Ryan Holiday
Bestselling Author & Modern Stoic
Ryan Holiday is a media strategist and philosopher who has popularized Stoicism for a modern audience. A former Director of Marketing for American Apparel, he founded the creative agency Brass Check and has advised clients like Google and best-selling authors. He is the author of multiple bestseller…
14 books authored
Trust Me, I'm Lying: Confessions of a Media Manipulator
Ryan Holiday exposes the systemic vulnerabilities of the modern media ecosystem and the tactics used by manipulators to manufacture viral news. The book details his personal experiences in public relations, explaining how small blogs are exploited to influence major news outlets. It analyzes the economic incentives that drive digital journalism toward sensationalism and speed over accuracy.
Growth Hacker Marketing
A Primer on the Future of PR, Marketing, and Advertising
Explores the shift from traditional advertising to growth hacking strategies focused on product-market fit and viral scalability. Ryan Holiday outlines how digital startups use data-driven experimentation to build multibillion-dollar brands with minimal marketing budgets. The text provides a framework for integrating marketing directly into the product development process.
The Obstacle Is the Way
The Timeless Art of Turning Trials into Triumph
Inspired by the ancient Greek philosophy of Stoicism, this book provides a framework for transforming challenges into opportunities. It explores the three core disciplines of perception, action, and will, illustrated through the lives of historical figures who mastered resilience. The work offers a practical guide to maintaining focus and equanimity when faced with adversity.
Ego Is the Enemy
The Fight to Master Our Greatest Opponent
Explores how unchecked ego can hinder personal and professional growth through the lens of history and Stoic philosophy. The book is structured into three phases—aspiration, success, and failure—to illustrate how humility and discipline serve as better foundations for lasting achievement. Using historical anecdotes, Holiday argues that internal character, rather than external recognition, is the ultimate measure of success.
The Daily Stoic
366 Meditations on Wisdom, Perseverance, and the Art of Living
A year-long devotional providing daily translations and commentary on the works of Stoic philosophers such as Marcus Aurelius, Seneca, and Epictetus. The book is structured around the three core disciplines of perception, action, and will. It offers practical lessons on resilience, self-mastery, and finding serenity in modern life.
Perennial Seller: The Art of Making and Marketing Work that Lasts
The Art of Making and Marketing Work that Lasts
Ryan Holiday explores the principles behind creative works that achieve long-term success rather than temporary viral fame. The book provides a practical guide to the creative process, positioning, marketing, and platform-building necessary for work to endure for decades.
The Daily Stoic Journal
366 Days of Writing and Reflection on the Art of Living
A daily guided journal providing 366 prompts and weekly lessons based on ancient Stoicism. It features space for morning and evening reflections to help readers integrate Stoic philosophy into their daily lives.
Conspiracy
Peter Thiel, Hulk Hogan, Gawker, and the Anatomy of Intrigue
A true account of billionaire Peter Thiel's decade-long secret plot to destroy the media outlet Gawker. The book details the legal battle involving Hulk Hogan and explores themes of power, strategy, and revenge in the modern age.
Stillness Is the Key
An Ancient Strategy for Modern Life
Stillness Is the Key explores the concept of internal quiet as a prerequisite for high performance and happiness. Drawing on Stoic and Buddhist philosophies, the book provides historical examples of leaders and thinkers who used stillness to navigate crises and achieve clarity.
Lives of the Stoics
The Art of Living from Zeno to Marcus Aurelius
A collection of biographies profiling the major figures of Stoic philosophy from Zeno to Marcus Aurelius. The book explores how these individuals applied Stoic virtues like courage, temperance, justice, and wisdom to their daily lives and challenges.
Courage Is Calling
Fortune Favors the Brave
Explores the foundational Stoic virtue of courage through historical anecdotes and philosophical analysis. Ryan Holiday examines the different facets of bravery, from overcoming everyday fear to performing heroic acts, providing practical guidance on living a life of conviction. This work serves as the first installment in a series dedicated to the four cardinal virtues of ancient philosophy.
The Boy Who Would Be King
A Fable About Marcus Aurelius
This illustrated fable recounts the early life of Marcus Aurelius, following his journey from a young boy to the emperor of Rome. Guided by his mother and his teacher Rusticus, Marcus learns the Stoic principles of character, wisdom, and self-mastery.
Discipline Is Destiny
The Power of Self-Control
This book explores the Stoic virtue of temperance, or self-discipline, through historical examples and ancient philosophy. It argues that self-mastery is the foundation for a successful and meaningful life, providing strategies to balance ambition with restraint.
The Daily Dad
366 Meditations on Parenting, Love, and Raising Great Kids
A daily devotional providing 366 meditations on parenting, drawing on wisdom from history, literature, and psychology. Each entry offers a short reflection and quote to help parents cultivate resilience, presence, and intentionality through consistent daily practice.