It’s Not If You’re Reading, But WHAT You’re Reading

Reading is an indisputable good. How could it not be? It’s hard to criticize anyone who takes the time, in this crazy, busy (and shockingly ignorant) world, to sit and read a book. But if wisdom is our aim, then of course, it’s not that simple. Great readers don’t just think about quantity, they think about quality. Ryan explains how you should measure the quality of your reading on today's Daily Stoic Podcast.***If you enjoyed this week’s podcast, we’d love for you to leave a review on Apple Podcasts. It helps with our visibility, and the more people listen to the podcast, the more we can invest into it and make it even better. Sign up for the Daily Stoic email: http://DailyStoic.com/signupFollow Daily Stoic:Twitter: https://twitter.com/dailystoicInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/dailystoic/Facebook: http://facebook.com/dailystoicYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/dailystoicSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. 📢 Share | ⚙️ Manage Subscription

Speaker names marked ? are inferred from speaking time and the show’s known hosts — they are not voice-verified.

• 0:06Ryan Holiday?

  Welcome to The Daily Stoic, where each day we read a short passage designed to help you cultivate the strength, insight, wisdom necessary for living the good life. Each one of these passages is based on the 2,000-year-old philosophy that has guided some of history's greatest men and women. For more, you can visit us at dailystoic.com.

• 0:29Ryan Holiday?

  It's not if you're reading, but what you're reading. Reading is an indisputable good. How could it not be? It's hard to criticize anyone who takes the time in this crazy, busy, and shockingly ignorant world to sit down and read a book. But if wisdom is our aim, then of course, it's not that simple. "I cannot call someone hardworking knowing only what they read," Epictetus said. "Even if all night is added, I cannot say it until I know the focus of his energy." Spending hours or days in front of books is better than, say, hours watching stupid internet videos, but it can still be a waste of time. Great readers don't just think about quantity, they think about quality. "They linger over

• 1:14Ryan Holiday?

  the works of master thinkers," as Seneca put it. "They read as well as reread. They read books that challenge their thinking. They read books that help them improve as human beings, not just as professionals." They would never say, as some people sneer, "I don't have time for fiction." Some of the best and wisest things ever written come to us in the form of literature. In an age where far too many people default to breathless journalism or mindless internet streaming, it's a good start to be bookish, to read a lot, to finish a stack of books each year. But this is not enough. What you read matters more. How you read matters too. You have to attack subjects you're not familiar with, spar with them until you are. You have to shy away from the quick and easy reads. You

• 1:59Ryan Holiday?

  must take notes. You have to apply what you learn in real tangible ways. You must, as Epictetus said, "make sure that your efforts aim at improving the mind," because then and only then would he call you hardworking. Then and only then do you earn the title. Reader. And of course, if you are looking to improve your reading practice this year or next year, or discover a bunch of great books to read, I of course recommend the Daily Stoic Read to Lead Challenge. It will set you on the path to being a better reader, a better leader, and help you fulfill Epictetus's dictum to focus your energy and time properly. Thousands of people from all over the world at all levels of career and lifestyle have raved about this course and your mind sure to be improved by it.

• 2:42Ryan Holiday?

  You can check that out at dailystoic.com/reading. And I think you'll really like it. And then remember, if you sign up for Daily Stoic Life, you get this course and all our other challenges for free. dailystoiclife.com.