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Stoic Virtue Series #4
Wijsheid is werk: De Stoïcijnse kunst van leren, twijfelen en doen
Van alle stoïcijnse deugden – moed, discipline, rechtvaardigheid en wijsheid – is wijsheid de meest ongrijpbare. Dit is vooral duidelijk in een tijd waarin reactie en nutteloos geklets worden beloond, en terughoudendheid en bedachtzaamheid uit de mode zijn. Wijsheid is geen talent waarmee je geboren wordt, maar een resultaat – van ervaring, van denken, van vallen en opstaan. Wijsheid vraagt oefening. Wijsheid vraagt moed. En bovenal vraagt wijsheid werk.
Aan de hand van historische en hedendaagse voorbeelden – van Seneca tot Joan Didion, van Abraham Lincoln tot Michel de Montaigne – laat Holiday zien hoe je wijsheid kunt niet in één klap maar in kleine, consequente stappen. Door te lezen, te reflecteren, te leren van fouten, door te twijfelen én door te handelen.
Aan de hand van historische en hedendaagse voorbeelden – van Seneca tot Joan Didion, van Abraham Lincoln tot Michel de Montaigne – laat Holiday zien hoe je wijsheid kunt niet in één klap maar in kleine, consequente stappen. Door te lezen, te reflecteren, te leren van fouten, door te twijfelen én door te handelen.
368 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 21, 2025
1008 people are currently reading
3531 people want to read
About the author
Ryan Holiday
102 books18.4k 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 232 reviews
October 26, 2025
Even after I've read the 3rd part in the series and evaluated it 2/5, I knew I'll go for the final one. The world's most famous neo-stoic - Ryan Holiday - doesn't write good books, but they are useful if you treat them as a trigger for self-assessment and deeper consideration of your everyday actions.
Truth to be told, it's damn hard to write a book on "wisdom" and capture the essence of what wisdom is, even without the stoicism lens. So it was quite clear that RH is on his "mission impossible" here. Nevertheless, it was his decision and he should be fairly evaluated (on whether he has delivered or not).
TBH there's surprisingly little actual stoicism here. RH is looking for some individuals that exemplify "wisdom", but his choices are ... controversial. When it come to positive cases, he's very skewed to "US-centric" perspective (that feels a bit grotesque) and for the negative ones, he has spent a lot of keystrokes on a single figure of ... Elon Musk and his publicly visible stunts. That's be still kinda OK, but the analysis is very shallow and feels like taken from tabloids (e.g., take-over of Twitter, relation with his trans-gender kid). The effect is caricature - instead of proving some point or helping the reader read something, I couldn't wait to get through to the next section.
In the end, yes, this book has made me thing a bit on the nature of wisdom: what it really is, how to recognize it, what we could do to "boost"/help wisdom. But I'd lie if I've told you there are more answers than questions here ...
Truth to be told, it's damn hard to write a book on "wisdom" and capture the essence of what wisdom is, even without the stoicism lens. So it was quite clear that RH is on his "mission impossible" here. Nevertheless, it was his decision and he should be fairly evaluated (on whether he has delivered or not).
TBH there's surprisingly little actual stoicism here. RH is looking for some individuals that exemplify "wisdom", but his choices are ... controversial. When it come to positive cases, he's very skewed to "US-centric" perspective (that feels a bit grotesque) and for the negative ones, he has spent a lot of keystrokes on a single figure of ... Elon Musk and his publicly visible stunts. That's be still kinda OK, but the analysis is very shallow and feels like taken from tabloids (e.g., take-over of Twitter, relation with his trans-gender kid). The effect is caricature - instead of proving some point or helping the reader read something, I couldn't wait to get through to the next section.
In the end, yes, this book has made me thing a bit on the nature of wisdom: what it really is, how to recognize it, what we could do to "boost"/help wisdom. But I'd lie if I've told you there are more answers than questions here ...
October 23, 2025
There was a time when Ryan Holiday stood as one of the most compelling modern interpreters of Stoic philosophy—bridging ancient wisdom with contemporary relevance in a way that felt urgent, accessible, and above all, apolitical. With Wisdom Takes Work, that era appears to be over.
This latest installment in Holiday’s long-running project to bring Stoicism to the masses is not just a disappointment—it’s a misfire that undermines its own thesis. What should be a timeless reflection on character, resilience, and moral discipline instead reads like a politically narrow treatise filtered through personal grievance. The book’s title promises hard-earned truth. What it delivers feels more like a vendetta masked as virtue.
The core flaw lies in Holiday’s jarring choice of modern figures to represent “evil.” Instead of drawing from history’s deep well—where tyrants, narcissists, and warmongers abound—Holiday trains his fire on Elon Musk and Donald Trump. Agree with his politics or not, these selections are clumsy and alienating. It’s not that critique of the powerful is off-limits—it’s that Stoicism, properly practiced, demands restraint, humility, and perspective. Here, Holiday seems to reach not for Marcus Aurelius, but for MSNBC.
The irony is suffocating. In a book about wisdom and inner discipline, Holiday’s own lack of detachment becomes the loudest voice in the room. There’s a performative certainty to his condemnation of present-day figures whose legacies are still unfolding—a certainty unbecoming of someone who purports to champion nuance and long-term reflection. It’s not that his targets are above criticism; it’s that their inclusion does the very thing Stoicism warns against: reducing complex matters to emotional impulse.
For longtime readers who once turned to Holiday as a rare voice of clarity in a cultural landscape of division, this feels like a betrayal. His previous books, while increasingly slick and brand-conscious, at least aspired to universalism. Wisdom Takes Work narrows the field, drawing hard lines between the virtuous and the damned—lines that just happen to align with the author’s politics.
In doing so, he’s abandoned what made his work resonate with such a broad audience. The true gift of Stoicism is that it transcends ideology. It’s why a Roman emperor and a former slave could teach the same values across centuries. Holiday, once a student of that school, now appears more interested in wielding Stoicism than embodying it.
This may well be the last time many of his fans—this reviewer included—engage with his work. Not out of spite, but out of disappointment. Because wisdom does take work, and this book, for all its ambition, doesn’t do the work. It preaches where it should question. It alienates where it should invite. And it politicizes what should be sacred.
In the end, Wisdom Takes Work proves Holiday’s own point—but perhaps not in the way he intended.
This latest installment in Holiday’s long-running project to bring Stoicism to the masses is not just a disappointment—it’s a misfire that undermines its own thesis. What should be a timeless reflection on character, resilience, and moral discipline instead reads like a politically narrow treatise filtered through personal grievance. The book’s title promises hard-earned truth. What it delivers feels more like a vendetta masked as virtue.
The core flaw lies in Holiday’s jarring choice of modern figures to represent “evil.” Instead of drawing from history’s deep well—where tyrants, narcissists, and warmongers abound—Holiday trains his fire on Elon Musk and Donald Trump. Agree with his politics or not, these selections are clumsy and alienating. It’s not that critique of the powerful is off-limits—it’s that Stoicism, properly practiced, demands restraint, humility, and perspective. Here, Holiday seems to reach not for Marcus Aurelius, but for MSNBC.
The irony is suffocating. In a book about wisdom and inner discipline, Holiday’s own lack of detachment becomes the loudest voice in the room. There’s a performative certainty to his condemnation of present-day figures whose legacies are still unfolding—a certainty unbecoming of someone who purports to champion nuance and long-term reflection. It’s not that his targets are above criticism; it’s that their inclusion does the very thing Stoicism warns against: reducing complex matters to emotional impulse.
For longtime readers who once turned to Holiday as a rare voice of clarity in a cultural landscape of division, this feels like a betrayal. His previous books, while increasingly slick and brand-conscious, at least aspired to universalism. Wisdom Takes Work narrows the field, drawing hard lines between the virtuous and the damned—lines that just happen to align with the author’s politics.
In doing so, he’s abandoned what made his work resonate with such a broad audience. The true gift of Stoicism is that it transcends ideology. It’s why a Roman emperor and a former slave could teach the same values across centuries. Holiday, once a student of that school, now appears more interested in wielding Stoicism than embodying it.
This may well be the last time many of his fans—this reviewer included—engage with his work. Not out of spite, but out of disappointment. Because wisdom does take work, and this book, for all its ambition, doesn’t do the work. It preaches where it should question. It alienates where it should invite. And it politicizes what should be sacred.
In the end, Wisdom Takes Work proves Holiday’s own point—but perhaps not in the way he intended.
December 7, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 Stars — Holiday’s Best, and a Personal Gratitude
Wisdom Takes Work is the final installment in Ryan Holiday’s Virtue series, and in my opinion, it’s the best in the bunch. This book hit me right where I am in life — and I feel like I owe the author a sincere debt of gratitude.
About a year and a half ago, I retired from full-time teaching and felt a bit of a void. I started exploring Stoicism as a way to find grounding and purpose in this new phase. Holiday’s podcast was one of the first things that put me on a solid path — encouraging me to read more, think deeper, and find a sense of tranquility in daily life. Now, 18 months later, I’ve worked through a stack of books, gained some real insight, and feel more centered than I have in years. This book feels like the culmination of that journey.
Holiday’s style remains what it has always been: highly accessible, reader-friendly, and polished. His books are meant to be springboards — not dense philosophical tomes — and that’s a strength. He has introduced Stoicism to a wide audience and made these timeless ideas feel both practical and deeply needed today. Sure, the series may lack the heavy academic heft of ancient sources, but that simply isn’t its goal.
I used immersive reading again for this one, and Holiday’s own narration is excellent — intimate and energized without being preachy. Some readers may bristle at a few of the contemporary examples he brings into the discussion, but Holiday has always called things as he sees them. The Stoics weren’t shy about applying philosophy to real life, so why should he be? Yes, he really rakes a few subjects over the hot coals. So be it.
This book is ultimately about putting wisdom into practice — daily, deliberately, and with humility. And that message resonated powerfully with me. Now, if I can just get my sons to read it…
A terrific finish to an impactful series. Highly recommended for anyone seeking a more thoughtful, grounded, and purposeful way to live. I wonder what’s next?
Wisdom Takes Work is the final installment in Ryan Holiday’s Virtue series, and in my opinion, it’s the best in the bunch. This book hit me right where I am in life — and I feel like I owe the author a sincere debt of gratitude.
About a year and a half ago, I retired from full-time teaching and felt a bit of a void. I started exploring Stoicism as a way to find grounding and purpose in this new phase. Holiday’s podcast was one of the first things that put me on a solid path — encouraging me to read more, think deeper, and find a sense of tranquility in daily life. Now, 18 months later, I’ve worked through a stack of books, gained some real insight, and feel more centered than I have in years. This book feels like the culmination of that journey.
Holiday’s style remains what it has always been: highly accessible, reader-friendly, and polished. His books are meant to be springboards — not dense philosophical tomes — and that’s a strength. He has introduced Stoicism to a wide audience and made these timeless ideas feel both practical and deeply needed today. Sure, the series may lack the heavy academic heft of ancient sources, but that simply isn’t its goal.
I used immersive reading again for this one, and Holiday’s own narration is excellent — intimate and energized without being preachy. Some readers may bristle at a few of the contemporary examples he brings into the discussion, but Holiday has always called things as he sees them. The Stoics weren’t shy about applying philosophy to real life, so why should he be? Yes, he really rakes a few subjects over the hot coals. So be it.
This book is ultimately about putting wisdom into practice — daily, deliberately, and with humility. And that message resonated powerfully with me. Now, if I can just get my sons to read it…
A terrific finish to an impactful series. Highly recommended for anyone seeking a more thoughtful, grounded, and purposeful way to live. I wonder what’s next?
October 28, 2025
I've read most - if not all - of Holiday's books, and this book is completely on par with the rest.
However, Holiday completely lost the plot in his pages-long rant about Elon Musk. I'm not a Musk fan by any means; but ranting for 15 pages about the things Musk has been posting about on X (many of the things Musk said even turned out to be completely accurate and true) completely derailed the book for me.
The point about hubris (still related to the core of the book at this point) was made on the first page. But for some reason Holiday still decided to spend page after page summing up tweet after tweet after tweet from Musk in an almost fanatical rant.
What's even more jarring is the fact that certain chapters are hastily written in 2 or 3 pages (ironically the chapter preceding Musk's, which he could easily have written 5+ pages about), in favor of political rants of 20+ pages.
And ofcourse, after Musk, Holiday will rant about Trump. Take this quote: "[his staff] have begged him to spend time with his wife or children, but Trump prefers to spend the mornings (and evenings) with TiVo". Seriously, where does Holiday even come up with this nonsense?
Ironically, Holiday obviously still needs to read and apply the lessons from his own book.
For the love of God; leave your own political views out of books that are not actually about politics. We do not care about your personal views.
However, Holiday completely lost the plot in his pages-long rant about Elon Musk. I'm not a Musk fan by any means; but ranting for 15 pages about the things Musk has been posting about on X (many of the things Musk said even turned out to be completely accurate and true) completely derailed the book for me.
The point about hubris (still related to the core of the book at this point) was made on the first page. But for some reason Holiday still decided to spend page after page summing up tweet after tweet after tweet from Musk in an almost fanatical rant.
What's even more jarring is the fact that certain chapters are hastily written in 2 or 3 pages (ironically the chapter preceding Musk's, which he could easily have written 5+ pages about), in favor of political rants of 20+ pages.
And ofcourse, after Musk, Holiday will rant about Trump. Take this quote: "[his staff] have begged him to spend time with his wife or children, but Trump prefers to spend the mornings (and evenings) with TiVo". Seriously, where does Holiday even come up with this nonsense?
Ironically, Holiday obviously still needs to read and apply the lessons from his own book.
For the love of God; leave your own political views out of books that are not actually about politics. We do not care about your personal views.
October 25, 2025
Wisdom does, take work Mr. Holiday. I usually don't take time to review books I won't be finishing. BUT- when I pre-order a book and pay Amazon's inflated, stupid license to read price for it and receive this level of crap you, the author, Mr. Holiday get a one star review.
Mr. Holiday claims to be a stoic. He in fact thinks that he is great at being a stoic and knows how to share the philosophy with the rest of the world. I was aware of the author's political views before purchase. With this book I was giving him a chance to show me that politics could stay out of this. Based on one chapter - the chapter I quit this book over- he needs some more time with Marcus before writing anymore books.
The chapter I quit with is " The Storm Within Us". I made it a third of the way through this book and realized that this chapter was written with more energy then the rest of the book together up to this point. And it is a rant about how awful Elon Musk is. Now, stoicism is about not letting others get to us. Mr Holiday seems to have a very serious problem with Elon Musk. Mr. Musk is definitely under the author's skin and living rent free in his brain. He used this chapter as a political and personal rant. I suspect there is a fair amount of jealousy along with the hate being spewed in said rant.
Now- I do agree with some of Holiday's observations about Musk but a book titled "Wisdom Takes Work" is not the place for this. It feels like a bait and switch to get a political beef into my hands. I already pay for my husband's DISH habit. I can watch CNN if I want thoughtless political beef without investing $16 more dollars for a worthless kindle license to read it. I won't be giving Mr. Holiday anymore money, time or thought. That is what Stoicism is really about.
Mr. Holiday claims to be a stoic. He in fact thinks that he is great at being a stoic and knows how to share the philosophy with the rest of the world. I was aware of the author's political views before purchase. With this book I was giving him a chance to show me that politics could stay out of this. Based on one chapter - the chapter I quit this book over- he needs some more time with Marcus before writing anymore books.
The chapter I quit with is " The Storm Within Us". I made it a third of the way through this book and realized that this chapter was written with more energy then the rest of the book together up to this point. And it is a rant about how awful Elon Musk is. Now, stoicism is about not letting others get to us. Mr Holiday seems to have a very serious problem with Elon Musk. Mr. Musk is definitely under the author's skin and living rent free in his brain. He used this chapter as a political and personal rant. I suspect there is a fair amount of jealousy along with the hate being spewed in said rant.
Now- I do agree with some of Holiday's observations about Musk but a book titled "Wisdom Takes Work" is not the place for this. It feels like a bait and switch to get a political beef into my hands. I already pay for my husband's DISH habit. I can watch CNN if I want thoughtless political beef without investing $16 more dollars for a worthless kindle license to read it. I won't be giving Mr. Holiday anymore money, time or thought. That is what Stoicism is really about.
November 5, 2025
⭐⭐“A bit of a stumble at the finish line”
I’ve really enjoyed Ryan Holiday’s Stoic Virtue series, but Wisdom Takes Work felt like the weakest entry for me. It didn’t quite live up to the clarity and balance of the earlier books. At times, it felt like Ryan wasn’t following the very Stoic principles he’s spent years writing and teaching.
Some chapters felt rushed, while others, like the first chapter in Part 2 dragged on, especially the long section about Elon Musk. There are still a few valuable takeaways I’ll carry with me, but overall, this one didn’t land as powerfully as I hoped. A disappointing end to what’s otherwise been a thoughtful and inspiring series.
I’ve really enjoyed Ryan Holiday’s Stoic Virtue series, but Wisdom Takes Work felt like the weakest entry for me. It didn’t quite live up to the clarity and balance of the earlier books. At times, it felt like Ryan wasn’t following the very Stoic principles he’s spent years writing and teaching.
Some chapters felt rushed, while others, like the first chapter in Part 2 dragged on, especially the long section about Elon Musk. There are still a few valuable takeaways I’ll carry with me, but overall, this one didn’t land as powerfully as I hoped. A disappointing end to what’s otherwise been a thoughtful and inspiring series.
July 18, 2025
As a follower of Ryan Holiday's podcasts and particularly his virtue series, I have perhaps been the most excited for this final installment on wisdom. I might contend of the four virtues wisdom is often the most overlooked or, at least, it is not often written about. In his typical Holiday fashion, Ryan navigates us through insightful takeaways while employing biographical stories to make the content really stick. His examples within Wisdom Takes Work are both historical and poignant.
As I began to read through the fourth book in the virtue series, I feared that Holiday might fall short of my expectations on the subject. Using Montaigne and others as examples, there was a great discussion on knowledge, in particular. Sure, knowledge is important, but is that wisdom? Well, it turned out only to be a launching pad into the deeper discussion of wisdom itself. I think one of Holiday's strongest and most relevant arguments throughout this book is that one can be full of knowledge and yet incredibly unwise. One could be successful and even arguably one of the smartest individuals of our time, and yet a complete fool. What a travesty!
This book, then, is not only to inform and teach us as to what wisdom entails, but it is to point us in a different direction so we might not waste our knowledge and expend our potential in folly.
If you have read any of Ryan's other books, you will be familiar with his style. Always informative and well-researched. Full of character portraits and examples, and immensely practical. Given the density, but also the subject, I could see this being a book to which I return on more than one occasion.
I do want to thank NetGalley and Portfolio for the advanced readers’ copy and opportunity to offer my honest review of Wisdom Takes Work.
As I began to read through the fourth book in the virtue series, I feared that Holiday might fall short of my expectations on the subject. Using Montaigne and others as examples, there was a great discussion on knowledge, in particular. Sure, knowledge is important, but is that wisdom? Well, it turned out only to be a launching pad into the deeper discussion of wisdom itself. I think one of Holiday's strongest and most relevant arguments throughout this book is that one can be full of knowledge and yet incredibly unwise. One could be successful and even arguably one of the smartest individuals of our time, and yet a complete fool. What a travesty!
This book, then, is not only to inform and teach us as to what wisdom entails, but it is to point us in a different direction so we might not waste our knowledge and expend our potential in folly.
If you have read any of Ryan's other books, you will be familiar with his style. Always informative and well-researched. Full of character portraits and examples, and immensely practical. Given the density, but also the subject, I could see this being a book to which I return on more than one occasion.
I do want to thank NetGalley and Portfolio for the advanced readers’ copy and opportunity to offer my honest review of Wisdom Takes Work.
Read
November 3, 2025Was very excited for this book and as this Series has been great. All other books in this series have been 5 stars. This book had a very political agenda which is simply not what I expected from this author and series. Normally I don't give ratings under 3 stars, as I simply don't finish books that I don't like, in this case I preorder this book since the rest of the series was so good.
November 3, 2025
Ryan Holiday is (by far) one of my favorite authors. So, I'm really looking forward to reading is new book!
November 15, 2025
I have been excited to read this book since June. I thoroughly enjoyed the previous three books in the series and was expecting a genuine finale. I made sure I was in line to purchase an autographed first edition that’s how much I love his books. Sadly, it delivers a pile of disappointment and questions as to why this book feels so out of character for Holiday. Very bizarre. It started strong and then fell off a cliff when the longest chapter wasn’t anything full of wisdom but literally a giant Elon Musk rant. (And NO I’m not a Musk/Trump supporter being critical of this) By the end of that chapter I sat there asking myself, “this is so weird, what did I just read?” The vibe turned into: “I think I just found out Elon’s d!ck is bigger than mine so I’m ditching stoicism and now I’m going to rant through the rest of this book while trying to insert wisdom once in a while.”
I feel a second-hand embarrassment for Holiday when reading this book and now I’m struggling to finish it.
I feel a second-hand embarrassment for Holiday when reading this book and now I’m struggling to finish it.
November 12, 2025
I'm not sure what happened with this book, but the first half is nothing but reminders to read, slow down, and partisan critiques. Holiday dedicates 3 straight chapters to criticizing Elon Musk and Donald Trump, often confusing political opinions with character flaws (of which there are plenty). But disagreements on transgender policies or how one views climate activists does not indicate a lack of stoic virtues.
This book is also repetitive of the first 3 in the series. Ryan Holiday is capable of much better work.
This book is also repetitive of the first 3 in the series. Ryan Holiday is capable of much better work.
May 21, 2025
Be wise through reading
November 2, 2025
The last of the virtue series- books make you wise. And stoic. And also changing your mind. And don’t think you’re so smart. I lived the Montaigne references and the Elon references but was sort of over the Lincoln references. Recommend.
June 9, 2025
"From The Ancient to The Present"
After unwrapping Courage, Justice, and Discipline, Ryan Holiday is now ready to uncover the long-awaited Wisdom – the fourth virtue of Stoicism. Often seen as a pathway to enlightenment in religious contexts, Ryan Holiday narrows its scope through the timeless stories of renowned world public figures. Wisdom Takes Work delivers its grounded approach in three chapters: The Agoge, The Sirens, and The Apotheosis. The journey begins with the cultivating the right mindset through education, contemplation, endurance, and understanding. Moreover, the author warns us of the two obstacles, power and intelligence, that might lead us off track to wisdom.
Despite the complexity of the subject, the author’s extensive research is deeply respected. Rather than relying on a single source or text, Ryan Holiday also puts together other sources, creating a trustworthy and thoughtful narrative. The curation of words is notable –carefully chosen, bold, a bit poetic, yet clear and easy to understand. The author also openly admits that he is still on the journey toward wisdom, despite having written the book. This admission makes the readers feel more connected to the authors, as we are on the same journey. Although it is my first read from Ryan Holiday, his storytelling style effectively builds intrigue and keeps the reader engaged.
However, some parts of the book are harder to digest due to the abundance of references. It felt like being bombarded with too much information all at once. Additionally, the book would benefit from greater consistency if the subchapters were more uniform in length.
Ryan Holiday’s narrative successfully unpacks the complexities of wisdom, bridging the ancient with the present. With its simplicity, honesty, and well-researched content, the book is recommended for readers who are new to the philosophy genre or curious about Stoicism.
It is a well-written, well-researched, and engaging read for those seeking to be wiser.
Thank you Portfolio Publisher and Ryan Holiday for the opportunity to read the e-ARC in exchange for honest review
After unwrapping Courage, Justice, and Discipline, Ryan Holiday is now ready to uncover the long-awaited Wisdom – the fourth virtue of Stoicism. Often seen as a pathway to enlightenment in religious contexts, Ryan Holiday narrows its scope through the timeless stories of renowned world public figures. Wisdom Takes Work delivers its grounded approach in three chapters: The Agoge, The Sirens, and The Apotheosis. The journey begins with the cultivating the right mindset through education, contemplation, endurance, and understanding. Moreover, the author warns us of the two obstacles, power and intelligence, that might lead us off track to wisdom.
Despite the complexity of the subject, the author’s extensive research is deeply respected. Rather than relying on a single source or text, Ryan Holiday also puts together other sources, creating a trustworthy and thoughtful narrative. The curation of words is notable –carefully chosen, bold, a bit poetic, yet clear and easy to understand. The author also openly admits that he is still on the journey toward wisdom, despite having written the book. This admission makes the readers feel more connected to the authors, as we are on the same journey. Although it is my first read from Ryan Holiday, his storytelling style effectively builds intrigue and keeps the reader engaged.
However, some parts of the book are harder to digest due to the abundance of references. It felt like being bombarded with too much information all at once. Additionally, the book would benefit from greater consistency if the subchapters were more uniform in length.
Ryan Holiday’s narrative successfully unpacks the complexities of wisdom, bridging the ancient with the present. With its simplicity, honesty, and well-researched content, the book is recommended for readers who are new to the philosophy genre or curious about Stoicism.
It is a well-written, well-researched, and engaging read for those seeking to be wiser.
Thank you Portfolio Publisher and Ryan Holiday for the opportunity to read the e-ARC in exchange for honest review
November 10, 2025
Too much social commentary, not enough philosophy
Too much social commentary, not enough philosophy. Elon Musk surely lives rent free in the author’s head. It was a very disappointing read.
Too much social commentary, not enough philosophy. Elon Musk surely lives rent free in the author’s head. It was a very disappointing read.
January 6, 2026
Last book of his series. I have marked up several pages of this book including giving me the inspiration for the word(s) of the year for me… Disciple of Experience.
December 8, 2025
Animar a alguien. Hacer que se sienta mejor. Ayudarle a recuperar la calma. Las personas divertidas son luces que brillan en la oscuridad. Iluminan el mundo. La vida es dolorosa y absurda. También es risible y ridícula. Todo depende de cómo la veamos.
November 13, 2025
Terrible book out of the whole series. He went on a long excruciating rant about Elon Musk almost as if Elon personally hurt him. That wasn’t very stoic of him. Also too many political statements and ideologies in the book. Every other book in the virtue series has been a re read for me, this one will go in the trash.
February 1, 2026
“Wisdom Takes Work” is the final book in Ryan Holiday’s series on the Stoic virtues, and there is so much brilliance in this book that it deserves to be read more than once. Throughout, Holiday offers insight on how we build wisdom through examples and wise advice.
While his previous books in the series (Courage Is Calling, Discipline Is Destiny, and Right Thing, Right Now) relied heavily on examples, this one focuses more on ideas. He defines wisdom in various ways and then uses stories to illustrate them. I think that's why this is my favorite of his writings. He shows
He does have an odd fascination with Elon Musk in this book. He admits that and shares frequent examples of Musk’s rise to riches and his odd behavior.
This is a practical book. Instead of abstract philosophy or motivational fluff, the book focuses on turning timeless ideas into daily habits. Each section is short, focused, and forces you to slow down and actually think about how you’re applying what you’re learning.
Memorable Highlights
Questions are the key not just to knowledge but to success, discovery, and mastery. They’re how we learned and how we get better.
Asking leads to answers, and answers lead to more questions. From not knowing, we get to knowing, and eventually to the truth. This is why we must understand that there is no such thing as a dumb question. In fact, a person becomes smart only by asking questions.
What’s the point of going to school or finding a mentor if you’re not going to listen? When you’re talking, what you’re doing is not hearing. When we open our mouths, we shut our ears. Really, what we’re doing is closing doors. We could have learned something. We could’ve gotten someone else’s perspective. We could’ve heard their experience. We could have gotten their advice.
It’s not enough to read; you need in practice capturing information and recording it so you can draw on it later.
History isn’t something that is presented to you; it’s something you unearth piece by piece, book by book, visit by visit, question by question. As we read and study, we become a pioneer, a refugee, a Union soldier, a slave owner, a colonizer in the native, a Greek, a Roman, and a barbarian. We must inhabit the world to understand it, see things through their eyes, feel the heat of the battle, the fear of persecution, the hope of a better future.
History, you must understand, is not about the past. It’s a lens for understanding the present. It’s a way of predicting, even determining the future.
The world is very big. Our culture is but one of many. There is wisdom and geography, wisdom in the generations of people who have lived in one place, adapting to the land and the environment around them. If we are only curious enough to learn it.
Bring your notebook, write down everything you see, feel, and think. Every building, every tree, has a story. Think of what they witness. Think of who stood where you are standing.
Only a fool goes with their first thought. A wise person takes time to contemplate.
We are all drowning in information, much of which is fascinating, that was once elusive. It’s on us to figure out how to filter and digest it, how to act, and what is true and consequential. When to focus and how to tune out.
We should absolutely do our research to borrow the term popular with conspiracy theorist but by that we mean actually do the research. Like, read really incredible authors on a topic, lots of them. Do actual thinking, not what feels like thinking. Ask real questions instead of just asking questions. Listen to the answers. Allow ourselves to be proven wrong. Allow ourselves to learn new things. A podcast is not a sufficient briefing on a topic. We must be ever vigilant against bullshit, which can be spread the day in ways that the ancients could not have imagined.
But this is what the wise do. They don’t just learn when they’re young but all their lives they identify as a student not as a person who has obtained wisdom. They don’t see themselves as better or apart. They are just like everyone else, still learning needing to be taught.
While his previous books in the series (Courage Is Calling, Discipline Is Destiny, and Right Thing, Right Now) relied heavily on examples, this one focuses more on ideas. He defines wisdom in various ways and then uses stories to illustrate them. I think that's why this is my favorite of his writings. He shows
He does have an odd fascination with Elon Musk in this book. He admits that and shares frequent examples of Musk’s rise to riches and his odd behavior.
This is a practical book. Instead of abstract philosophy or motivational fluff, the book focuses on turning timeless ideas into daily habits. Each section is short, focused, and forces you to slow down and actually think about how you’re applying what you’re learning.
Memorable Highlights
Questions are the key not just to knowledge but to success, discovery, and mastery. They’re how we learned and how we get better.
Asking leads to answers, and answers lead to more questions. From not knowing, we get to knowing, and eventually to the truth. This is why we must understand that there is no such thing as a dumb question. In fact, a person becomes smart only by asking questions.
What’s the point of going to school or finding a mentor if you’re not going to listen? When you’re talking, what you’re doing is not hearing. When we open our mouths, we shut our ears. Really, what we’re doing is closing doors. We could have learned something. We could’ve gotten someone else’s perspective. We could’ve heard their experience. We could have gotten their advice.
It’s not enough to read; you need in practice capturing information and recording it so you can draw on it later.
History isn’t something that is presented to you; it’s something you unearth piece by piece, book by book, visit by visit, question by question. As we read and study, we become a pioneer, a refugee, a Union soldier, a slave owner, a colonizer in the native, a Greek, a Roman, and a barbarian. We must inhabit the world to understand it, see things through their eyes, feel the heat of the battle, the fear of persecution, the hope of a better future.
History, you must understand, is not about the past. It’s a lens for understanding the present. It’s a way of predicting, even determining the future.
The world is very big. Our culture is but one of many. There is wisdom and geography, wisdom in the generations of people who have lived in one place, adapting to the land and the environment around them. If we are only curious enough to learn it.
Bring your notebook, write down everything you see, feel, and think. Every building, every tree, has a story. Think of what they witness. Think of who stood where you are standing.
Only a fool goes with their first thought. A wise person takes time to contemplate.
We are all drowning in information, much of which is fascinating, that was once elusive. It’s on us to figure out how to filter and digest it, how to act, and what is true and consequential. When to focus and how to tune out.
We should absolutely do our research to borrow the term popular with conspiracy theorist but by that we mean actually do the research. Like, read really incredible authors on a topic, lots of them. Do actual thinking, not what feels like thinking. Ask real questions instead of just asking questions. Listen to the answers. Allow ourselves to be proven wrong. Allow ourselves to learn new things. A podcast is not a sufficient briefing on a topic. We must be ever vigilant against bullshit, which can be spread the day in ways that the ancients could not have imagined.
But this is what the wise do. They don’t just learn when they’re young but all their lives they identify as a student not as a person who has obtained wisdom. They don’t see themselves as better or apart. They are just like everyone else, still learning needing to be taught.
January 24, 2026
I gotta be real with yall. Wisdom may take work, but reading this book takes endurance. Whew!
Ryan, you are one of my favorite authors. I love you down bad. I will defend you endlessly. But please, for the love of God, never write a 350 page nonfiction book again. Anything over 150–200 pages should be reserved for fiction. A nonfiction book this long starts feeling like an encyclopedia.
The thing is, the content is great. Ryan does what he always does best; pulling wisdom from real people and real lives. I learned about people I’d never heard of and gained deeper insight into people I had heard of but never bothered to look at closely. His writing is grounded in reality and real events which I love.
But here’s the problem: if I told someone who had never read any of your work how incredible you are and this was the book they picked up first, I would be genuinely worried they’d think I was insane.
And we need to talk about the Elon Musk references. Excessive. At some point I thought, “This book should really be titled I Hate Elon Musk.” But it had me giggling the whole time at how unintentionally hilarious it was.
Overall: solid book, lots of insight, is it worth reading? Sure, but not where I’d start someone.
Wisdom takes work….and I’m tired.
Ryan, you are one of my favorite authors. I love you down bad. I will defend you endlessly. But please, for the love of God, never write a 350 page nonfiction book again. Anything over 150–200 pages should be reserved for fiction. A nonfiction book this long starts feeling like an encyclopedia.
The thing is, the content is great. Ryan does what he always does best; pulling wisdom from real people and real lives. I learned about people I’d never heard of and gained deeper insight into people I had heard of but never bothered to look at closely. His writing is grounded in reality and real events which I love.
But here’s the problem: if I told someone who had never read any of your work how incredible you are and this was the book they picked up first, I would be genuinely worried they’d think I was insane.
And we need to talk about the Elon Musk references. Excessive. At some point I thought, “This book should really be titled I Hate Elon Musk.” But it had me giggling the whole time at how unintentionally hilarious it was.
Overall: solid book, lots of insight, is it worth reading? Sure, but not where I’d start someone.
Wisdom takes work….and I’m tired.
November 21, 2025
This is one of those books where it documents current relevant events and compares it to the past yet will become applicable at any time in history. I have enjoyed all of Holiday's books and I was worried this fourth book would be a bit repetitive of the previous three and I am quite pleased this is not the case. You can tell Holiday has done his work in researching the figures he discusses in the chapters. I was surprised to walk away learning so much of what I thought I already knew and EAGER to learn more. This book has opened my eyes to what it really means to be wise and to be dissatisfied just getting the "gist" of something. This book is going to upset some people, its news they don't want to hear but those who strive to uphold virtue will take it like its medicine.
February 2, 2026
Not what I anticipated, having ordered the book after watching an interesting interview of the author.
This was a seemingly random (though collated under broad categories) collection of thoughts on, and examples of, wisdom, from Greek philosophers to scientists, to people like Elon Musk (eek).
Enjoyed the chapter on “ask the question” - but that’s probably my roots as a former journalist showing through.
Overall, I found a few small segments insightful, but mostly skimmed the rest as the writing style (and many of the stories) didn’t really appeal to me.
This was a seemingly random (though collated under broad categories) collection of thoughts on, and examples of, wisdom, from Greek philosophers to scientists, to people like Elon Musk (eek).
Enjoyed the chapter on “ask the question” - but that’s probably my roots as a former journalist showing through.
Overall, I found a few small segments insightful, but mostly skimmed the rest as the writing style (and many of the stories) didn’t really appeal to me.
November 26, 2025
I want to spend some time writing a full review, but the TLDR is that I thought this book and the series overall are excellent.
Wisdom on every page, and it's a series that I'll revisit, for full rereads, but also even over the last few weeks I've found myself searching them, rereading passages, as something I read pops back into my mind.
Wisdom on every page, and it's a series that I'll revisit, for full rereads, but also even over the last few weeks I've found myself searching them, rereading passages, as something I read pops back into my mind.
December 31, 2025
Ryan Holiday did it again. I see myself going back to this one, heck the entire series because the Stoics had it right. I felt seen in Wisdom Takes Work. Ryan’s voice is powerful and if you don’t read, try listening to the audiobook because his voice and way with words will get to you. Thank you Ryan for this gift!
November 28, 2025
excellent book with great topics. The people used to prove points were powerful examples. Sad to see the virtue series ending. Look forward to re-reading the series.
December 27, 2025
Good read but the constant Elon bashing was a bit unnecessary and feels like quick wins on the pages. His other work in the series is a lot better.
December 24, 2025
He repeat everything he said before, he milk his own brand. Funny how it talks about not following a guru...but become one.
And obviously, he is obsess with Elon Musk
Talk about him all the time. Again and again.
bizarre
To read if you didn't read nothing else from him
And obviously, he is obsess with Elon Musk
Talk about him all the time. Again and again.
bizarre
To read if you didn't read nothing else from him
October 4, 2025
I really enjoyed working my way through this thoughtful and practical guide on wisdom. Wisdom Takes Work by Ryan Holiday closes out his Stoic Virtues series by highlighting the virtue that makes all the others possible. Through stories ranging from ancient philosophers to modern thinkers, he shows that true wisdom is built slowly through curiosity, self-education, and the discipline of listening more than we speak, a refreshing reminder in a world that seems to reward noise over nuance.
I found myself nodding along to his call for filling our minds with the right kinds of books, the ones that stretch our thinking and push us into unfamiliar territory. The first few chapters were packed with quotable lines, and there were so many that this book deserves its own quote journal. Some of the people he used as examples felt a little outdated, and I wished he had included fresher public figures we could relate to today, though I loved seeing Joan Didion included.
Overall, this felt like the perfect conclusion to his Stoic Virtues series, tying everything together in a way that is both inspiring and practical. It is the kind of book that encourages reflection, careful thought, and applying wisdom in our own lives.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, Portfolio Books, for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
I found myself nodding along to his call for filling our minds with the right kinds of books, the ones that stretch our thinking and push us into unfamiliar territory. The first few chapters were packed with quotable lines, and there were so many that this book deserves its own quote journal. Some of the people he used as examples felt a little outdated, and I wished he had included fresher public figures we could relate to today, though I loved seeing Joan Didion included.
Overall, this felt like the perfect conclusion to his Stoic Virtues series, tying everything together in a way that is both inspiring and practical. It is the kind of book that encourages reflection, careful thought, and applying wisdom in our own lives.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, Portfolio Books, for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
December 24, 2025
Read all of the four books and they are probably my favorite book series I have read so far.
Courage to go out there.
Discipline to elevate oneself by controlling ones lower self.
The book on virtue made me have a whole life crisis, trying to devote my life to help others, then got depressed by living this way and found that living for oneself, while helping others along the way probably is the way to go.
And now finally this elusive thing called wisdom.
"Courage and wisdom are related - the former allows for the latter. If you can't bear to engage with ner information, you can't learn. Cowards are fools, and fools are usually cowardly."
All of these book really lay out an ideal way to live and spend ones time. These books are filled with role-models of actual character which one does not find many of in the current media landscape.
I liked them a lot. Definitely had a huge impact on me over the last few years.
Grateful that they exist.
Courage to go out there.
Discipline to elevate oneself by controlling ones lower self.
The book on virtue made me have a whole life crisis, trying to devote my life to help others, then got depressed by living this way and found that living for oneself, while helping others along the way probably is the way to go.
And now finally this elusive thing called wisdom.
"Courage and wisdom are related - the former allows for the latter. If you can't bear to engage with ner information, you can't learn. Cowards are fools, and fools are usually cowardly."
All of these book really lay out an ideal way to live and spend ones time. These books are filled with role-models of actual character which one does not find many of in the current media landscape.
I liked them a lot. Definitely had a huge impact on me over the last few years.
Grateful that they exist.
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