Wisdom Takes Work (Paperback)

THE INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER from the author of THE DAILY STOIC

Ryan Holiday

The final installment in the New York Times bestselling Stoic Virtues series: the essential, life-changing and hard-won virtue of wisdom

THE INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

Foster curiosity, discernment and life-changing wisdom
: book 4 in the bestselling Stoic Virtues series

Wisdom is central to a meaningful life. It gives us perspective, reveals knowledge and guides our path. Without it, our best qualities become our worst: courage turns to foolhardiness, self-discipline to cruelty, justice to empty moralising. We all aspire to be wise - but wisdom is earned.

In this fourth and final instalment of his bestselling Stoic Virtues series, Ryan Holiday uncovers tried and true methods for cultivating wisdom. Drawing on lessons from heroes across history, including Marcus Aurelius, Abraham Lincoln, Maya Angelou and Joan Didion, he shows how to keep an open mind in times of division and disruption; to listen more than we talk; to think with nuance and ruthlessly question our own beliefs. Through cautionary figures like Elon Musk, he shows how dangerous intelligence can be without wisdom - and how we can all escape today's traps of tribalism, certainty and self-righteousness.

Are you open to listening? Are you willing to question? Are you here to learn? Wisdom is work. But it's worth it.

Publication date: November 5, 2026

£11.99

ISBN: 9781788166300

Imprint: Profile Books

Subject: Business & Management, Health & Wellbeing, Philosophy & Ideas

Wisdom Takes Work (Hardback)

THE INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER from the author of THE DAILY STOIC

Ryan Holiday

The final installment in the New York Times bestselling Stoic Virtues series: the essential, life-changing and hard-won virtue of wisdom

THE INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

Foster curiosity, discernment and life-changing wisdom
: book 4 in the bestselling Stoic Virtues series

'Some authors give advice. Ryan Holiday distils wisdom' CAL NEWPORT, bestselling author of Deep Work

'Ryan Holiday is one of his generation's finest thinkers' STEVEN PRESSFIELD, author of The War of Art

Wisdom is central to a meaningful life. It gives us perspective, reveals knowledge and guides our path. Without it, our best qualities become our worst: courage turns to foolhardiness, self-discipline to cruelty, justice to empty moralising. We all aspire to be wise - but wisdom is earned.

In this fourth and final instalment of his bestselling Stoic Virtues series, Ryan Holiday uncovers tried and true methods for cultivating wisdom. Drawing on lessons from heroes across history, including Marcus Aurelius, Abraham Lincoln, Maya Angelou and Joan Didion, he shows how to keep an open mind in times of division and disruption; to listen more than we talk; to think with nuance and ruthlessly question our own beliefs. Through cautionary figures like Elon Musk, he shows how dangerous intelligence can be without wisdom - and how we can all escape today's traps of tribalism, certainty and self-righteousness.

Are you open to listening? Are you willing to question? Are you here to learn? Wisdom is work. But it's worth it.

Publication date: October 21, 2025

£15.99

ISBN: 9781788166294

Imprint: Profile Books

Subject: Business & Management, Health & Wellbeing, Philosophy & Ideas

Wisdom Takes Work (Ebook)

THE INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER from the author of THE DAILY STOIC

Ryan Holiday

The final installment in the New York Times bestselling Stoic Virtues series: the essential, life-changing and hard-won virtue of wisdom

THE INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

Foster curiosity, discernment and life-changing wisdom
: book 4 in the bestselling Stoic Virtues series

'Some authors give advice. Ryan Holiday distils wisdom' CAL NEWPORT, bestselling author of Deep Work

'Ryan Holiday is one of his generation's finest thinkers' STEVEN PRESSFIELD, author of The War of Art

Wisdom is central to a meaningful life. It gives us perspective, reveals knowledge and guides our path. Without it, our best qualities become our worst: courage turns to foolhardiness, self-discipline to cruelty, justice to empty moralising. We all aspire to be wise - but wisdom is earned.

In this fourth and final instalment of his bestselling Stoic Virtues series, Ryan Holiday uncovers tried and true methods for cultivating wisdom. Drawing on lessons from heroes across history, including Marcus Aurelius, Abraham Lincoln, Maya Angelou and Joan Didion, he shows how to keep an open mind in times of division and disruption; to listen more than we talk; to think with nuance and ruthlessly question our own beliefs. Through cautionary figures like Elon Musk, he shows how dangerous intelligence can be without wisdom - and how we can all escape today's traps of tribalism, certainty and self-righteousness.

Are you open to listening? Are you willing to question? Are you here to learn? Wisdom is work. But it's worth it.

Publication date: October 21, 2025

£13.99

ISBN: 9781782837565

ISBN 10 / ASIN: B0DTR5WLSN

Imprint: Profile Books

Subject: Business & Management, Health & Wellbeing, Philosophy & Ideas

Wisdom Takes Work (Audiobook)

THE INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER from the author of THE DAILY STOIC

Ryan Holiday

The final installment in the New York Times bestselling Stoic Virtues series: the essential, life-changing and hard-won virtue of wisdom

THE INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

Foster curiosity, discernment and life-changing wisdom
: book 4 in the bestselling Stoic Virtues series

'Some authors give advice. Ryan Holiday distils wisdom' CAL NEWPORT, bestselling author of Deep Work

'Ryan Holiday is one of his generation's finest thinkers' STEVEN PRESSFIELD, author of The War of Art

Wisdom is central to a meaningful life. It gives us perspective, reveals knowledge and guides our path. Without it, our best qualities become our worst: courage turns to foolhardiness, self-discipline to cruelty, justice to empty moralising. We all aspire to be wise – but wisdom is earned.

In this fourth and final instalment of his bestselling Stoic Virtues series, Ryan Holiday uncovers tried and true methods for cultivating wisdom. Drawing on lessons from heroes across history, including Marcus Aurelius, Abraham Lincoln, Maya Angelou and Joan Didion, he shows how to keep an open mind in times of division and disruption; to listen more than we talk; to think with nuance and ruthlessly question our own beliefs. Through cautionary figures like Elon Musk, he shows how dangerous intelligence can be without wisdom – and how we can all escape today's traps of tribalism, certainty and self-righteousness.

Are you open to listening? Are you willing to question? Are you here to learn? Wisdom is work. But it's worth it.

Publication date: October 21, 2025

£24.99

ISBN: 9781805226345

ISBN 10 / ASIN: B0F9LFZ9DG

Imprint: Profile Books

Subject: Business & Management, Health & Wellbeing, Philosophy & Ideas

Read by: Ryan Holiday

Reviews for Wisdom Takes Work

'PRAISE FOR THE STOIC VIRTUES SERIES'

 :

'

COURAGE IS CALLING
'An urgent call to arms for each and all of us

'

Matthew McConaughey 

'

DISCIPLINE IS DESTINY
'Ryan Holiday is a genius

'

Chris Evans 

'

RIGHT THING, RIGHT NOW
'A message all of us need to hear

'

Arnold Schwarzenegger 

'

WISDOM TAKES WORK
'Some authors give advice. Ryan Holiday distills wisdom

'

Cal Newport 

'A deeply thoughtful yet entertainingly readable description of the journey to wisdom by a modern age philosopher.'

General Stanley McChrystal, retired US Army general and author of On Character 

'Ryan Holiday is one of his generation's finest thinkers'

Steven Pressfield, author of The War of Art 

'A clear and inspiring guide'

Robert Greene 

'A gift to humanity'

Dr. Edith Eva Eger 

'Ryan Holiday has helped bring the ancient teaching of Stoicism to millions of readers - from athletes and politicians to CEOs.'

 Good Morning America

'Ryan Holiday is among the most psychologically wise writers I know'

Angela Duckworth 

Ryan Holiday

Ryan Holiday

Ryan Holiday is one of the world's bestselling living philosophers. His books, which include The Obstacle Is the Way, Ego Is the Enemy, The Daily Stoic, Stillness Is the Key and the Stoic Virtues series, have appeared in more than 40 languages and sold more than 10 million copies worldwide. Together, they've spent over 300 weeks on the bestseller lists. He lives outside Austin with his wife and two boys…and a small herd of cows and donkeys and goats. His bookstore, The Painted Porch, sits on historic Main St in Bastrop, Texas.

Follow Ryan on X @ryanholiday and visit his website www.ryanholiday.net

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