Philosophy

One of the three primary Stoic texts. Read this book; it will make you a better human.

The next primary Stoic text. Again, just read it. It’s short, immediately applicable, and can/should be read in short bursts over time.

One of the three primary Stoic texts, written by a former slave turned philosopher. One of his core premises is that while we can’t control events, we can control our responses, and that this distinction is the key to freedom. Practical guidance for nearly every challenge in life.

Unlike Holiday’s other books, which mostly rehash Stoic philosophy, this book explores moral philosophy more deeply. It is highly relevant to anyone unwilling to settle for the status quo and who wants a framework for living a moral life.

Taleb’s most easily digestible and applicable book. Although he’s petty and annoying at times, the central themes are universally relevant and helpful for taking accountability for all aspects of our lives (when applied).

A collection of essays about the value of being intentional with our energy, thoughts, and actions. Each essay distills wisdom from various sources and examples and is immediately applicable. Less sexy than Holiday’s other books, but it’s his most important book (in my opinion) because applying the concepts creates the space for everything else he writes about.

Written by a Holocaust survivor and psychologist, this book describes his experiences and how he found meaning in the face of incalculable suffering. It has many immediately applicable lessons for anyone pursuing a challenging path in life.    

A powerful way of reframing how you see everything in life. It completely changed the way I think and approach every aspect of it. Worth reading for anyone living a contemplative life. 

A collection of Mark Twight's best essays on everything from the practical application of training methodology to philosophy and personal insights. A former alpinist and performance coach, he’s an exceptional writer whose insights will motivate and push you to understand yourself more clearly. We don’t have a link for this one at the moment because it’s sold out everywhere, so to find it you’ll have to wait for another printing or search for it used.

A very accessible overview of the central tenets of Buddhism with very few of the trappings of most religious or philosophical texts. Nothing has to be taken at face value - every piece of wisdom can be tested in your mind or life. If you’re a fan of Stoicism, you’ll enjoy this book. There are some foundational concepts in here like The Four Noble Truths (life is suffering, suffering is caused by attachment, attachment can be overcome…) and The Five Remembrances that can be life-changing if you can internalize them and call on them in the right moments. They helped Craig get through some of his earlier phases of selection when he was still learning to swim and nearly drowning every day. 

Comprehensive overview of Samurai culture and philosophy. While much of it is just interesting historical information, there are many practical takeaways for anyone interested in warrior culture.

Protection of personal liberty is one of the central themes of the Constitution and is consistently cited as reasoning for political, philosophical, and practical positions (incorrectly or incompletely). Yet, few people have taken the time to understand the full implications of liberty and its meaning in our personal and social lives. If you want to understand the philosophical underpinnings of liberty, read this book.

This is a very short but surprisingly powerful argument about the destructive nature of lying in all its forms. It should be required reading.

This book covers the central themes of effective altruism and how to make the most significant impact possible. Easy to read & apply.

Written by one of the originators of the Japanese samurai culture, this book provides an in-depth look at the principles of Bushido.

If The Choice is Eger’s story of survival, The Gift is her manual for living. Drawing from her experiences in Auschwitz and decades as a psychologist, she lays out twelve practical lessons for escaping what she calls our “mental prisons.” Each chapter addresses a trap we set for ourselves such as guilt, resentment, avoidance, self-pity, and shows how to move toward freedom through responsibility and perspective. It reads like a synthesis of Stoicism and trauma therapy, grounded in the idea that suffering is unavoidable, but victimhood is optional.