The Daily Stoic · May 31, 2026 · 5m 30s

BONUS | The Novels Every Stoic Should Read

In this brief bonus clip, Ryan Holiday and author Maria Semple step into The Painted Porch to trade recommendations for Stoic-themed fiction. They spotlight five novels — including 'Memoirs of Hadrian,' 'Stoner,' and 'A Man in Full' — that capture Stoic ideas, with a longer list available on Ryan’s YouTube channel.

This summary was generated from show notes and public descriptions, not from a full transcript review. Details may contain inaccuracies.

Highlights

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Stoic novels recommended by Ryan Holiday and Maria Semple

Ryan and Maria discussed a curated list of novels that embody Stoic themes and are worth reading for anyone interested in practical philosophy.

Claude ChatGPT Gemini

References

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Memoirs of Hadrian — Marguerite Yourcenar — Recommended as a Stoic-themed novel

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Stoner — John Williams — Recommended as a Stoic-themed novel

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A Man in Full — Tom Wolfe — Recommended as a Stoic-themed novel

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Julius Caesar — William Shakespeare — Recommended as a Stoic-themed novel

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Moviegoer — Walker Percy — Recommended as a Stoic-themed novel

Misc

✧The conversation was recorded next door at The Painted Porch, the bookstore co-owned by Ryan Holiday.

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