Courage Is Calling

Fortune Favors the Brave

By: Ryan Holiday

Narrated by: Ryan Holiday

Length: 6 hrs and 5 mins

Publisher's summary

The instant New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today Best Seller!

Ryan Holiday’s best-selling trilogy - The Obstacle Is the Way, Ego is the Enemy, and Stillness is the Key - captivated professional athletes, CEOs, politicians, and entrepreneurs and helped bring Stoicism to millions of readers. Now, in the first book of an exciting new series on the cardinal virtues of ancient philosophy, Holiday explores the most foundational virtue of all: Courage.

Almost every religion, spiritual practice, philosophy and person grapples with fear. The most repeated phrase in the Bible is “Be not afraid.” The ancient Greeks spoke of phobos, panic and terror. It is natural to feel fear, the Stoics believed, but it cannot rule you. Courage, then, is the ability to rise above fear, to do what’s right, to do what’s needed, to do what is true. And so it rests at the heart of the works of Marcus Aurelius, Aristotle, and CS Lewis, alongside temperance, justice, and wisdom.

In Courage Is Calling, Ryan Holiday breaks down the elements of fear, an expression of cowardice, the elements of courage, an expression of bravery, and lastly, the elements of heroism, an expression of valor. Through engaging stories about historic and contemporary leaders, including Charles De Gaulle, Florence Nightingale, and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Holiday shows you how to conquer fear and practice courage in your daily life.

You’ll also delve deep into the moral dilemmas and courageous acts of lesser-known, but equally as important, figures from ancient and modern history, such as Helvidius Priscus, a Roman Senator who stood his ground against emperor Vespasian, even in the face of death; Frank Serpico, a former New York City Police Department Detective who exposed police corruption; and Frederick Douglass and a slave named Nelly, whose fierce resistance against her captors inspired his own crusade to end slavery.

In a world in which fear runs rampant - when people would rather stand on the sidelines than speak out against injustice, go along with convention than bet on themselves, and turn a blind eye to the ugly realities of modern life - we need courage more than ever. We need the courage of whistleblowers and risk takers. We need the courage of activists and adventurers. We need the courage of writers who speak the truth - and the courage of leaders to listen.

We need you to step into the arena and fight.

©2021 Ryan Holiday (P)2021 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

"In a world full of people riddled with fears and deeply afraid of sticking their necks out, our salvation lies in cultivating courage in all arenas of life. In this book Ryan Holiday has provided a clear and inspiring guide for how to develop this highest of human virtues."
--Robert Greene, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The 48 Laws of Power

"Ryan Holiday’s Courage is Calling traces the history of courage and its many faces through the ages and arrives at the present day with an urgent call to arms for each and all of us. As we battle our enemies within and without, will we choose to rise-up to the call of our courage or blush and bow down to the whispers of our cowardice? Our answer to this question is about more than our sense of duty, it’s about our freedom. It’s about more than wins and losses, it’s about our survival. It’s on me, it’s on you, it’s on us. Take the dare we may.\" --Matthew McConaughey, Academy Award Winning Actor and New York Times #1 best-selling author

“Ryan Holiday shows his own courage in this book to not toe the line, to speak truth to power, and show us all why we must not defer to fear if we are to go forward together with grace and humanity. Drawing on examples across history--from the ancient Greek and Roman world to Florence Nightingale to his own critique of ‘hollow courage’ in our own times, Holiday shows why virtue matters now more than ever.” --Nancy Sherman, Professor of Philosophy at Georgetown University

Great book, overall.

Great listen, can’t wait for the other virtues to come out. However, not interested in the author’s views on COVID and vaccines. He talks about this in some of his other platforms as well. I have a doctorate level degree and it really bothers me to hear uneducated people talk about this you no matter their stance. It’s not courageous to talk about it in the book, it’s uninformed.

Another great book

I have read all of Ryan Holidays books and every time I read one I say this is my new favorites courage is calling is once again well researched, well written and brings much value to the reader, especially in these trying time’s. It’s in my view a great book on leadership and decision making. In all their form leadership and sound decision making are foundational and built on courage “moral and physical. This book is soakings this relationship.

Nicely done!

Not great like his others, but still good

I like the book because he lists many examples that help illustrate the point he’s trying to make that define courage; however, if you’re republican or just have conservative views like myself, you may not like it much. Leaving his political views and his misinformed COVID anti-Vax accusations out of the book would have made it a more enjoyable listen. If you haven’t read his other books, definitely do so.

Superb

This book is a must read/listen for everyone. Courage is not easy, yet Holiday breaks it down into our everyday lives using history. Fantastic. I'm going to buy the print addition and carry it with me.❤️

Holiday's best yet

Great listen at just the right time. Holiday does not disappoint and even puts some skin in the game, exposes his own vulnerability and, as a result, is as credible as they get. Can't wait for the next virtue.

Amazing

I loved this book and its narration. Wow. Definitely recommend and will read again, when I need to remember these important points and compelling stories. This is a book for our time.

Daily vitamin for courage

I listen to this book for about a week straight while I worked in my art studio. This book has some thing for everyone. It’s historical and inspirational. This is a book that I can go back to time and time again to get a shot of courage before I go out there and make my mark. Can’t wait to read another book by this author.

A fantastic must read about the most important Stoic Virtue

I’ve now listed to this ebook three times, and it gets better every single time. If you just read this one time, it can’t possibly do what it’s supposed to do: to transform you into a courageous person. Someone who picks the courageous choice, no matter the consequences. And someone who is imbued with the feeling that this is what matters.

I’m now starting to listen for the FOURTH time. Because it’s clear to me that the more you listen to this book, the more of an impact it’ll have.

Also. I ordered a signed copy of this book but it’s taking ages to arrive so I don’t have much of a choice but to listen. But that as an aside. Ha!

Loved it! Thank you, Ryan Holiday!

Fittingly narrated by the author. "Courage is Calling" was affirming and inspiring! I highly recommend it.

Will truly inspire you to action

This might be my favorite book by Ryan holiday. He explores all facets of courage and this will provide you the push you need to start to take hold action