Ryan Holiday's Book Recommendations

"Epic."

"Incredible."

"One of my favorite books."

"[The author]'s masterwork."

"Read it when you have kids. When I finished this book, [I] walked into my son's room when he was asleep, sat on the floor, and I just wept."

"Spectacular. He’s my favorite president."

"Ryan Holiday recommended this book on his blog."

"This is the '48 Laws of Power' written in more of an idealist, activist tone."

"I found Rockefeller to be strangely stoic, incredibly resilient, and, despite his reputation as a robber baron, humble and compassionate."

"About boxing and loosely based on the Primo Carnera scandal."

"The novel that every young kid stuck in their own head needs to read."

"I’ve read and re-read many times."

"Every ambitious young person should read."

"I thought I knew about Theodore Roosevelt."

"[One of] the best books I read [in 2019]."

"[One of] my three favorite books about [Lincoln]."

"[One of] my three favorite books about [Lincoln]."

"[One of] my three favorite books about [Lincoln]."

"MUST READ."

"Every ambitious young person should read."

"[One of] the best books I read [in 2019]."

"[One of] the best books I read [in 2019]."

"[One of] the best books I read [in 2019]."

"[One of] the best books I read [in 2019]."

"[One of] the best books I read [in 2019]."

"[One of] the best books I read [in 2019]."

"The private thoughts of the most powerful man in the world, admonishing himself on how to be better, more just, more immune to temptation, wiser."

"One of the most magnificent books I’ve ever read."

"One of Ryan Holiday's 2 answers to "what book are you most likely to give out as a gift?"

"Interviews with technology founders from one of the best investors of all time."

"A bit poetic. But those beautiful lines are really the same direct advice and timeless, perspective-changing observations."

"[One] of the most inspiring men of the last 150 years."

"The definitive beginner text on evolutionary psychology and one of the easiest to get into."

"Ari Gold before Ari Gold existed"

"Ryan Holiday recommended this book on his blog."

"I strongly recommend Essays."

"A brilliant composer of quick thoughts that will help us with our problems."

"Looks at how we find purpose by dedicating ourselves to a cause, learning to love and finding a meaning to our suffering."

"Critical for anyone trying to accomplish anything."

"Ostensibly about the art of writing, but really it too is about life and how to tackle the problems, temptations and opportunities life throws at us."

"This book (and his life) were living proof of his family motto: 'Fortitudine vincimus' (By endurance we conquer)."

"One of the better books on evolutionary biology that focuses almost entirely on the biological and psychological differences between men and women."

"This was someone I knew little about before I read the book, and by the end of it found myself referencing and thinking of him constantly."

"A work of art."

"Contains some of the most cogent insights on life, pain, loss, love, success, youth that I have ever seen."

"Amazing book [...] about Jewish gangsters."

"I loved Ulysses S. Grant a lot."

"[The author] wrote his letters to his illegitimate son, tutoring him on how to learn, how to think, how to act, how to deal with important people. I don’t agree with all his advice but most of it is great."

"Changes how you see the future and help explain real pain points in our new economy–both good and bad."

"I actually ended up helping get Asylum back in print."

"[One] of the most inspiring men of the last 150 years."

"I strongly recommend Plutarch's Lives Volume 2."

"What a book."

"Holy shit, this book is good. Just holy shit."

"Even if you’ve never watched a down of football, you’ll get something out of this book."

"Hilarious. I have one hanging on the gate in front of my house."

"Probably the greatest post-WWII military strategist; he developed the F-15 and F-16, revolutionized ground tactics in war and covertly designed the US battle plans for the Gulf War."

"Philosophy runs through this play."

"A collection of biographies (and aphorisms) from the famous Spartans."

"Has sold something like 5 million copies in Japan alone (an insane number). Totto-Chan is a special figure in modern Japanese culture—she is a celebrity on par with Oprah or Ellen."

"Sucked me in completely. Everyone I’ve recommended it to loves it."

"Ryan Holiday recommended this book on his blog."

"I’m amazed how many young people haven’t read this book. Truly life-changing."

"The (supposedly) preserved correspondence between Old Gorgon Graham, a self-made millionaire in Chicago, and his son who is coming of age and entering the family business."

"A series of essays about Montaigne, who invented the essay."

"Read Mastery so that you can figure your life’s task and how to dedicate yourself to it."

"Bitter, sarcastic attacks on Rome."

"[One of] the best books I read [in 2019]."

"6/ The Psychology of Money by @morganhousel This year began with a booming economy, and is ending in recession. If you’re looking to navigate the unpredictable nature of the global economy as an individual who hopes to plan (and be secure) for the future, this book is great."

"3/ Phosphorescence: A Memoir of Finding Joy When Your World Goes Dark by @bairdjulia This is a powerful, inspiring book about resilience and powering through. I found myself marking dozens of pages in this one and just continually smiling throughout."

"2/ Death Be Not Proud by John Gunther This book is deeply moving and profound. It’s written in 1949 by the famous journalist John Gunther about the death of his genius son Johnny at 17 from a brain tumor."

"1/ A Calendar of Wisdom by Leo Tolstoy “Daily study,” Tolstoy wrote, is “necessary for all people.” Tolstoy dreamed of creating a book with “a wise thought for every day of the year, from the greatest philosophers of all times and all people.”"

"A Syrian slave in the first century BC, Publius Syrus is a fountain of quick, helpful wisdom that you cannot help but recall and apply to your life."

"After Marcus Aurelius, this is one of my favorite books."

"Ryan Holiday recommended this book on his blog."

"There’s no other way to put: the story is AMAZING. Better than the Odyssey, better than Juvenal’s Satires. Inspiring, beautiful, exciting, and eminently readable, I loved this."

"A friend and peer of Michelangelo, Da Vinci, Raphael Titian and all the other great minds of the Renaissance sat down in 1550 and wrote biographical sketches of the people he knew or had influenced him."

"Ryan Holiday recommended this book on his blog."

"Ryan Holiday recommended this book on his blog."

"Ryan Holiday recommended this book on his blog."

"Ryan Holiday recommended this book on his blog."

"Ryan Holiday recommended this book on his blog."

"Ryan Holiday recommended this book on his blog."

"Ryan Holiday recommended this book on his blog."

"A really good biography."

"An obligation for every student of history."

"I strongly recommend Plutarch's Lives Volume 1."

"Ryan Holiday recommended this book on his blog."

"A light hearted satire that pokes fun at optimism, philosophy, politics, and power."

"I read this on my honeymoon (probably the only person on the beach reading it, if I had to guess)."

"Ryan Holiday recommended this book on his blog."

"Ryan Holiday mentioned this book on Twitter."

"Ryan Holiday recommended this book on his blog."

"Ryan Holiday recommended this book on his blog."

"This is the '48 Laws of Power' written in more of an idealist, activist tone."

"Ryan Holiday recommended this book on his blog."

"A provocative book for the moment. Highly recommended."

"Great book."

"[One of] the best books I read [in 2019]."