Ryan Holiday

Ryan Holiday is an American author, media strategist, and populariser of Stoic philosophy whose books have sold millions of copies and brought ancient wisdom to a modern audience. Born in Sacramento, California, in 1987, he dropped out of college at nineteen to apprentice under Robert Greene and became the director of marketing at American Apparel before turning to writing full-time. Holiday's books include The Obstacle Is the Way, Ego Is the Enemy, Stillness Is the Key, The Daily Stoic, Discipline Is Destiny, and Conspiracy — a narrative non-fiction account of the Peter Thiel-funded lawsuit that destroyed Gawker Media, examining questions of power, revenge, and strategy. His Stoicism books have been embraced by athletes, military leaders, and business executives, translating Marcus Aurelius and Seneca into practical guidance for modern challenges. He runs the bookshop The Painted Porch in Bastrop, Texas, and hosts The Daily Stoic podcast. His audiobooks and books offer listeners and readers accessible, engaging explorations of ancient philosophy made relevant to contemporary life — practical wisdom delivered with a storyteller's flair.