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Wisdom Takes Work

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Wisdom Takes Work

By: Ryan Holiday
Narrated by: Ryan Holiday
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About this listen

 Foster curiosity, discernment and life-changing wisdom: book 4 in the New York Times-bestselling Stoic Virtues series

'Some authors give advice. Ryan Holiday distils wisdom' CAL NEWPORT, bestselling author of Deep Work

Wisdom is central to a meaningful life. It gives us perspective, reveals knowledge and guides our path. Without it, our best qualities become our worst: courage turns to foolhardiness, self-discipline to cruelty, justice to empty moralising. We all aspire to be wise - but wisdom is earned.

In this fourth and final instalment of his bestselling Stoic Virtues series, Ryan Holiday uncovers tried and true methods for cultivating wisdom. Drawing on lessons from heroes across history, including Marcus Aurelius, Abraham Lincoln, Maya Angelou and Joan Didion, he shows how to keep an open mind in times of division and disruption; to listen more than we talk; to think with nuance and ruthlessly question our own beliefs. Through cautionary figures like Elon Musk, he shows how dangerous intelligence can be without wisdom - and how we can all escape today's traps of tribalism, certainty and self-righteousness.

Are you open to listening? Are you willing to question? Are you here to learn? Wisdom is work. But it's worth it.

'Ryan Holiday is one of his generation's finest thinkers' STEVEN PRESSFIELD, author of The War of Art ©2025 Ryan Holiday (P)2025 Profile Books Ltd Greek & Roman History Movements Philosophy Wisdom Stoicism Abraham Lincoln

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All stars
Most relevant
As usual, Ryan Holiday delivers great inspirational advise for daily living the right way.
I always turn to him when things get tough and always come out the other side feeling better and that things have purpose and make a difference.
I felt he made good points but almost gets dragged away into politics fistfights against Trump and Elon Musk which, at times, went too far.

Overall great book as usual, and would recommend for busy family man fighting through full time work and a busy lifestyle.

Left me feeling inspired to do better and read more.

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Holiday got me initially into stoicism years ago and for that I’ll be forever grateful, this is just like the rest of his series, small snippets of stories from people at all stages in history and life and how they either used their traits well or not so well, and what lessons we can take from them

A lot more political than his other works, but I don’t mind it as I simply just always enjoy his use of different characters in history

High recommend as always

Another one hit out the park

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A great book is more than necessary in hard times. Highly recommended because of its insightful representation of past hardships and the virtue that converts experience into success.

Ryan never seize to amaze me!

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I love Ryan and have all his books. I re listen to them a lot. He is quite difficult to listen to at the best of times as he has a certain delivery style, but this sometimes sounds like it’s being read by a robot. I’ve thought that about a few books recently and it’s a likely option nowadays! I’m left wondering if this is even him- and if it is, the producer should have had some balls and stepped in to tell him to go again. Some chapters I had to skip. The Teacher chapter is possibly the worst. I don’t know why he can’t speak normally as it’s so jarring the way he is reading it out.

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I’m sorry to say I feel Holiday has lost his way with this book. I loved his previous work, but this one reads like a personal attack on Elon Musk. I’m not convinced there is wisdom in that. It feels like his ego has gotten the better of him, and I’m not sure why he’s so focused on Musk’s perceived negative traits. The ironic thing is, I wish this book was limited to 140 characters. Holiday is the best plagiarist of our generation maybe his issue is jealousy of people who actually create something new. I honestly don’t know.

Holidays worst book

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