What is the main message of The Daily Stoic?

The main message of The Daily Stoic is to adopt Stoic philosophy in daily life for personal growth and inner peace.

Who is the author of The Daily Stoic?

The authors of The Daily Stoic are Ryan Holiday and Stephen Hanselman.

Personal Development

The Daily Stoic Book Summary - The Daily Stoic Book explained in key points

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The Daily Stoic summary

Name: The Daily Stoic
Rating: 4.7 (1076 reviews)
Author: Ryan Holiday & Stephen Hanselman

Ryan Holiday Stephen Hanselman

366 Meditations on Wisdom, Perseverance and the Art of Living

4.7 (1076 ratings)

33 mins

Brief summary

The Daily Stoic by Ryan Holiday & Stephen Hanselman is a daily devotional that draws on the teachings of Stoic philosophers to help readers find inner peace and perspective.

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Stoicism Simplify Podcast

Table of Contents

The Daily Stoic
Summary of 12 key ideas

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Key idea 1 of 12

What’s in it for me? Improve your life with lessons from the Stoics.

Stoicism was founded nearly 2,500 years ago, in Ancient Greece, by a man named Zeno, who, after losing his fortune in a shipwreck, moved to Athens to become a philosopher. What could we, living in a world and a time utterly different from Zeno’s, possibly learn from the teachings of the philosophy he founded?

Short answer: a lot. Stoicism, unlike many other philosophies, is intended to help you live life. It’s not concerned with abstract, esoteric problems. Rather, it seeks to help you answer that eternal question: How should you live? What do you need to do to live a good life?

As you may know, the Stoics taught that virtue was the highest good in life – and that, to be virtuous, we must foster in ourselves virtue’s four subtypes: courage, wisdom, moderation, and justice.

This Blink of Ryan Holiday’s The Daily Stoic is a guide to developing these qualities in yourself.

What we know about Stoicism has, for the most part, come down to us through three figures: Marcus Aurelius, the great Roman emperor who kept a diary that was later published as Meditations; Seneca the Younger, a playwright who also wrote the canonical Moral Letters; and Epictetus, a formerly enslaved philosophy teacher whose lectures were captured by a student in a book called the Enchiridion.

Marcus Aurelius, Seneca, Epictetus – the words of these three Stoics constitute the backbone of The Daily Stoic. By the way, it’s called The Daily Stoic because it provides a Stoic quote, almost always from one of our three guys, for every day of the year, along with a short meditation on the quote. Obviously, we can’t cover all 366 meditations. But we can discuss some of the most important ones – which is what we’ll do in the 12 chapters that follow.

Let’s dive in!

Examine both yourself and the company you keep.

For the Stoics, philosophy begins with self-examination.

The great Stoic teacher of the second century CE, Epictetus, said we become philosophers the moment we first examine our preconceived notions, and ask questions about our emotions, beliefs, and even the words we use each day. This is the way that we begin to investigate our own mind.

Self-examination is no easy task, of course. Ego and self-deception will try to thwart your quest for self-knowledge, assuring you that you already know yourself. But remember the words of Epictetus: “It is impossible for a man to learn what he thinks he already knows.” So, as you examine yourself, stay humble, stay open and receptive, like a good student.

What you see might be hard to look at: weaknesses, bad habits, pride and self-regard. Push through the pain. Keep looking. It’s important to take stock of everything, even if it’s uncomfortable. If you don’t take an honest look at your less lovely qualities, you’ll never be able to work toward changing them.

In addition to self-reflection, it’s also important to be aware of those around you.

The people you spend your time with will influence the kind of person you become. If you’re around people who push you to be better, you’ll improve. Of course, the opposite is also true.

The Roman playwright and philosopher Seneca, who was a generation older than Epictetus, advised that we should each keep someone in mind whom we respect and admire. The mere thought that someone is witnessing and sympathetically judging our behavior, Seneca said, will help us.

Point is: if you get to know yourself and others better, you’ll be able to see your actions in a clearer light. And this clarity will help you choose actions that are courageous, wise, moderate, and just.

Tips for maintaining focus.

It’s become a cliché: we live in a time defined by distractions. The news cycle. The internet. Our devices. Social media. We’re pulled in a million different directions by a million different things. But distractions, though they may have become more extreme, are nothing new.

Marcus Aurelius, the Roman Emperor and Stoic thinker, had a method for eliminating distraction. He advised that we approach each task as if it were our last. Whatever you’re doing, pretend it’s your last act, the final thing you’ll do before death – and try to take this mental exercise seriously. The effects can be pretty incredible, not only erasing distraction but increasing quality. After all, this is your last act, so you better make it count.

You can’t control situations, but you can control how you react to them.

Another lesson from Epictetus: if the way you’re approaching a situation is not bringing the desired results, you might be using the wrong handle. In the Enchiridion, Epictetus teaches that every situation has two metaphorical “handles,” that is, two ways you can approach it. One can be used to “carry” it, while the other can’t.

Epictetus gives an example. Imagine that your brother has done you wrong. There are two handles. One is your brother’s wrongdoing – but if you grab this handle, you’ll never successfully “lift” the situation. The other handle is the fact that this is your brother, that you were raised together, that you love each other. That is the handle to use.

By being alert about our biases, we can bring more clarity to our thoughts.

Stoics know that the vast majority of us aren’t nearly as intelligent as we’d have ourselves think. But we can improve our intelligence. How? By remaining humble and identifying the flaws in our thinking.

You can start by testing your thinking for biases.

Stoicism helps us live life action by action, one decision at a time.

Each day, every day, we’re faced with a multitude of choices and possibilities, from the mundane (Which TV shows to watch? Which restaurant to eat at?) to the momentous (Which partner to choose? How to balance your personal needs with your obligations to others?).

All this choice can be overwhelming, paralyzing. One way to overcome decision-paralysis is to conduct a little thought experiment. Here it is:

Stoics manage expectations when dealing with problems and setbacks.

Making plans, setting goals, having ambitions – it’s all important. But plans can only get you so far. After all, no plan can take into account all the obstacles that might arise on the path to its completion. Which is why, to navigate life most effectively, we need to find ways to deal with obstacles.

Stoics know this. Instead of obsessively planning ahead, trying to factor in every possible complication, Stoics foster creativity, independence, and inventiveness. This makes them flexible, as well as resilient in the face of changing circumstances. In short: prepared to overcome any challenge that life throws in their path.

Aspire to virtuousness in all you do.

All Stoics aspire to virtuousness. According to the Stoics, virtue is the highest purpose one can commit to. And, as you know, virtue itself is a composite concept made up of courage, wisdom, moderation, and justice.

Aspiring to virtuousness is beneficial because it will help you cut through all of life's confusions. An example: let’s say your sole goal in life is to make money. The issue with this goal is that, first off, you’ll never have enough and, second, you might compromise your character, committing atrocious deeds in pursuit of self-enrichment.

Stoics are focused on results, so they’re pragmatic in their actions.

Philosophy sometimes gets a bad rap as an ivory tower occupation. But Stoic thinking is different. It’s about achieving results, and not getting sidetracked on the way there.

That’s why the special quality of Stoics is getting things done no matter the circumstances.

Stoics rely on themselves, remaining resilient despite changing circumstances.

Stoics believe that no matter what happens to us, we always remain in control of who we are. They even came up with a metaphor for this. We each possess an Inner Citadel, which remains impregnable, completely in our control, no matter what we may endure physically.

The Stoics said that this Citadel houses the soul. But whether you believe in souls or not, the metaphor is useful. Remember: this Citadel is impervious to external threats. But it can be threatened from within.

Stoics understand the interconnectedness of all things and commit themselves to the right action.

In Antiquity, violence and cruelty were all-pervasive. Animals and people were killed for entertainment in amphitheaters across the Roman Empire, while conquered peoples were routinely enslaved. It was hardly an atmosphere that encouraged positive feelings of camaraderie.

For Stoics, fate is not a source of fear, but instead motivates them.

It’s a common tendency to think of hope as good, and fear as bad. But Stoics are skeptical of both. After all, both hope and fear involve attaching value to future events which are, by definition, out of our control.

Stoics do not fear death – they accept and embrace its power.

The once mighty Roman Empire fell in the West after 500 years. The longest human lifespan recorded is just 122 years.

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What is The Daily Stoic about?

The Daily Stoic (2016) is a collection of daily meditations drawn from the wisdom of the Stoic philosophers who lived in the Roman Empire. The writings of Emperor Marcus Aurelius, the playwright Seneca and slave-turned-philosopher Epictetus all provide thoughtful material for the authors to refashion and refresh. These blinks promote self-reflection, while encouraging the reader to value serenity and life itself.

The Daily Stoic Review

The Daily Stoic (2016) explores the ancient philosophy of Stoicism and provides readers with daily meditations and practices to cultivate inner strength and wisdom. Here's why this book is worth reading:

It offers practical wisdom and timeless advice that can be applied to everyday life, allowing readers to navigate challenges with resilience and grace.
By combining philosophical teachings with historical anecdotes, the book provides a rich understanding of Stoicism and its relevance in the modern world.
With its thought-provoking daily reflections and insightful commentary, the book keeps readers engaged and motivated to incorporate Stoic principles into their lives.

Best quote from The Daily Stoic

It isnt events themselves that disturb people, but only their judgments about them. - Epictetus

—Ryan Holiday & Stephen Hanselman

Who should read The Daily Stoic?

Wallflowers lacking self-confidence
Exhausted workers looking for new perspectives and a sense of purpose
Platonists and students of philosophy

About the Author

Ryan Holiday is an American author, media strategist, and bookstore owner. He’s also the host of the Daily Stoic podcast. His other books include Lives of the Stoics, Courage is Calling, and The Obstacle is the Way.

Stephen Hanselman is a publisher and literary agent. He studied at Fresno Pacific University and obtained a Master’s degree from Harvard Divinity School. The Daily Stoic is his first book as an author.

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