Matthew Billington/The Globe and Mail
Philosophers don’t tend to sell out worldwide speaking tours, but Ryan Holiday is hardly your typical philosopher. The U.S.-based author of 12 bestselling books—who recently wrapped up a tour of Australia, Europe and Canada—has helped turn Stoicism into a cultural phenomenon, spawning a cottage industry of books, podcasts and newsletters for people eager to learn how to adopt the ancient philosophy of virtue and self-control in a turbulent world.
7 million
Followers Holiday has across YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, Facebook and X. His posts feature everything from his interviews to his all-time favourite books on leadership and more, plus insights into Stoic heavyweights such as Seneca, Epictetus and Matthew McConaughey. Kidding about that last one, but you will find several posts featuring the Dazed and Confused star discussing Stoicism. Alright, alright, alright.
5 million+
Books Ryan Holiday has sold, in 40 languages. His breakout hit The Daily Stoic: 366 Meditations on Wisdom, Perseverance, and the Art of Living has sold more than two million copies since it was published in 2016. It’s also spent more than 300 weeks on bestseller lists.
Broicism
The pejorative term for dudes who think Stoicism is the cheat code to absolutely crush it, bro. A way to learn virtue and self-control? Nah. As Holiday says: “If Stoicism is making you an asshole, you’re doing it wrong.”
75
Rough number of ancient philosophers associated with Stoicism, beginning around the third century B.C. In addition to Seneca and Epictetus, this includes the Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius—the most powerful man of the second century, who collected his private thoughts on Stoicism in Meditations, arguably the most famous Stoic text in history. The book is now a consistent bestseller—nearly two millennia after it was written. As Stoic-in-action Arnold Schwarzenegger says: “It is unbelievable to see how the emperor’s words have stood the test of time.”
$465.5 million
Initial box office gross (in US$) for the 2000 blockbuster Gladiator, which featured Richard Harris as Marcus Aurelius. Though Stoicism is never mentioned, the film’s star, Russell Crowe, pushed for Stoic themes to be woven into the film, which led to a sales bonanza for Meditations. The 2024 sequel is built around Aurelius’s (fictionalized) grandson. Are you not entertained?
$100 million
Lifestyle guru Tim Ferriss hasn’t built his entire empire on Stoicism, but it has helped him amass that considerable net worth (in US$). Ferriss has written five New York Times bestsellers, including Tools of Titans: The Tactics, Routines, and Habits of Billionaires, Icons, and World-Class Performers. If you’re an entrepreneur, Ferriss claims he can show you how to use Stoicism to thrive.
42
Number of current podcasts with the word “Stoic” in the title. Holiday’s Daily Stoic has been downloaded more than 150 million times (with guests including Josh Brolin, Malcolm Gladwell, Patrick Dempsey, Rupi Kaur and McConaughey). But there are plenty to choose from, whether it’s the bite-size segments in Stoic Coffee Break, the Vegan Stoic or the youth-focused The Gen Z Stoic. Having trouble guiding your team at work? There’s always the Stoic Leadership podcast.
Six key Stoic phrases to live by
The impediment to action advances action.
— Marcus Aurelius
In other words: Embrace challenges if you want to learn and grow.
You have power over your mind, not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength.
— Marcus Aurelius
In other words: You can’t control anything but your own feelings and reactions.
True happiness is to enjoy the present, without anxious dependence upon the future.
— Seneca
In other words: Chillax. There’s no point worrying about the future—just live in the moment.
The key is to keep company only with people who uplift you, whose presence calls forth your best.
— Epictetus
In other words: Ditch your doomsayer buddies—they only drag you down.
Men are disturbed not by things, but by the view which they take of them
— Epictetus
In other words: It’s not events themselves that freak us out, but our own perception of those events.
Wealth consists not in having great possessions, but in having few wants.
— Epictetus
In other words: True wealth is being content with your life, not chasing money.
Your time is valuable. Have the Top Business Headlines newsletter conveniently delivered to your inbox in the morning or evening. Sign up today.