Sep 20, 2026 · 21 min
Stoicism finds new force as institutions lose credibility
Ryan Holiday on Bill Maher: Why Stoicism Is Having a Moment
The episode connects Stoicism’s renewed appeal to public distrust, uncertain leadership, military strain, and the risks of faster financial technology.
- 1Stoicism resonates when institutions and traditional moral examples no longer command trust.
- 2The discussion tests character and judgment against military commitments, Iran policy, and contemporary leadership.
- 3Cryptocurrency may broaden access and speed transactions, but regulation must address criminal use and new risks.
Don't miss
Ryan Holiday identifies General James Mattis as a contemporary example of Stoic virtues, setting that model against more volatile modern leadership.
The brief
Ryan Holiday reflects on his appearance with Bill Maher and argues that Stoicism is returning because institutions, leaders, and familiar moral examples have lost authority.
A reading list moves from The Great Gatsby to The Screwtape Letters and Reason to Believe, using formative books to probe temptation, ideals, and the American dream.
The conversation turns sharply to the USS Abraham Lincoln’s prolonged deployment, the Iran conflict, troop welfare, and whether defense commitments reflect sound judgment.
On cryptocurrency, the panel weighs blockchain’s promise of faster, cheaper, more accessible transactions against criminal use, weak oversight, and the risks of accelerated markets.
Holiday names General James Mattis as a modern model of Stoic virtue, then contrasts that ideal with Elon Musk and debates discipline, drugs, and Epicureanism.
Books & mentions
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