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Stoic Virtue Series #3
Right Thing. Right Now: Justice in an Unjust World
If we do what is right, everything else will happiness, success, meaning, reputation, love. This is central to Stoic wisdom. The path isn't always easy, but it is essential, and the alternative - taking the easy route - leads only to cowardice and folly.
In the third book in his bestselling Stoic Virtues series, Ryan Holiday explores the crucial role that integrity plays in every good life. From pillars of upright living like Ulysses S. Grant and Marcus Aurelius, to the cautionary tales of Napoleon and F. Scott Fitzgerald, this book shows us the power of owning our convictions and acting in accordance with our beliefs - and the perils of an ill-formed conscience.
Our conscience, our sense of justice, is our first and our last we can train it, hone it and fortify it, but above all, we must never lose it. This book shows us how.
In the third book in his bestselling Stoic Virtues series, Ryan Holiday explores the crucial role that integrity plays in every good life. From pillars of upright living like Ulysses S. Grant and Marcus Aurelius, to the cautionary tales of Napoleon and F. Scott Fitzgerald, this book shows us the power of owning our convictions and acting in accordance with our beliefs - and the perils of an ill-formed conscience.
Our conscience, our sense of justice, is our first and our last we can train it, hone it and fortify it, but above all, we must never lose it. This book shows us how.
368 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 11, 2024
1780 people are currently reading
8422 people want to read
About the author
Ryan Holiday
98 books18.2k followersRyan Holiday is media strategist for notorious clients like Tucker Max and Dov Charney. After dropping out of college at 19 to apprentice under the strategist Robert Greene, he went on to advise many bestselling authors and multi-platinum musicians. He is the Director of Marketing at American Apparel, where his work in advertising was internationally known. His strategies are used as case studies by Twitter, YouTube, and Google, and have been written about in AdAge, the New York Times, Gawker, and Fast Company. He is the author is *Trust Me, I'm Lying: Confessions of a Media Manipulator*, which is due out in July. He currently lives in New Orleans, with his rebellious puppy, Hanno.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 529 reviews
June 25, 2024
I'm not a fan of RH and his "neo-stoicism", BUT I like to occasionally listen to his podcast. It's not really about his content - it subliminally triggers the "stoic mode" in myself & sets me into the desired way of thinking. So when I had the chance to get his latest book for free (or near to - there was some sort of discount, I think), I didn't think twice.
RTRN is all about the virtue of justice. The book is relatively short, but still - is there so much to say about justice via the lens of stoic doctrine? Well - yes & no.
Yes, because RH does his typical stuff - brings tons of oververbose examples, nearly full biographies of people he associates with justice. And damn, sometimes this association is very weak. Not just because it's extremely US-centric (that's also typical for RH), but just because he bends the definition of what can be subsumed under justice. But that's not the worst thing.
No, because even if we agree that the book is about justice, there's too little stoicism in that. Seriously - when RH started elaborating on the role "outrage" plays in bringing justice in, I nearly lost my speech. Really? How is that stoic?
I'll better get back to his podcast. The book was far less inspiration than I expected, in fact, the author went far too far from what I expected. I've made zero notes, which also tells a bit about how good it is. 1.7 stars, rounded up to 2.
RTRN is all about the virtue of justice. The book is relatively short, but still - is there so much to say about justice via the lens of stoic doctrine? Well - yes & no.
Yes, because RH does his typical stuff - brings tons of oververbose examples, nearly full biographies of people he associates with justice. And damn, sometimes this association is very weak. Not just because it's extremely US-centric (that's also typical for RH), but just because he bends the definition of what can be subsumed under justice. But that's not the worst thing.
No, because even if we agree that the book is about justice, there's too little stoicism in that. Seriously - when RH started elaborating on the role "outrage" plays in bringing justice in, I nearly lost my speech. Really? How is that stoic?
I'll better get back to his podcast. The book was far less inspiration than I expected, in fact, the author went far too far from what I expected. I've made zero notes, which also tells a bit about how good it is. 1.7 stars, rounded up to 2.
August 30, 2024
Ryan Holiday first rose to fame with his book The Daily Stoic: 366 Meditations on Wisdom, Perseverance, and the Art of Living. It is a great volume that shares thought provoking quotes from various Stoic philosophers. He followed this up with some more great books like Stillness Is the Key and Ego Is the Enemy. He turned Stoicism into his own cottage industry, but has perhaps begun to lapse into the territory of the grifter. He has the Daily Stoic podcast, YouTube channel, and a website full of merchandise. His Stoic virtues series has been a disappointment, and Right Thing, Right Now: Justice in an Unjust World is nearly unreadable. At times, it is nothing but using Stoicism as platform for political activism.
Beginning with his premise of Justice as a virtue, his definition of justice doesn’t match any of the commonly held definitions throughout time. He seems to say that justice is harnessing outrage to perform political activism in service to a cause – and if you’re not on board with his causes, then you’re a racist who is on the side of tyrants (which is in direct opposition to his stated aims in the afterward of preaching empathy and understanding of others).
Holiday continues his writing style of five page chapters discussing six historical figures who embody the point he’s making in the chapter title (ex. “Make Good Trouble”) without smooth transitions or connective tissue between the people. This staggers the reader and prevents any kind of analytical depth of how any of these figures embodied or didn’t embody Stoic virtues. To top things off, most of the figures are from the last two centuries, so very few quotes or biography from actual Stoic philosophers are used. Some of the assertions he makes are laughably bad for someone who has read as much history as Holiday has. Among them are “slavery is the product of capitalism” (never mind that slavery existed millennia before capitalism) and that the evidence from KGB files that Alger Hiss was a Soviet agent is “not favorable” to his defenders.
This review may sound harsh, but that’s a result of my disappointment. Ryan Holiday performed a good service by introducing Stoicism to a large number of people. It would be nice if he used this book to introduce readers to the various ways the Stoics thought about justice instead of preaching his particular point of view.
Beginning with his premise of Justice as a virtue, his definition of justice doesn’t match any of the commonly held definitions throughout time. He seems to say that justice is harnessing outrage to perform political activism in service to a cause – and if you’re not on board with his causes, then you’re a racist who is on the side of tyrants (which is in direct opposition to his stated aims in the afterward of preaching empathy and understanding of others).
Holiday continues his writing style of five page chapters discussing six historical figures who embody the point he’s making in the chapter title (ex. “Make Good Trouble”) without smooth transitions or connective tissue between the people. This staggers the reader and prevents any kind of analytical depth of how any of these figures embodied or didn’t embody Stoic virtues. To top things off, most of the figures are from the last two centuries, so very few quotes or biography from actual Stoic philosophers are used. Some of the assertions he makes are laughably bad for someone who has read as much history as Holiday has. Among them are “slavery is the product of capitalism” (never mind that slavery existed millennia before capitalism) and that the evidence from KGB files that Alger Hiss was a Soviet agent is “not favorable” to his defenders.
This review may sound harsh, but that’s a result of my disappointment. Ryan Holiday performed a good service by introducing Stoicism to a large number of people. It would be nice if he used this book to introduce readers to the various ways the Stoics thought about justice instead of preaching his particular point of view.
June 28, 2024
Should have been a blogpost
November 9, 2025
This is a moving book that I read on my week and a half in Italy. I am a beginning stoic and the philosophy has had a positive impact on my life in the last 5 months. Ryan has been a “guide” for my burgeoning study of the ancient practice. I’ve read all of his books and in my opinion, this is his best work.
He does an excellent job connecting stoic virtue with historical references that are appealing and challenging for readers. I find his work motivating and enjoyable and this book is an wonderful example of the virtue of justice.
There are some difficult references in this text. Give it a shot my friends. Don’t be afraid to look into the mirror! You will become a better person by giving this book a try and you will possibly shed a tear or have a chuckle along the way!!
He does an excellent job connecting stoic virtue with historical references that are appealing and challenging for readers. I find his work motivating and enjoyable and this book is an wonderful example of the virtue of justice.
There are some difficult references in this text. Give it a shot my friends. Don’t be afraid to look into the mirror! You will become a better person by giving this book a try and you will possibly shed a tear or have a chuckle along the way!!
June 14, 2024
In his provocative new book "The Right Thing Right Now", Ryan Holiday offers a refreshingly honest and unflinching look at the concept of justice. Holiday deftly weaves together historical examples and philosophical insights to make a compelling case that our conventional notions of justice are often misguided or incomplete.
At the core of the book is Holiday's contention that true justice is inherently pro-social - it requires us to look outward beyond our own interests and development. He argues that merely focusing on our own moral growth and philosophies is not enough. Justice demands that we consider the full context of a situation and its impacts on others, rather than viewing it through the simplified lens of personal revenge, retribution or self-centered ideals.
While the idea of being pro-social is hopefully uncontroversial, Holiday's examples will likely resonate with some readers and challenge others. He brings his distinctive perspective to the book. His sense of justice may encompass causes that some readers might find provocative. Readers are advised to approach the book with an open mind and be prepared to reflect on their own beliefs and thought processes.
At the core of the book is Holiday's contention that true justice is inherently pro-social - it requires us to look outward beyond our own interests and development. He argues that merely focusing on our own moral growth and philosophies is not enough. Justice demands that we consider the full context of a situation and its impacts on others, rather than viewing it through the simplified lens of personal revenge, retribution or self-centered ideals.
While the idea of being pro-social is hopefully uncontroversial, Holiday's examples will likely resonate with some readers and challenge others. He brings his distinctive perspective to the book. His sense of justice may encompass causes that some readers might find provocative. Readers are advised to approach the book with an open mind and be prepared to reflect on their own beliefs and thought processes.
August 21, 2024
Well even the author admitted in the afterword it would be the least liked of the Virtue series. He explains himself and why he’s preachy about what he presumes is the correct social course of action. It felt less like Stoicism and more like one individual’s call to specific forms of activism, though much of what he proclaims as righteous is highly debatable. I’m a fan of RH, but found this effort very disappointing.
August 14, 2024
I went into this book fully expecting it to be a five-star read. I’m a big fan of Ryan’s work and ever since I started his Stoic Virtues series, I’ve known they will be one of my most prized, and highly recommended series. The first two books were absolutely incredible and I didn’t expect anything less from this one.
Unfortunately, my experience didn’t live up to the hype I’d built in my mind. Not because the book isn’t well written - it is. Not because it doesn’t carry the same powerfully punchy short chapters sharing countless engaging stories that perfectly illustrate the points he is trying to make - it does. Honestly, the problem isn’t with any technical aspect of the book at all. The problem is with the choice he made right at the onset to not make it a book discussing how we know what the right thing is.
Early on, Ryan is super direct that this is not going to be book about how to know what the right thing is, but rather, a book simply about how to Do the right thing. But if you don’t have a framework for deciding what the right thing is, all the motivation and drive and discipline to DO the right thing is a giant waste - because there’s no guarantee your efforts will actually get applied to what truly is the right thing.
In previous books in the series, Ryan’s habit of encouraging Christian morality while simultaneously setting aside Christian spirituality is not that big of a problem. While I would certainly rather have someone become a believer than simply do ‘good’ things, when the focus is on being courages or developing discipline in your own life, there’s not a ton of things that can get super wonky super fast. That individual focus is a lot more about subjective truth (ie: what is courageous looks different for someone with a fear of heights vs someone who doesn’t fear heights). This book though, is all about doing the right thing in relation to other people and the world at large. It’s about helping to create a just WORLD. It has a communal focus and therefore requires a conversation of more objective truths. The problem with that becomes, when you don’t have an objective standard that we all roughly agree upon, the definition of the ‘right thing’ is hugely in flux and by necessity, has to expand to include basically everything.
In the view of Christian spirituality, right and wrong are determined by what God has commanded in the Bible and they are both very clear. Our answer for when the right thing becomes the wrong is simple - whenever God says it does! When you set aside the spirituality and only try to align with the morals though, what is right seems to be easy to define, but the point at which the right thing becomes the wrong thing is almost impossible to discern.
Example:
Christian morality + spirituality would say that it is right to love all people, but also that God has said any sexual activity outside of a monogamous heterosexual marriage is wrong - and because He is God and we are not, we submit ourselves that definition of what is ‘wrong’.
Christian morality devoid of spirituality however, would say that it is right to love all people, so we must accept any kind of sexual orientation that exists. This seems like a good thing when we think about more culturally accepted orientations (being homosexual for example), but the problem occurs when we try to define what the wrong thing is. If there is no objective line where what was right turns into wrong, then because homosexuality is fine, pedophilia and beastiality should be fine too. When we place ourselves in the position of ultimate authority (in place of God) we quickly realize that we are completely unable to define what is ‘wrong’ in any reasonable sense.
So, unlike his other books, I don’t think this is a book that can be written in any way without the foundation of Christian spirituality as well as morality. A book about doing the right thing, when no one has any clue what the right thing even is, is essentially a useless book. And believing in the idea that we as humans can simply determine what the right thing is for ourselves - given our complete lack of being able to determine what the WRONG thing is - is non-sensical and deluded.
In order to do the universally right thing, you have to be able to determine what that right thing is, and for that, you have to have an objective standard. And in order to be objective, by definition that standard must come from someone/something other than US and our subjective viewpoints.
Unfortunately, my experience didn’t live up to the hype I’d built in my mind. Not because the book isn’t well written - it is. Not because it doesn’t carry the same powerfully punchy short chapters sharing countless engaging stories that perfectly illustrate the points he is trying to make - it does. Honestly, the problem isn’t with any technical aspect of the book at all. The problem is with the choice he made right at the onset to not make it a book discussing how we know what the right thing is.
Early on, Ryan is super direct that this is not going to be book about how to know what the right thing is, but rather, a book simply about how to Do the right thing. But if you don’t have a framework for deciding what the right thing is, all the motivation and drive and discipline to DO the right thing is a giant waste - because there’s no guarantee your efforts will actually get applied to what truly is the right thing.
In previous books in the series, Ryan’s habit of encouraging Christian morality while simultaneously setting aside Christian spirituality is not that big of a problem. While I would certainly rather have someone become a believer than simply do ‘good’ things, when the focus is on being courages or developing discipline in your own life, there’s not a ton of things that can get super wonky super fast. That individual focus is a lot more about subjective truth (ie: what is courageous looks different for someone with a fear of heights vs someone who doesn’t fear heights). This book though, is all about doing the right thing in relation to other people and the world at large. It’s about helping to create a just WORLD. It has a communal focus and therefore requires a conversation of more objective truths. The problem with that becomes, when you don’t have an objective standard that we all roughly agree upon, the definition of the ‘right thing’ is hugely in flux and by necessity, has to expand to include basically everything.
In the view of Christian spirituality, right and wrong are determined by what God has commanded in the Bible and they are both very clear. Our answer for when the right thing becomes the wrong is simple - whenever God says it does! When you set aside the spirituality and only try to align with the morals though, what is right seems to be easy to define, but the point at which the right thing becomes the wrong thing is almost impossible to discern.
Example:
Christian morality + spirituality would say that it is right to love all people, but also that God has said any sexual activity outside of a monogamous heterosexual marriage is wrong - and because He is God and we are not, we submit ourselves that definition of what is ‘wrong’.
Christian morality devoid of spirituality however, would say that it is right to love all people, so we must accept any kind of sexual orientation that exists. This seems like a good thing when we think about more culturally accepted orientations (being homosexual for example), but the problem occurs when we try to define what the wrong thing is. If there is no objective line where what was right turns into wrong, then because homosexuality is fine, pedophilia and beastiality should be fine too. When we place ourselves in the position of ultimate authority (in place of God) we quickly realize that we are completely unable to define what is ‘wrong’ in any reasonable sense.
So, unlike his other books, I don’t think this is a book that can be written in any way without the foundation of Christian spirituality as well as morality. A book about doing the right thing, when no one has any clue what the right thing even is, is essentially a useless book. And believing in the idea that we as humans can simply determine what the right thing is for ourselves - given our complete lack of being able to determine what the WRONG thing is - is non-sensical and deluded.
In order to do the universally right thing, you have to be able to determine what that right thing is, and for that, you have to have an objective standard. And in order to be objective, by definition that standard must come from someone/something other than US and our subjective viewpoints.
July 23, 2024
A lot of really great quotes in here- I found myself taking notes, which I have never done for leisure before.
“Integrity is rooted in self respect”
“Obligate yourself to a standard higher than the one trodden by the crowd”
“Do a little more than your share”
“The more people hear about you, the more they should respect & admire you”
“Chase the third thing”
“If you do things for the “thanks”, what good are you doing at all?”
“Integrity is rooted in self respect”
“Obligate yourself to a standard higher than the one trodden by the crowd”
“Do a little more than your share”
“The more people hear about you, the more they should respect & admire you”
“Chase the third thing”
“If you do things for the “thanks”, what good are you doing at all?”
October 12, 2025
I really admire Ryan Holiday. He’s one of those guys who somehow manages to write modern self-help books that don’t make me feel like I just wandered into a Tony Robbins seminar with pyrotechnics and people doing jumping jacks. His blend of Stoicism, history, and storytelling is usually thoughtful, grounded, and refreshingly low on hype. And once again, with ‘Right Thing, Right Now,’ Holiday does what he does best: pulls together an impressive set of historical anecdotes and moral tales that illuminate timeless values. But... this one didn’t quite hit the mark for me.
Let’s start with what works. Holiday is a bibliophile, and without a doubt, a phenomenal storyteller. The man has clearly read everything, and what I really admire about his writing is that he doesn’t just rehash the same tired Lincoln-and-Churchill stories you’ve already heard a dozen times in motivational YouTube videos.
He digs deeper, pulling out these little historical gems that somehow tie perfectly into the point he’s trying to make. The guy is like a moral compass crossed with a card catalog. It’s obvious how much time and effort goes into curating these stories, and I respect the heck out of that. I know how hard it is to string together meaningful examples from all corners of history to support a theme, and he nails that part every time.
When I picked up this book, I was hoping it would help me figure out how to bring more justice into my day-to-day life. I wanted something useful, something I could carry with me while navigating work drama, errands, and the minor crises of ordinary life. What I got was a book that, while beautifully written and morally sound, felt more like a museum tour of heroic virtue than a how-to guide for the rest of us.
The book opens strong, laying out the basics: do the right thing, speak up when it’s hard, forgive people, be honest, give back, and so on. It’s a checklist of virtues that most of us already carry around in our heads. And each virtue is accompanied by a compelling historical tale: someone who did something amazing under pressure, rose above, and changed the course of history. They’re inspiring in the way a really great movie montage can be inspiring.
But after a while, it starts to feel like a greatest hits album of moral righteousness. It’s all noble and admirable, but there’s very little that's new here. Yes, it’s good to be brave. Yes, we should tell the truth. Yes, helping others is important. But where’s the advice for when I’m dead tired after work and someone cuts me off in traffic? Where’s the guidance for those times when I want to do the right thing but I’m hangry, stressed, and stuck in line at the DMV?
What I found missing was the HOW. Holiday tells us what to do, and why it matters, but rarely how to actually pull it off in the mess of daily life. There’s a brief section in the middle that touches on incremental change and building habits of virtue, and that was honestly my favorite part of the whole book. But it’s short. Way too short. I would have loved an entire book built around that concept - slow, realistic progress instead of lofty moral lightning bolts from above.
By the end, I felt a little deflated. Not because the book isn’t smart or sincere, but because it left me feeling like I could never measure up. When you’re being compared to Gandhi, MLK, and a rotating cast of saints, your own efforts - holding your tongue in a Zoom meeting, picking up someone’s coffee tab, helping a neighbor move - start to feel pitifully small. Instead of feeling inspired, I started to feel like a bit of a moral underachiever.
What I wanted was something practical. Something that acknowledges that we’re all stumbling through life with too many emails, too little sleep, and a vague hope we’re doing okay. This book doesn’t quite live in that world. It lives in a world of saints and martyrs, and while that world is beautiful to visit, it’s a hard one to live in every day.
Don’t get me wrong: there’s real value here. The book is well written, the stories are excellent, and the themes are timeless. But I came in looking for something useful, and I left with something admirable instead. That’s not nothing - but it’s not quite what I needed, either.
If you’re already a fan of Holiday’s work, you’ll appreciate this latest installment. Just don’t expect it to hand you a roadmap. This is more inspiration than instruction. And sometimes, especially when I’m trying to do the right thing while folding laundry, I need a little more of the latter.
Let’s start with what works. Holiday is a bibliophile, and without a doubt, a phenomenal storyteller. The man has clearly read everything, and what I really admire about his writing is that he doesn’t just rehash the same tired Lincoln-and-Churchill stories you’ve already heard a dozen times in motivational YouTube videos.
He digs deeper, pulling out these little historical gems that somehow tie perfectly into the point he’s trying to make. The guy is like a moral compass crossed with a card catalog. It’s obvious how much time and effort goes into curating these stories, and I respect the heck out of that. I know how hard it is to string together meaningful examples from all corners of history to support a theme, and he nails that part every time.
When I picked up this book, I was hoping it would help me figure out how to bring more justice into my day-to-day life. I wanted something useful, something I could carry with me while navigating work drama, errands, and the minor crises of ordinary life. What I got was a book that, while beautifully written and morally sound, felt more like a museum tour of heroic virtue than a how-to guide for the rest of us.
The book opens strong, laying out the basics: do the right thing, speak up when it’s hard, forgive people, be honest, give back, and so on. It’s a checklist of virtues that most of us already carry around in our heads. And each virtue is accompanied by a compelling historical tale: someone who did something amazing under pressure, rose above, and changed the course of history. They’re inspiring in the way a really great movie montage can be inspiring.
But after a while, it starts to feel like a greatest hits album of moral righteousness. It’s all noble and admirable, but there’s very little that's new here. Yes, it’s good to be brave. Yes, we should tell the truth. Yes, helping others is important. But where’s the advice for when I’m dead tired after work and someone cuts me off in traffic? Where’s the guidance for those times when I want to do the right thing but I’m hangry, stressed, and stuck in line at the DMV?
What I found missing was the HOW. Holiday tells us what to do, and why it matters, but rarely how to actually pull it off in the mess of daily life. There’s a brief section in the middle that touches on incremental change and building habits of virtue, and that was honestly my favorite part of the whole book. But it’s short. Way too short. I would have loved an entire book built around that concept - slow, realistic progress instead of lofty moral lightning bolts from above.
By the end, I felt a little deflated. Not because the book isn’t smart or sincere, but because it left me feeling like I could never measure up. When you’re being compared to Gandhi, MLK, and a rotating cast of saints, your own efforts - holding your tongue in a Zoom meeting, picking up someone’s coffee tab, helping a neighbor move - start to feel pitifully small. Instead of feeling inspired, I started to feel like a bit of a moral underachiever.
What I wanted was something practical. Something that acknowledges that we’re all stumbling through life with too many emails, too little sleep, and a vague hope we’re doing okay. This book doesn’t quite live in that world. It lives in a world of saints and martyrs, and while that world is beautiful to visit, it’s a hard one to live in every day.
Don’t get me wrong: there’s real value here. The book is well written, the stories are excellent, and the themes are timeless. But I came in looking for something useful, and I left with something admirable instead. That’s not nothing - but it’s not quite what I needed, either.
If you’re already a fan of Holiday’s work, you’ll appreciate this latest installment. Just don’t expect it to hand you a roadmap. This is more inspiration than instruction. And sometimes, especially when I’m trying to do the right thing while folding laundry, I need a little more of the latter.
January 5, 2026
0 stars for writing
1 star for research
1 star for premise
1 star for impact
1 star for liking it
I won't repeat what I always say, but I find Holiday's writings inspiring and encouraging. This one started off a bit slow, but picked up at the end. If he writes it, I'll buy the audiobook and listen. He motivates me to be a better person.
1 star for research
1 star for premise
1 star for impact
1 star for liking it
I won't repeat what I always say, but I find Holiday's writings inspiring and encouraging. This one started off a bit slow, but picked up at the end. If he writes it, I'll buy the audiobook and listen. He motivates me to be a better person.
Read
July 7, 2024Of the four cardinal virtues, Courage, Self-Discipline, Justice, and Wisdom, Justice might be the most important.
If more people practiced justice, the need for courage, self-discipline, and wisdom would be considerably lower.
I pre-ordered this book several months ago, and it exceeded all my expectations, making the wait well worth it.
This book has several lessons. I could make a whole course on the lessons this book teaches you. Listing out just 5% of the good lessons in this post would make this text incredibly long; please read or listen to the book. My highlighter and pen got their workout for the month with solid advice.
I'll summarize the book with a poem summary at the end.
There was an old man who crossed a washed-out road. After he crossed it, he stopped going to his destination. He then stayed at the edge of the road and built a bridge so the person behind him could find success easier than he did.
One of Fast Forward's mottos was to pay it forward, and this book exemplifies that motto.
Please read this book.
If more people practiced justice, the need for courage, self-discipline, and wisdom would be considerably lower.
I pre-ordered this book several months ago, and it exceeded all my expectations, making the wait well worth it.
This book has several lessons. I could make a whole course on the lessons this book teaches you. Listing out just 5% of the good lessons in this post would make this text incredibly long; please read or listen to the book. My highlighter and pen got their workout for the month with solid advice.
I'll summarize the book with a poem summary at the end.
There was an old man who crossed a washed-out road. After he crossed it, he stopped going to his destination. He then stayed at the edge of the road and built a bridge so the person behind him could find success easier than he did.
One of Fast Forward's mottos was to pay it forward, and this book exemplifies that motto.
Please read this book.
June 27, 2024
4.5* roundup. A little score bump for the fantastic Afterword.
Classic Holiday. If you love his writing, you will like this book. Works really well in audiobook format.
Recommended
Classic Holiday. If you love his writing, you will like this book. Works really well in audiobook format.
Recommended
November 1, 2024
Ryan Holiday could've been a preacher. His prose, though not technically "great," has that infectious quality of good, simple, and powerful rhetoric that one would expect from an unassuming, but earnest evangelist. His is the gospel of Stoicism, his subject matter the Justice the world seems to talk much about but evidently seems to lack, to its shame and immense disadvantage. Holiday's gift is finding the force of persuasion in the lives of so many heroes and paragons of virtue. He is able to take people you might not agree with in their philosophies and life styles, and reveal to you, in spite of that, a heroism that sings to the melancholic longing in each of us for a world suffused with light and meaning and purpose. He even makes you look at yourself and ask tough questions, confronted with the reality that the circle of your life may be far, far too narrow, your heart far, far too cold, your character still too small to see the needs and hurts of the men and women right next to you. He makes you hope that you, too, can be better, more just, more kind, more conscientious, more giving and forgiving.
I am not a Stoic, but a Catholic priest. I very much appreciate Ryan Holiday's stoic virtue series, as he tries to take the great tradition of Western (and Christian!) Thought in regard to the Cardinal Virtues and present them for modern audiences. His aspirational writing style, as I've said, is very effective and affective. Yet, for all his strengths, I have to admit that - maybe perhaps precisely because he is writing for a modern audience - his words tickle the ears a little too much.
The problem with justice today isn't that we don't talk about it enough (just turn on the news and go on social media!). It isn't that we don't have enough people dedicating their lives to it's pursuit (I contend we are among the most active in terms of social justice in all of human history). It's that we don't have a right idea of what it is. He counsels us to "choose your north star," and in that chapter, makes a gesture in the direction of certainly what it is not, and certainly what it might be. But no where does he give us the definition of justice that would have informed the very stoics he admires, that is, that justice is that firm disposition in us to give to each one his or her due. This is important, because this question of what is due is critical to determining what our north star should be.
In the afterword of his book he mentions the story of Charles de Gaulle and Anne, his daughter with down syndrome. It's a beautiful story, in which he notes that his relationship with his daughter ended making him a better person, softening him, opening him up. It's a beautiful thing to note. It's also, sadly, profoundly contradictory to his earlier praise of woman's rights in terms of reproductive freedom. This is so tragic, especially when one considers that conservative estimates have up to 67% of children with down syndrome are aborted, with liberal estimates soaring as high as 95%. What of justice for these poor children? Should we all just be left to choose our north stars, fighting tooth and nail for justice, even if it means we grow comfortable with innocent lives lost? I don't think Holiday would agree. And yet, this painful, shocking inconsistency exists in this book...
No, not any cause propounding to be just is just. There are too often today causes with tradeoffs that leave others injured or in gravely disadvantaged positions. In our efforts to heal the wounds of racial injustice, today we actually find discrimination and segregation embraced as solutions! We become divided up and pitted against one another in the interest of "justice." Yascha Mounk, in his book The Identity Trap was right to call this out, affirming that it is only in the universal and neutral principles of classical liberalism that emphasize what we share in common as fellow human being that are actually going to bring any measure of healing and equality to the world. We need to be focusing, in the words of Holiday, on expanding the circle, not shrinking it. I would not be so quick to tout the horn of liberalism, but I would preach that all are created in the image and likeness of God, and so enjoy an equally loved status before him, and therefore ought have an equally valued status before each other.
It is also troubling to see him so dismissive of those he calls "moralists." I think I can guess that he is worried merely about an approach to ethics that is disconnected from real problems and real circumstances. I get that. But to argue that some ends justify the means...? Again, that is not a far step from learning to tolerate unjust injuries in the pursuit of your just cause. We need to philosophize, to ask the question what is the human person ? if our causes are going to really bring about the justice we hope. We need to reflect deeply on the consequences of our actions, to ask others (wisdom! which I look forward to reading about, Mr. Holiday!) what those consequences might be. To make sure that our north star is true and not "chosen," as our choice might be influenced by bias, by ease, by popularity, by pressures of family, friends, or anyone. We should not fear to be angels and not as pragmatic as we might be, if it means not goring others with our angles. Because we owe them that. We owe them what is due them. We owe them food, shelter, clothing, education, adequate healthcare. We owe them a conscience free from pressure to hold and hand on to their children what values they think are right. We owe them life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. We owe them equal rights, equal opportunities, respect, love, and mercy. We owe them the opportunity to grow and to think better with time. We owe them every help and opportunity to be moral and upright human beings. We can only get to know any of this through some deep reflecting on the nature of things, and of the human nature we all share in common.
And not just "we," mind you. But each and every. I fear with this kind of pragmatism that justice can get reduced to a kind of statistical aggregation of good in the world. The scary thing about utilitarianism is that it is perfectly unphased by the idea that there will always be a tolerable amount of pain in the world. Some causes reflect this, as I have pointed out. That's against my north star, which says every human being is unique, unrepeatable, of infinite dignity and worth, regardless of age, sex, ethnicity or stage of development. That everyone that comes into being (in the womb or outside of it) is here to know, love, and serve God and each other in this life, that we might all be happy in the next. All else descends from this. Anything that violates this is no justice that I can stomach.
So, in "short," read Holiday. His words are inspiring and even galvanizing to consider the place the virtue of justice (necessary as it is to live together in this world) in your life, whether it is as central as it needs to be. But, be cautious. Read the book, but then think carefully and deeply on this question: what is just? And be as sure as you can be that you have a true answer to that question. Then, begin to live it.
I am not a Stoic, but a Catholic priest. I very much appreciate Ryan Holiday's stoic virtue series, as he tries to take the great tradition of Western (and Christian!) Thought in regard to the Cardinal Virtues and present them for modern audiences. His aspirational writing style, as I've said, is very effective and affective. Yet, for all his strengths, I have to admit that - maybe perhaps precisely because he is writing for a modern audience - his words tickle the ears a little too much.
The problem with justice today isn't that we don't talk about it enough (just turn on the news and go on social media!). It isn't that we don't have enough people dedicating their lives to it's pursuit (I contend we are among the most active in terms of social justice in all of human history). It's that we don't have a right idea of what it is. He counsels us to "choose your north star," and in that chapter, makes a gesture in the direction of certainly what it is not, and certainly what it might be. But no where does he give us the definition of justice that would have informed the very stoics he admires, that is, that justice is that firm disposition in us to give to each one his or her due. This is important, because this question of what is due is critical to determining what our north star should be.
In the afterword of his book he mentions the story of Charles de Gaulle and Anne, his daughter with down syndrome. It's a beautiful story, in which he notes that his relationship with his daughter ended making him a better person, softening him, opening him up. It's a beautiful thing to note. It's also, sadly, profoundly contradictory to his earlier praise of woman's rights in terms of reproductive freedom. This is so tragic, especially when one considers that conservative estimates have up to 67% of children with down syndrome are aborted, with liberal estimates soaring as high as 95%. What of justice for these poor children? Should we all just be left to choose our north stars, fighting tooth and nail for justice, even if it means we grow comfortable with innocent lives lost? I don't think Holiday would agree. And yet, this painful, shocking inconsistency exists in this book...
No, not any cause propounding to be just is just. There are too often today causes with tradeoffs that leave others injured or in gravely disadvantaged positions. In our efforts to heal the wounds of racial injustice, today we actually find discrimination and segregation embraced as solutions! We become divided up and pitted against one another in the interest of "justice." Yascha Mounk, in his book The Identity Trap was right to call this out, affirming that it is only in the universal and neutral principles of classical liberalism that emphasize what we share in common as fellow human being that are actually going to bring any measure of healing and equality to the world. We need to be focusing, in the words of Holiday, on expanding the circle, not shrinking it. I would not be so quick to tout the horn of liberalism, but I would preach that all are created in the image and likeness of God, and so enjoy an equally loved status before him, and therefore ought have an equally valued status before each other.
It is also troubling to see him so dismissive of those he calls "moralists." I think I can guess that he is worried merely about an approach to ethics that is disconnected from real problems and real circumstances. I get that. But to argue that some ends justify the means...? Again, that is not a far step from learning to tolerate unjust injuries in the pursuit of your just cause. We need to philosophize, to ask the question what is the human person ? if our causes are going to really bring about the justice we hope. We need to reflect deeply on the consequences of our actions, to ask others (wisdom! which I look forward to reading about, Mr. Holiday!) what those consequences might be. To make sure that our north star is true and not "chosen," as our choice might be influenced by bias, by ease, by popularity, by pressures of family, friends, or anyone. We should not fear to be angels and not as pragmatic as we might be, if it means not goring others with our angles. Because we owe them that. We owe them what is due them. We owe them food, shelter, clothing, education, adequate healthcare. We owe them a conscience free from pressure to hold and hand on to their children what values they think are right. We owe them life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. We owe them equal rights, equal opportunities, respect, love, and mercy. We owe them the opportunity to grow and to think better with time. We owe them every help and opportunity to be moral and upright human beings. We can only get to know any of this through some deep reflecting on the nature of things, and of the human nature we all share in common.
And not just "we," mind you. But each and every. I fear with this kind of pragmatism that justice can get reduced to a kind of statistical aggregation of good in the world. The scary thing about utilitarianism is that it is perfectly unphased by the idea that there will always be a tolerable amount of pain in the world. Some causes reflect this, as I have pointed out. That's against my north star, which says every human being is unique, unrepeatable, of infinite dignity and worth, regardless of age, sex, ethnicity or stage of development. That everyone that comes into being (in the womb or outside of it) is here to know, love, and serve God and each other in this life, that we might all be happy in the next. All else descends from this. Anything that violates this is no justice that I can stomach.
So, in "short," read Holiday. His words are inspiring and even galvanizing to consider the place the virtue of justice (necessary as it is to live together in this world) in your life, whether it is as central as it needs to be. But, be cautious. Read the book, but then think carefully and deeply on this question: what is just? And be as sure as you can be that you have a true answer to that question. Then, begin to live it.
August 3, 2024
Høye krav til RH, men denne gangen ble det en følelse av 250 sider med intro, og noen historier han ikke dykker nok ned i.
December 15, 2024
Stoicism is not a self-help concept for people who wish to become a manager in their career.
Ryan Holiday's Right Thing Right Now attempts to frame Stoic philosophy as a guide for navigating moral decisions in a complex, unjust world. While Holiday is known for popularizing Stoicism in accessible ways, this book falls short in key areas, particularly when compared to the original Stoic texts from philosophers like Marcus Aurelius, Seneca, and Epictetus.
One of the most glaring omissions in Holiday’s work is his disregard for the Stoic concept of the cosmos, which is central to understanding Stoic justice. For the Stoics, justice was not merely about individual morality or social fairness, but about aligning one's actions with the natural order of the universe—what they called logos, or rational structure of the cosmos. Marcus Aurelius, for example, constantly reminds himself of the interconnectedness of all things and that true justice arises from living in harmony with nature’s rational plan. Holiday, however, reduces justice to a more modern, individualistic pursuit of doing "what feels right now," sidestepping the Stoic view that justice is part of a broader, cosmic understanding of our role in the world.
This stripping away of Stoicism’s metaphysical foundation results in a shallow interpretation that risks turning a profound philosophy into little more than ethical guidelines for immediate situations. The Stoic idea that we are part of a greater whole, and that our sense of justice is deeply tied to this interconnectedness, is essential to understanding why Stoic justice goes beyond personal virtue or legal systems. By ignoring this, Holiday’s work feels incomplete, as if he has selectively cherry-picked parts of Stoicism that are easier to digest for modern readers while neglecting the deeper commitments that made the philosophy so enduring.
Moreover, Holiday’s tone in Right Thing Right Now can come off as overly simplistic, often presenting complex moral dilemmas with black-and-white solutions. The original Stoics were much more comfortable with ambiguity and nuance, recognizing that justice in an imperfect world requires humility and patience. Holiday, by contrast, presents moral choices as immediate and clear-cut, which not only misrepresents Stoicism but can also lead readers to a superficial understanding of justice.
After reading this book, I find myself growing increasingly frustrated with Holiday’s work. His approach to Stoicism, which was refreshing for its accessibility, feels reductive and commercialized once more. By consistently leaving out the more challenging, cosmic dimensions of Stoic thought, he waters down the philosophy’s true power. I’m quite done with Holiday as an author—his versions of Stoicism may appeal to those looking for quick, feel-good solutions, but they fall far short of doing justice to the depth and complexity of the original Stoic thinkers.
Ryan Holiday's Right Thing Right Now attempts to frame Stoic philosophy as a guide for navigating moral decisions in a complex, unjust world. While Holiday is known for popularizing Stoicism in accessible ways, this book falls short in key areas, particularly when compared to the original Stoic texts from philosophers like Marcus Aurelius, Seneca, and Epictetus.
One of the most glaring omissions in Holiday’s work is his disregard for the Stoic concept of the cosmos, which is central to understanding Stoic justice. For the Stoics, justice was not merely about individual morality or social fairness, but about aligning one's actions with the natural order of the universe—what they called logos, or rational structure of the cosmos. Marcus Aurelius, for example, constantly reminds himself of the interconnectedness of all things and that true justice arises from living in harmony with nature’s rational plan. Holiday, however, reduces justice to a more modern, individualistic pursuit of doing "what feels right now," sidestepping the Stoic view that justice is part of a broader, cosmic understanding of our role in the world.
This stripping away of Stoicism’s metaphysical foundation results in a shallow interpretation that risks turning a profound philosophy into little more than ethical guidelines for immediate situations. The Stoic idea that we are part of a greater whole, and that our sense of justice is deeply tied to this interconnectedness, is essential to understanding why Stoic justice goes beyond personal virtue or legal systems. By ignoring this, Holiday’s work feels incomplete, as if he has selectively cherry-picked parts of Stoicism that are easier to digest for modern readers while neglecting the deeper commitments that made the philosophy so enduring.
Moreover, Holiday’s tone in Right Thing Right Now can come off as overly simplistic, often presenting complex moral dilemmas with black-and-white solutions. The original Stoics were much more comfortable with ambiguity and nuance, recognizing that justice in an imperfect world requires humility and patience. Holiday, by contrast, presents moral choices as immediate and clear-cut, which not only misrepresents Stoicism but can also lead readers to a superficial understanding of justice.
After reading this book, I find myself growing increasingly frustrated with Holiday’s work. His approach to Stoicism, which was refreshing for its accessibility, feels reductive and commercialized once more. By consistently leaving out the more challenging, cosmic dimensions of Stoic thought, he waters down the philosophy’s true power. I’m quite done with Holiday as an author—his versions of Stoicism may appeal to those looking for quick, feel-good solutions, but they fall far short of doing justice to the depth and complexity of the original Stoic thinkers.
August 3, 2024
I've read everything from Ryan Holiday so far and this book was a grind to finish. His writing is more and more moralizing and puritanical, sometimes even preachy and accusatory. I feel he's using the term stoicism as some kind of brand and marketing strategy more than anything else with this book. The links to justice were pretty weak compared to those about courage and discipline in the two previous books in the virtues series. His writing is also less compelling; almost no rhythm, ultra short sentences; like one huge blog post.
Some bits of good stuff, but this book is overall disappointing.
Some bits of good stuff, but this book is overall disappointing.
November 14, 2024
This book makes me want to be a better person.
I follow Ryan Holiday on social media and enjoy his snippets of stoic wisdom. In this book, he tells the stories of people being awesome humans, working for justice. This was particularly good to read right now, as a dark cloud of selfish, right-wing political rhetoric seems to be spreading all over the world, and one might start to think that people really suck.
Holiday’s writing is conversational and engaging. I will definitely be picking up more of his books.
I follow Ryan Holiday on social media and enjoy his snippets of stoic wisdom. In this book, he tells the stories of people being awesome humans, working for justice. This was particularly good to read right now, as a dark cloud of selfish, right-wing political rhetoric seems to be spreading all over the world, and one might start to think that people really suck.
Holiday’s writing is conversational and engaging. I will definitely be picking up more of his books.
July 15, 2024
Not my favorite. Too much American politicians. Still good book with some nuggets but I might have liked the afterword the best. 3.4
November 25, 2024
Ryan Holiday has made a metamorphosis with that book. While his old writings were mainly focused on the emotionless and rigid / strict interpretations of stoicism this one was focused on the compassionate and selfless interpretation.
It was a great read with many great ideas and a lot of inspiration.
It was a great read with many great ideas and a lot of inspiration.
June 16, 2024
Arguably the best and most impactful of the Stoic Virtue series so far, this book reiterate the important that justice has not only to the other 3 stoic virtues, but how it is foundation of a lot of things in life
November 28, 2024
Simplistic and naive views on some subjects that are nuanced. I expected more critical thinking from someone who’s been published this much and has Robert Greene as a mentor.
Unless proven otherwise, this will be the last book I read of yours Mr Holiday.
Unless proven otherwise, this will be the last book I read of yours Mr Holiday.
August 18, 2024
More than 3 but less than 4… some cool ideas but out of this series much preferred Discipline (wasn’t that big of a fan of Courage either, but still looking forward to Wisdom coming next)
August 17, 2024
Not really what I was expecting tbh. Felt as if the small chapters were simple lessons that were loosely slotted into random examples from American politics. Would’ve liked the chapters to have one example each, and also more ancient references. Also found it problematic that Harry Truman was the leading ethical figure referenced throughout
August 30, 2024
I am a big fan of Ryan Holiday and have read most, if not all, of his books. However, this one felt off, though I couldn't quite pinpoint why until I reached the afterword. At one point, he mentions that some people have "accused" him of going woke. That’s when I realized that this might have been what was bothering me, even though I can't identify a specific part of the book where it was overtly expressed.
What gave me pause, though, was when he essentially admitted that instead of listening to his fan base and reassessing his positions, he doubled down, which ended up alienating some people.
I’ll stick with his earlier works (I’m reading The Daily Stoic for probably the fifth year in a row), but I won't be buying anything new he puts out.
What gave me pause, though, was when he essentially admitted that instead of listening to his fan base and reassessing his positions, he doubled down, which ended up alienating some people.
I’ll stick with his earlier works (I’m reading The Daily Stoic for probably the fifth year in a row), but I won't be buying anything new he puts out.
August 15, 2024
The first part of it, which focused on personal justice, was outstanding—definitely a 5/5. The lessons were practical, applicable, and really resonated with me. I couldn’t get enough of it. Unfortunately, once the book transitioned into sociopolitical territory, it started to lose its way. It became a bit preachy and, in some cases, seemed to misapply historical lessons. This was disappointing, especially since I enjoyed The Obstacle is the Way so much. The shift in tone and focus made it hard to stay engaged, and ultimately, fell short of my expectations.
September 30, 2024
I like so much the other books from this author, but i just didn’t enjoy this book. Maybe it was a bit too preachy for me. Maybe it was the stories/characters shared - I’m tired of hearing seeing US presidents being god-like. Maybe I was hoping for more stoicism and found not as much of it, compared to previous books at least.
It’s an ok read. Some interesting messages. Not what I was looking for though.
It’s an ok read. Some interesting messages. Not what I was looking for though.
September 21, 2024
I really enjoy reading Ryan Holiday’s books on stoicism. For the last couple of months, reading a chapter in the morning before the day gets started has helped me to begin the day in a reflective way. This book may be my favorite of all the ones he has written so far.
June 15, 2024
4.5 stars
July 23, 2024
As always will read anything that Ryan Holiday writes. This still exceeds expectations.
January 7, 2026
Yeah, this one took me a while. Like the rest of his books it’s extremely consumable, this one just felt a little more… obvious? “Be good” “be honest” “be fair” like yeah. Courage and discipline were interesting to explore because it could bring up many different situations I had never considered courage or discipline to be necessary for! It helped me realign my life to act more courageously because it taught me new ways to be courageous. Perhaps it’s my Christian upbringing, but I already know I need to be fair and charitable, and this didn’t offer me anything new.
I used to be annoyed by it, but now I appreciate how unashamedly “political” he’s willing to make his books. He spoke on this in his afterword and whether or not I agree with his politics I believe people should be able to share the message they think will improve the world. And maybe we can all appreciate that most people really are genuinely convinced their politics will make the world a better place.
I used to be annoyed by it, but now I appreciate how unashamedly “political” he’s willing to make his books. He spoke on this in his afterword and whether or not I agree with his politics I believe people should be able to share the message they think will improve the world. And maybe we can all appreciate that most people really are genuinely convinced their politics will make the world a better place.
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