Wisdom Takes Work

Learn. Apply. Repeat.

De: Ryan Holiday

Narrado por: Ryan Holiday

In this much-anticipated final installment in the Stoic Virtues series, Ryan Holiday makes the case for the virtue on which all other virtues depend.

Of all the stoic virtues - courage, discipline, justice, and wisdom - wisdom is the most elusive. This is especially apparent in an age where reaction and idle chatter are rewarded, and restraint and thoughtfulness are unfashionable. The great statesman and philosophers of the past would not be fooled, as we are, by headlines or appearances or the primal pull of tribalism. They knew too much of history, of their own flaws, of the need for collaboration to do any of that. That's wisdom - and we need it more than ever.

Wisdom is Ryan Holiday's guiding principle, and Wisdom Takes Work is the culmination of all his work. Drawing on fascinating stories of the ancient and modern figures alike, Holiday shows how to cultivate wisdom through reading, self-education, and experience. Through the lives of Montaigne, Seneca, Joan Didion, Abraham Lincoln, and others, Holiday teaches us how to listen more than we talk, to think with nuance, to ruthlessly question our own beliefs, and to develop a method of self-education. He argues convincingly for the necessity of mental struggle and warns against taking shortcuts that deprive us of real knowledge. And he shows us how dangerous power and intelligence can be without the tempering influence of wisdom.

An absence of curiosity and prudence is a catastrophe for all of us, argues Ryan Holiday. This incredibly timely book both diagnoses the greatest problem of our current moment and offers solutions for the way forward. Wisdom is work - but it's worth it.

Reseñas de la Crítica

“A deeply thoughtful yet entertainingly readable description of the journey to wisdom by a modern age philosopher. I wish Ryan Holiday had written it, and I’d read it, when I was twenty. Now I hope everyone does.” —General Stanley McChrystal, retired US Army and author of On Character

The unnecessary rant

The usual well resourced book by Holiday. However, his rant on Elon Musk and Donald Trump make this my last read of his. his obvious bias has shown through and the editing leaves a lot to be desired. It's really unfortunate as I'm a big fan of his previous books.

How much he dislikes Donald Trump and Elon Musk.

I usually enjoy listening to your work in one form or another , but this book just turned into a personal vendetta against these two guys. Having different views and oppinions is one thing, but it just seems like hours of this have been about letting everybody know that you dont approve of these two men. Still a fan of the majority of Ryan's work, but not a big fan of turning what seemed like a large part of this book into bashing a couple of people that he disagrees or disapproved of.

The Stoic Virtues Series comes to a close with “Wisdom Takes Work”

I’ve been a longtime fan of both the author and this series — each book explores one of the four Stoic virtues: Courage, Discipline, Justice, and now, Wisdom. Together they serve as a powerful reminder that virtue isn’t a trait we inherit — it’s something we earn through daily practice, consistency, and reflection.

I often tell my team (and my kids) that if doing the right thing were easy, everyone would do it. That’s what makes this series so meaningful — it celebrates people who made extraordinary choices by staying grounded in their values when it mattered most.

I’ll admit — I wish I’d read the Afterword first. Understanding Ryan’s mindset and what inspired his approach to this book would have set it up so much better. The chapters on Abraham Lincoln struck me most — humble, steady, courageous — a leader whose moral compass still guides us, 160 years later. Honestly, I’d love to see Ryan write an entire book on Lincoln through the lens of Stoicism.

In a time when calm, principled leadership can feel rare, this series is a grounding reminder that wisdom really does take work. If you’re searching for examples of integrity, resilience, and hope — start with this series of books.

Always Thoughtful

Ryan is deeply well research and a great storyteller. I’ve always admired his rigorous approach to writing. Highly recommend this book along with the other books in this series. I will say the over-focus on Elon was disappointing.

wisdom takes time

Out of all of Ryan Holiday’s books, this one has stood out to me the most. Holiday effectively uses real-life examples to ground his ideas, making his concepts easier to understand and apply in a meaningful way.