If the mere mention of "philosophy" makes you yawn, get ready to have your perception changed! For most people, philosophy is ancient thinkers, droning on about abstract concepts that seem utterly removed from the realities of modern life. And when you add the word "Stoic" to the mix? Forget about it - that just sounds downright dull. But the thing is the ancient Stoics were anything but dull. In fact, they were the sort of people you’d want to go on a coffee date with! 

The Stoic school of philosophy was founded in Athens in the early 3rd century BC by a merchant named Zeno of Citium. Inspired by the teachings of Socrates, Zeno began sharing his own insights and wisdom under the covered walkway (or "stoa") of the Athenian marketplace. From those humble beginnings, Stoicism would go on to become one of the most influential philosophies of the ancient world, practiced by everyone from Roman emperors to former slaves. And the three towering figures of late Stoicism - Marcus Aurelius, Seneca, and Epictetus - are the ones whose teachings take center stage in this book, The Daily Stoic by Ryan Holiday!

Marcus Aurelius was the philosopher-king, a Roman emperor who ruled with a Stoic's steady hand during a turbulent era. Seneca was a celebrated playwright and political adviser, known for his eloquent writings on virtue, mortality, and the control of one's emotions. And Epictetus was a former slave who triumphed to become an influential lecturer, developing a Stoic philosophy centered on personal freedom and responsibility.

Now, what made the Stoics so special? Well, for starters, they were focused on answering the big questions that still vex us today: How do I live a good life? What should I do about my anger issues? What are my obligations to others? How can I overcome my fear of death? These formed the active, ongoing struggles that Stoics wrestled with in their daily lives. And they developed a comprehensive, practical philosophy for dealing with them. They organized their wisdom into the three disciplines: the Discipline of Perception (how we see and understand the world), the Discipline of Action (the decisions and choices we make), and the Discipline of Will (how we handle the things we can't control). And that's how we'll go here, as well. We'll explore these disciplines chronologically, dedicating four months to each. January through April focus on Perception, May through August on Action, and September through December on Will. Cool?

Which brings us to you! Whether you're stressed, overworked, struggling with relationships, or just trying to figure out how to make the most of your golden years, the Stoics have wisdom that can help. Each daily meditation in this book, 366 of ‘em, provides you with a carefully curated selection of Stoic teachings, one to be practiced each day, along with the author's own insightful commentary and thought-provoking questions. The goal? To help you internalize these ancient philosophies and put them into practice in your own life. Hyped? We’ll cover some of the most important ones. Let’s begin with the Discipline of Perception!