charles Bukowski. The original publisher was bankrupted by Hitler's copyright lawsuit over an unrelated book.
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Leadership: In Turbulent Times by Doris Kearns Goodwin: Profiles of Lincoln, both Roosevelts, and LBJ leading through crisis and adversity rather than easy times.
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Meditations by Marcus Aurelius: Private reflections from history's most powerful man, never meant for publication. Timeless writing on justice, self-discipline, and courage.
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How to Keep Your Cool by Seneca: Essays on managing anger from a philosopher who endured exile and illness. His remedy: delay and selective ignorance.
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Courage Under Fire by James Stockdale: A fighter pilot tests Stoic philosophy during seven years of torture in the Hanoi Hilton, proving Epictetus's teachings in extreme circumstances.
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Letters from a Stoic by Seneca: Correspondence with a friend about life, success, and failure. Seneca defines philosophical progress as becoming a better friend to yourself.
Takeaways
Ryan Holiday shares nine books that shaped his thinking on power, meaning, creativity, and resilience. The common thread is learning to respond well to adversity and understand human nature.
Everything can be taken from us, but our ability to choose our attitude in any set of circumstances, to make our own way.