person1987–

Ryan Holiday

Disciplines:

Summary

American author — author of The Obstacle Is the Way, Ego Is the Enemy, and The Daily Stoic — who popularized Stoic philosophy for modern audiences — the most widely read popularizer of Stoicism in contemporary culture.

Core Contribution

Creates the modern Stoicism self-help genre — Holiday's synthesis (translating Marcus Aurelius, Epictetus, and Seneca into practical business and personal advice) is the most effective popular repackaging of ancient philosophy into modern self-help; his books have made Stoicism the most fashionable ancient philosophy in contemporary culture.

Key Spikes & Highlights

Was American Apparel's marketing director at 21 and ran one of the most effective controversy-based marketing campaigns in retail history — deliberately generating press coverage through scandals; he then wrote about these techniques critically in Trust Me, I'm Lying; the self-critique of his own marketing career is the most thorough insider account of media manipulation in a popularized form
His Stoicism books reached NFL locker rooms, the US military, and Silicon Valley — the NFL team lists and military reading lists that include The Obstacle Is the Way document the most complete penetration of ancient philosophy into professional sports and military culture in American history

Notable Works & Achievements

The Obstacle Is the Way

Ego Is the Enemy

The Daily Stoic

Stillness Is the Key

Courage Is Calling

Historical Influences

Robert Greene Marcus Aurelius Seneca Epictetus

Intellectual Lineage

Sacramento UC Riverside Robert Greene American Apparel Brass Check The Obstacle Is the Way

Contemporaries & Peers

Robert Greene Nassim Taleb James Clear

Minds Influenced

Stoicism popular revival

Intellectual Posterity

The Obstacle Is the Way Ego Is the Enemy The Daily Stoic Stoicism mainstream revival Stillness Is the Key

Discussing

Ryan Holiday

Ask anything about Ryan Holiday — their ideas, influences, contradictions, legacy.

person1987–

Ryan Holiday

Disciplines:

Summary

Core Contribution

Key Spikes & Highlights

Was American Apparel's marketing director at 21 and ran one of the most effective controversy-based marketing campaigns in retail history — deliberately generating press coverage through scandals; he then wrote about these techniques critically in Trust Me, I'm Lying; the self-critique of his own marketing career is the most thorough insider account of media manipulation in a popularized form
His Stoicism books reached NFL locker rooms, the US military, and Silicon Valley — the NFL team lists and military reading lists that include The Obstacle Is the Way document the most complete penetration of ancient philosophy into professional sports and military culture in American history

Notable Works & Achievements

The Obstacle Is the Way

Ego Is the Enemy

The Daily Stoic

Stillness Is the Key

Courage Is Calling

Historical Influences

Robert Greene Marcus Aurelius Seneca Epictetus

Intellectual Lineage

Sacramento UC Riverside Robert Greene American Apparel Brass Check The Obstacle Is the Way

Contemporaries & Peers

Robert Greene Nassim Taleb James Clear

Minds Influenced

Stoicism popular revival

Intellectual Posterity

The Obstacle Is the Way Ego Is the Enemy The Daily Stoic Stoicism mainstream revival Stillness Is the Key

Discussing

Ryan Holiday

Ask anything about Ryan Holiday — their ideas, influences, contradictions, legacy.