366 Meditations on Wisdom - and the Art of Living

I enjoy reading my daily passage to get my thoughts aligned for the day. Helpful to digest in small paragraphs and stories. Recently purchased my coin and will read while holding it to create a memory.

In the interests of full disclosure, I haven't read the entire book, since it is formatted as a daily devotional reading, rather than a chapter to chapter offering. Having read the wonderful introduction, I selected some random portions for review and started with October, bringing myself up to date. The selection of Stoic verses is apt, and the book sticks to broad and cohesive themes throughout each month such as Virtue, Courage and Acceptance. It's not the translations that are important (I am not a linguist and they seem fine to me), but rather the guidance offered by the authors in putting the principles into practice. I don't often make reading recommendations to my college-aged children, but I'm going to strongly encourage them to read this book. It's a certain antidote to today's Outraged Victim Morality. If we all adopted a more Stoic philosophy, the world would be a kinder, gentler and more fulfilling place.

Fabulous uplifting food for the mind and spirit. Helps you have a good d ay the next day if you read one each day last thing at night and has made me a big fan of the Stoic approaches to life. Allow you to help you. Good luck, stay strong.

Very good book for a moment when you need to think a bit a sort your thoughtsThe Daily Stoic: 366 Meditations on Wisdom, Perseverance, and the Art of Living

Quotation followed by commentary is an age-old, highly successful teaching practice. But then the commentary must be felt to closely address what is in the quotation, and the writing must be crisp, succinct and, above all, plainly pertinent. The writing here is at times awkward, strained, clichéd, slangy, and incoherent; the thinking (such as it is) is flabby, embarrassingly banal, often at the level of the Reader's Digest, and galaxies far below the standard & substance of the quoted excerpts, and nowhere near to doing justice to their authors. I only hope Messrs H&H rethink and rewrite this book because, though poorly executed, it's a great concept and appears to be quite popular. Translations too need to be reworked, tightened up, and properly checked for accuracy and edited for natural, idiomatic English, so that they read smoothly. And please, please, proofread the final draft. I have honestly not looked forward each day to returning to a book that promises so much and delivers so little, for my daily dose of disappointment.

I love how the book is structured, with a reading for each day of the year. Finding a comfort in these each morning I haven't had since being forced to read the Bible as a kid. I've since moved on from my indoctrination to Christianity, but my parents were on to something with the structure of daily reading.

The Daily Stoic is packed with useful philosophy to help in your journey to becoming a better person. Good for people of all faiths, and even the Athiests. Highly recommended.

I'm using The Daily Stoic a bit differently than most people: each day's meditation is a writing prompt for Journaling. After so many off and on tries, I realized with I needed was something to react to or write about. I've read all of the foundational sources used for the book, but this gives me a chance to explore each day with a theme.

Since I'm journaling and what I write is not for publication, I cut and paste from the Kindle edition into my Day One journaling app. I read over the selection for the day and the commentary, mull a bit, draw a line under it and then write some about the concepts, even argue with the authors' interpretation.

Of course, one could do the same with a randomly generated quote or a daily devotional. But the month long "themes" gives The Daily Stoic some structure for journaling.

I wonder if there wouldn't be a market within the major journaling app users to purchase such daily meditation pieces as an in-app overlay?

I love how the book is structured, with a reading for each day of the year. Finding a comfort in these each morning I haven't had since being forced to read the Bible as a kid. I've since moved on from my indoctrination to Christianity, but my parents were on to something with the structure of daily reading.

The Daily Stoic is packed with useful philosophy to help in your journey to becoming a better person. Good for people of all faiths, and even the Athiests. Highly recommended.

I'm using The Daily Stoic a bit differently than most people: each day's meditation is a writing prompt for Journaling. After so many off and on tries, I realized with I needed was something to react to or write about. I've read all of the foundational sources used for the book, but this gives me a chance to explore each day with a theme.

Since I'm journaling and what I write is not for publication, I cut and paste from the Kindle edition into my Day One journaling app. I read over the selection for the day and the commentary, mull a bit, draw a line under it and then write some about the concepts, even argue with the authors' interpretation.

Of course, one could do the same with a randomly generated quote or a daily devotional. But the month long "themes" gives The Daily Stoic some structure for journaling.

I wonder if there wouldn't be a market within the major journaling app users to purchase such daily meditation pieces as an in-app overlay?

As other reviewers have mentioned, the value of this book is in providing an excellent collection of brief, albeit insightful, quotes attributed to the founding fathers of Stoicism. Unfortunately, Mr. Holiday too often tries to fit these insights into the Procrustean bed of his own political and cultural biases. Sometimes he gets it right; other times, he misses the mark.

Profound quotes from the great roman stoics; Epictetus, Aurelius and Seneca for daily meditation purposes. Ryan's own reflections and meditations on the quotes are much less interesting and doesn't really add anything new. But he i still a very young man. Not recommended, rather go directly to the ancient soures of the stoics, particularly to the Meditations by Aurelius. On literature on the stoics Pierre Hadot is still unsurpassed!

Ryan Holiday's The Obstacle is the Way got me interested in stoicism and the individuals who embraced it as a way of life. It lead me to read further and consequently develop a tremendous admiration for Marcus Aurelious in particular. The Daily Stoic sits on my desk where I read an entry each day. The quotes followed by the author's insight make for a great thought for the day. During this election time and the obvious void in leadership in our country, reading about stoicism makes it even more clear what a lack of character, purpose and leadership we are whitnessing.

Ever since I first heard Tim Ferriss discuss Stoicism, I was interested in learning more. My difficulty getting started stemmed from a sense of overwhelm towards answering the question: Where do I get started; which book do I read first? This book has come in and beautifully eradicated that sense. What I've found to be very effective is to read each days quote in the morning, write it down, think about what it means to me, and reflect as much on paper. From there I read the passage, and do likewise. The process takes 5 minutes a day and the results of this practice have been profound. Thanks Ryan!

Just wanted to sing the praises of this AMAZING BOOK. if I COULD give it 10 stars, I would.

Previously I have read books on Stoicism by Epictetus, Marcus Aurelius and that modern philosopher/psychologist Albert Ellis.

This book is the real deal. Buy it for yourself and see if you don't agree...

I plan to give this book to friends and family as Christmas presents - because I believe it's the best gift I could ever give to them.

I believe this is the very first review I have left on the store.
This book is perfect for me, and something I definitely needed.
I am usually a fan of the audio version of books, although this is a book I wanted in hand. I might even get the audio version as well.
With the way my life has gone (especially over the last four years) physically and mentally, I am doing my best to learn as much about stoicism as I can. Long, long, way to go, but it's something I 100% believe it's right for me. Understanding it is another story.
Thanks to Ryan Holiday and Steven Hanselman.
I'm just one person who is thankful to have this book, and will always be continuing to learn what I'm capable of.

Upon waking, I start my day by immediately reading the written passage. This book is excellent; it provides a focus that I find personally spiritually calming that carries throughout the day. Straight and too the point, Holiday's analysis is simple and direct providing an introspection from the original Stoic works that complements them well. I reflect on the passage once again right before I sleep at night. I have since recommended this to friends.

Like it or not, the world is only going to get harder to understand.

We'll have more and more options in the next decade. Some will be good. Some will not. How will we know which are which? To move ahead, it may be helpful at times to turn back.

Maybe we would do well to turn to the Stoics.

A little bit, every day. That's how training works. The Daily Stoic looks like a tool to help with just that. If I want to get the most out of the future, I think I'll need to be grounded in the wisdom of the past. That's why I'm starting my days with this book. Maybe you'd benefit from doing so as well.

This book is one of those that will never leave my side. We all have books we read over and over again. Well, the Daily Stoic has just made that list. I look forward to waking in the morn with a cup and my daily lesson

I now start my day with a reading. It's very sobering and helps to put our struggles in perspective. This is not a feel good book but rather one that helps me cope with hardships. It offers sound advice and tells me what I often don't want to hear but need to accept.

The ultimate guide for people who aspire to achieve greatness ! A great and exhaustive summary of the stoic values, supported by clear and practical explanations. It very effective reference to get a more detached perspective in all endeavours and therefore be more effective.

Since reading The Meditations of Marcus Aurelius and finding them enlightening, I was excited about a book of daily readings from all the stoics.
However, on day one, January 1st, the commentator speaks of having an "advantage" over "other people." I'm afraid that is not the moral view that I want to practice. We are ALL equal and we should strive to love one another, not try to have an "advantage" over other people.

This book is part of my 2017 Goals. I love it. I have already read other books on Stoicism and this one is a nice daily reminder (its meant to be read 1 page every day) of all the wonderful stoic principles that have become my guiding philosophy in life over the recent year. If you are considering bettering yourself, your character and/or outlook on life, you need to read it. You will be surprised by the little nuggets of advice crafted thousands of years ago - they are more relevant than ever. I find myself amazed at how much "they hit home" for me, almost every day.

For Young Aspiring Entrepreneurs or just normal people wanting daily inspiration, this book is for you.

I use it the first 30 minutes of my morning, helps me make sure I start my morning off with the right Mindset. I recommend this for everyone out there!

This book is really important to me. Every day upon waking, I get some daily wisdom that I can carry through the day. These daily meditations are true to nature and life. It will always be with me and I will be passing on to my kids when they are a little older.

I have never been one for philosophy. It always felt like something for people who weren't as smart as they thought they were and spent all their time in coffee shops. But my uncle told me to pick this up because it wasn't like normal philosophy. It was actually practical advice you can use in your life. I'm starting from the beginning and I've already read stuff that has helped me handle my sh*t and not want to punch lots of people I work with in the face. That alone probably is worth the price my uncle paid for it.

Wow- I am loving this book! Yes, I started on Jan 1 the day I received it. With the exception of 1 or 2 that have been "OK, not earthshattering", each and every other day has given me a serious Universal kick to the rear end and a clouds-parting, birds-singing a-ha moment for being more resilient, non-reactive and feeling totally in control even when things are decidedly ramshackle. LOVE it! (At this point, I find myself wishing each day was a little longer because I love it so much, but the length is just perfect. I'm talking 30 seconds a day of reading and then mull it over. I read the entry in the morning, then think on it all day and reread it at night and the length is just perfect for that.)

This is a great idea, but it could be better executed. I could do without the Christian/religious references, and grouping the mortality quotes together (and in December no less) is just too much. We could use more books of this type though. I would like to see one from Donald Robertson.

This is not an anthology, it's a commonplace self-help book. The stoic philosophers' quotations in this book comprise about 15% of it. The authors' didactic, uninspired, preachy (and lengthy) commentaries that follow, make up the majority of it.

In addition, the philosophers' quotes are watered down, heavily edited, and the language colloquialized, altered, and twisted to satisfy the objectives of the authors. Sadly, you also get the feeling that you understand the quotes far better than the authors/editors.

Lastly, if you expect this book to be written BY philosophers FOR philosophers or scholars--it ain't. One of the authors never finished college and the second has a masters in Divinity. This gives you an idea of this eminently unremarkable book.

I was already a fan of Ryan Holiday having read his book 'The Obstacle is the Way' which drove me to pre-order this book back in July! Im so glad I did, while The Obstacle is a fantastic study of your own internal workings. The Daily Stoic is the perfect daily meditation companion. Starting on the day it arrived, I begin each morning with the day's thought and giving it ample consideration I begin my day in a right mindset. This is the daily meditation I've been looking for. The insights of Marcus Aurelius grounded, balanced and connected to today's environment. I've just purchased three more as Christmas gifts.

The reviewer who gave a one-star rating may be a tad harsh. There are some obvious problems in compiling a book like this. First, there were very few ancient stoic philosophers and so Holiday cites from only the main ones – Seneca, Epictetus, and Marcus Aurelius. The second is that not many stoic writings are found complete and intact. Many are fragments. Thirdly, there is a question of translation. Nuances and the degree of inspiration may be affected by the style or version of the translator.

That said, I think that the selections are fine although my favourite on mortality by Seneca is not in the book: “Why do we worry about death? Where death is, we are not; where we are, death is not.”

Holiday divides the book into various subjects such as ‘clarity’, ‘passions and emotions’, ‘awareness’, and ‘duty’. He has a quote for each day of the year, including February 29. This book may make a nice Christmas present.

Ryan Holiday provides a daily meditation to promote a Stoic life and philosophy. Each entry begins with a quote from a Stoic – Seneca, Marcus Aurelius, Epictetus, etc. - which is then followed by Holiday’s commentary on the quote. Each commentary relates the Stoic message of the quote to contemporary life. Each daily page is engaging and promotes reflection on the Stoic principle being espoused. The book is divided into sections representing the three major categories of Stoic practice: perception, actin and will. In turn, each major section is subdivided into relevant themes, one for each of the four months of each major category. For example, perception includes “clarity” and “awareness”. This book is worthwhile for both Stoic novices and those who are more familiar with Stoicism. It can definitely serve as a good and solid guide to the Stoic life.

I'm finding a ton of value in using a daily dose of focus on a specific topic from Ryan Holiday's Daily Stoic. Limiting myself to a single daily page will force to take an entire year to complete the book, but I'm loving the singular thought/concept to focus and improve on delivered by reading/studying just on concept each morning to begin my day.

I read one review where the buyer stated the book was "too redundant". I wish this customer would have elaborated more. Did they feel the daily lessons and themes were too similar to each other? I actually found that to be of value. We learn through repeated exposure to material and repeated efforts to apply that knowledge. I loved the fact each month gave me an overall theme, and the daily meditations provided multiple insights and angles to approach improving in that area.

I felt really empowered after reading this book. I started to make significant changes in my life as I was reading it. This was my first time being exposed to the Stoic philosophers and I really resonated with them. The modern tie-ins make it very accessible. The audiobook was very good. I find my self wishing to master some of these principles. It will probably do multiple readings to get the most out of it. I find the journal to be intriguing as well, although my success rate with journals in the past has not been too high so I am holding off on that.

If you are interested in stoicism, then this is as good a place to start. The book is set up with one thought per page with 365 page for each day of a year. Each page provides some excerpt from an ancient recording along with a more accessible exposition about the topic. Hence, it is an easy read that is not preachy. However, at times it seems repetitive; a minor inconvenience.

Ooh this book drops some bombs on you. It's hard to actively read this every day but when you do your day starts/ends in a better way because of it. These meditations and thoughts stick with you and I've found myself contemplating them later and new perspectives dawn on me.
Really great book, not what i expected but everything i needed it to be.

I received this for Christmas, my fiancé knows I love to read. For the most part I read subjects that provide some form of skill set to be gained or developed. Began reading this book and was immediately drawn in. In many ways it could be viewed as a self help, but I believe it to be better defined as personal enrichment. You might say I'm splitting hairs but I believe there to be a stark difference. I intend to gift this book to friends now as well. Drives you to look inward and restructure in a very logical way. Great read.

I love this book! Not gobble gook just straight up common sense that may be hidden in you but this will bring it out. I read it in the morning and sometimes again once or twice during the rest of my day. Short, sweet, and to the point- it's all inside you, just use it! This is truly a great book.

For years, I thought I was simply a pragmatist. Then I learned about Stoicism from Ryan Holliday (in an odd way, I was bidding for Gawker.com, and bought Ryan Holiday's Conspiracy (also a great book). I realized that I'm an aspiring Stoic. Much of Stoicism comes naturally to me (guess I'm lucky that way), but this book and others by Ryan have been really useful in adding perspective and structure to my practice of Stoicism. Perhaps I should also become a Buddhist ;-) as that's the closest religious organization to the philosophy.

"The only thing that isn't worthless: to live this life out truthfully and rightly. And be patient with those who don't." Marcus Aurelius

Philosophy is an attitude and a guiding principle of behaviour in life. In many ways philosophy is about asking questions, seeking truth so to live as best we can with greater ease. Principles that can improve wisdom, perseverance and the art of living. This book by Ryan Holiday is awesomely insightful- full review here at The Hidden Why dot com. Be inspired!

I have only been using this for about a month along with the journal but it has really inspired me and allowed me to take stock of my life, Who I am as a human being and how to have a happier life! This book along with the journal are two must have tools if you're seeking happiness, contentment, and knowledge. Reading out of this in the morning and writing in the journal day and night applied you to get mind right in the morning and then see how you did at night so you can chart your challenges, triumphs, and wisdom gained and used. Great book! Couldn't recommend it enough!!

I read this book every morning and it is a gift to my mental health. The author's explanations are frequently even more helpful than the quotes themselves bc he makes them relevant to today's world and everyone's life. I want to keep reading an entry a day every year not just this one!

I read this every day! A life changing book that keeps me on the stoic road to balance and sanity! Highly recommend. My Mom was visiting recently and picked it up, she is usually a "think positive" new age book lover, and she said she got more out of reading a few pages of the Daily Stoic than many of the new age self-help books she's read.

I like Ryan Holiday's other books. I had high hopes for this book but it didn't come close to meeting the standard Ryan set in the past. The narration was weird and adding in where to find the referenced quote was not done well. Awkward is probably a great way to describe it.

366 Meditation is far too many in my opinion. Repetitive and light on actionable content for each one. This could have been distilled down into weekly meditations with more actionable items or even months with more detailed stories.

If you're a practicing stoic or someone simply interested in Ancient Stoicism and how it can apply to your life, then this book is definitely for you. Holiday is an excellent author and researcher, as he lays out a litany of Stoic meditations and maxims that can be read on a daily basis for personal empowerment and greater mindfulness

An inspiring read that acts as the perfect introduction to stoic philosophy.

As well as getting an insight from some of history's most amazing minds, Ryan lays it out in a digestible and and modern way. Each page is gold, so don't wait any longer. Get this book now. It will change how you think!

I really enjoyed this book. This book offers 366 days of Stoic insights. I read every morning and followed their teachings throughout of the day. I have gained stoic knowledge and resilience I need when I am having tough situations or stressed days. Reading every is a key to install these thinking. I will keep continue to read this book from the beginning again!

Fantastic daily workbook for Stoicism. Guides you through important themes of Stoicism at a pace that allows you to internalize things over time. Has been a part of my daily routine for 6 months now, and I imagine for years to come!

Lasted a whole year and was excellent! If you're looking for a book to immerse yourself into Stoicism, this it. I enjoyed the excerpts from the various Stoics coupled with the author's plain language interpretation. Going to be a daily reader for a second straight year! Definitely gives you something to contemplate every day.

I just received it today as a gift from a good friend. The quality, size, and feel are wonderful. I have only read one page. (Daily devotional)

As is to be expected from Ryan Holiday, the work is quality. Many of these types of books feel played. He really nailed it with his book Ego is the Enemy, released earlier this year. This book seems to be of the same word craft and drawing from the vast pool cards he keeps.