logo
episode-header-image
Feb 2023
46m 42s

Life Is Too Short To Read Bad Books

Daily Stoic | Wondery
About this episode

To the Stoics, it wasn’t that we read. It’s what we read. We should seek out books that make a difference in our lives…not ones that win prizes. What matters is what we think of the books, not what other people think. What’s impressive is what we get out of them, not how they look on our shelves or that they might impress certain types of company.

Read widely. Read aggressively. But don’t be a glutton for punishment.

In October of 2022 Ryan Holiday was asked to speak at the Austin Central Library about the importance of reading books that resonate with you. In today’s episode, he shares a recording of that speech.

✉️  Sign up for the Daily Stoic email: https://dailystoic.com/dailyemail

🏛 Check out the Daily Stoic Store for Stoic inspired products, signed books, and more.

📱 Follow us: Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, TikTok, Facebook

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Up next
Jul 1
Do You Have This? | Protect Your Own Good
Seneca practiced poverty. Marcus Aurelius mentally rehearsed being criticized and misunderstood. Why did they put themselves in these uncomfortable positions?📓 Pick up a signed edition of The Daily Stoic Journal: 366 Days of Writing and Reflection on The Art of Living: https://s ... Show More
6m 44s
Jun 30
The One Thing In Your Life You Can Control | The Obstacle Is The Way
Our lives are unpredictable. We are at the mercy of so many forces. 📚 Books Mentioned:The Inner Citadel by Pierre HadotThe Obstacle Is the Way by Ryan Holiday📖 Preorder the final book in Ryan Holiday's The Stoic Virtues Series: "Wisdom Takes Work": https://store.dailystoic.com/ ... Show More
8m 25s
Jun 29
6 Stoic Tips to Being a Great Friend
When we think of great Stoic figures like Marcus Aurelius, Cato, and Epictetus, we tend to focus solely on the individual, their perspective, their observations. But how did these brilliant thinkers treat those around them?Read this article here: https://dailystoic.com/6-stoic-ti ... Show More
14m 55s
Recommended Episodes
May 2019
How can we get into the habit of reading?
This week we discuss the challenges of developing a reading habit. Taimur shares his struggles with starting books and never finishing them, lamenting the small role of reading in his life. Ali offers some advice on how to read more regularly, and we share some book recommendatio ... Show More
37m 27s
May 2020
Ep 236: What SHOULDN'T I read next?
It’s a weird time to be in the market for a new book. When it’s safer to stay home, and many libraries and bookstores have temporarily shut their doors to the public, what’s a reader to do… but turn to their home bookshelves! Your TBR shelf's time has COME! Today Annd chats with ... Show More
50m 9s
May 2021
Ep 284: I need an irresistible read this summer
Over the last year, we’ve talked to readers who voraciously devour romance, mystery, and graphic novels to escape real life—and readers who struggle to pick up a single book, even if they know it’s one they’ll love. There’s no right way to respond to stress as a reader, and today ... Show More
46m 12s
Jan 2022
#128 Ryan Holiday: A Stoic Life
Stoic philosopher and author Ryan Holiday shows us how to use the ancient philosophy to calm our mind and create a foundation for lasting success. Listen as Holiday takes us behind the scenes, revealing how he not only reads books and what he looks for, but his process for writin ... Show More
1h 13m
Apr 2022
Ep 328: Reading is a lifestyle
Readers, if you've ever dreamed of opening a bookstore, this episode is for you! Today, Anne's in conversation with Abbigail Glen, the owner of Shelves, an online and pop-up bookstore based in Charlotte, North Carolina. Abby discovered the power of reading at a young age, and dec ... Show More
34m 35s
Jan 2025
The Daily Stoic by Ryan Holiday Book Summary, Review and Quotes | Free Audiobook
Show notes (free book summary) | PDF & Infographic | Free audiobook | Explore The Daily Stoic by Ryan Holiday in this StoryShots podcast episode. Learn about the three Stoic disciplines, monthly themes like clarity, controlling emotions, and cultivating awareness, and how to appl ... Show More
20m 1s
Mar 2020
Ep 228: HELP! I can't stop quitting books
So, you hate the book you’re reading. Or maybe you just feel blah about the book you’re reading. Or maybe the book you’re reading is good, but a different book on your shelf just looks so appealing, and you can’t help reaching for it… suddenly, you have a stack of 5 half-read boo ... Show More
53m 45s
Jun 2021
Ep 289: A ridiculous plan to read more books
Today’s guest created a unique plan to help him tackle the books one “must read before they die,” but now he’s looking for less planning and more bookish serendipity. Author, blogger, and podcaster Neil Pasricha hosts the show 3 Books, where he talks with avid readers about the t ... Show More
49m 1s